Calvary Lutheran gets ahead of Minnesota's fluorescent lighting ban with big savings
Project Background
Matt Bromander, facilities director at Calvary Lutheran in Golden Valley, Minnesota, was looking to reduce energy use and replace the fluorescent lighting across Calvary’s large campus ahead of the Minnesota fluorescent ban. The old lighting was showing wear and tear and Matt was dealing with frequent maintenance of existing ballasts and bulbs. Calvary had worked with CEE’s One-Stop Efficiency Shop (One-Stop) in 2021 to upgrade lighting in their worship center and parking lot. When faced with the costly and time-consuming project of replacing fluorescents across the remaining areas of the campus, Matt decided to reach out to CEE. A One-Stop lighting consultant connected with Matt, assessed Calvary’s current needs and roadblocks, and found solutions to maximize energy savings and rebates on the project.
Facility Assessment
CEE’s lighting consultant performed an on-site assessment of the campus to determine the best equipment for the space. Calvary needed to replace all fluorescent lighting across the campus with LEDs and streamline their lighting stock to reduce maintenance. Maximizing rebates to ease the financial strain of a large lighting project was also a priority. The lighting consultant created a customized report with recommendations, estimated payback periods, and energy savings, and worked with Calvary’s lighting contractor to specify products that would increase rebates.
“Without the help of One-Stop, we wouldn't have been able to start this project. What we ended up with has improved our campus immensely, and we hope to see a lot of savings in the future.”
Matt Bromander, Facilities Director
Improvements
CEE’s lighting consultant specified LED downlights, troffers, and TLEDs, resulting in a 60% energy reduction when compared to fluorescent lighting. The new, brighter, and more uniform lighting has enhanced the Calvary community’s experience and boosted employee satisfaction. By partnering with the One-Stop team, Matt tackled a project that would have been too expensive and time-intensive without support. The lighting upgrades recommended by CEE resulted in major energy savings and rebates that will benefit the Calvary community for years. Calvary earned $122,380 in rebates and will save $55,295 in energy costs annually by making the switch to LEDs.
Problems
- Complex project across a large campus with multiple fixture types
- Aging and worn equipment needing replacement
- Frequent and costly maintenance
- Minnesota fluorescent band rendering old equipment obsolete
Results
- Reduced maintenance needs and costs
- Significant rebates lowering project costs
- Improved lighting quality and community experience
Rebates and Savings
- $55,295 in annual savings
- 568,099 kWh saved
- $122,380 rebate
- 1.9-year payback period