Lighting Upgrades Provide Oppenheimer Development Corp. Quick Savings
The Business
Oppenheimer Development Corporation is a commercial real estate development, property management, and maintenance company located in Boise, Idaho. The locally owned company was founded in 1972 and is the largest developer of downtown Boise. The company owns and/or manages 700,000 square feet of downtown office, suburban office, and shopping center space throughout the Boise area.
The Challenge
Oppenheimer Development Corporation recently purchased the parking garage from the Capital City Development Corporation (CCDC). The lighting in the garage was out-dated, expensive to operate, and consisted of discolored, halide lights. “We were looking for brighter lighting that could be operated for less money” Jeremy Malone, Oppenheimer Development Corporation property management director said.
Oppenheimer Development Corporation building maintenance staff, management staff, and a third-party consultant, Energy Industries, became involved in creating a solution for this challenge.
The Solution
Initially, Oppenheimer Development Corporation looked at just replacing the discolored lens covers on the existing lights. While they were in the initial stages of working on this solution, Energy Industries contacted them, evaluated their garage and the lighting situation and provided them with an analysis.
Oppenheimer Development Corporation realized that the subterranean parking garage did not have pedestrian or vehicle traffic consistently throughout the day. They decided to look into motion-activated fixtures so that the majority of the lights came on only when there was motion. The garage was previously lit 24/7, even though it was closed from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m., with virtually no traffic during that timeframe.
They went with Energy Industries’ recommendation and replaced each metal-halide light fixture with a three-tubed T-5 fixture, which included motion sensors. Now there is always one of three lamps on until the sensors activate and full lighting is employed.
The Savings
Energy savings for the project are 237,938 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, which is equivalent to the planting of 45 acres of trees or the average energy use of 18 typical Idaho homes.
The Outcome
Labor and materials for the project totaled $40,570. Malone said, “The majority of our tenants commented that they really like the brightness of the garage now with the new lighting even though there was some hesitation by a few people initially about the lights being motion-activated.”
“Brighter lighting provided tenants and customers with a better sense of security and better visibility in the parking garage while producing savings the first month we initiated the upgrade.”
–Jeremy Malone, Oppenheimer Development Corporation property management director
The Bottom Line
Idaho Power provided a $28,399 incentive to Oppenheimer Development Corporation for the lighting upgrades.
“The incentive allowed us to realize an energy savings of $300 to more than $600 per month, which took effect the first month we installed the new lighting. The energy savings provided a full project payback within 14 months of completion,” Malone said.
Energy efficiency is now a part of everyday life for the Oppenheimer Development Corporation. The company has a list of energy efficiency projects in the works and routinely replaces outdated light bulbs with new, energy-efficient bulbs.
If you are looking for similar energy-saving success for your business, Idaho Power can help. Idaho Power offers a complete suite of energy efficiency programs for commercial and industrial businesses.
The Custom Efficiency program assists large commercial and industrial customers in identifying and paying for energy efficiency improvements.
Easy Upgrades offers incentives of up to $100,000 for energy-saving retrofits within existing commercial and industrial buildings.
The Building Efficiency program offers incentives of up to $100,000 per project to offset part of additional capital expenses for more efficient lighting designs, cooling systems, controls, and building shells in new commercial and industrial construction projects.
FlexPeak Management, a demand-response program, offers commercial and industrial customers recurring payments for reducing a set amount of electricity consumption in response to Idaho Power’s peak demand and other system needs.
Go to www.idahopower.com/business or call 208-388-5624 for more information on how Idaho Power can help you save energy and money.
This success story was produced in cooperation with, and approval from, Idaho Power customer Oppenheimer Development Corporation.
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