1. Opening/Introduction

Global Cash Access, a service provider for the gaming industry, has a Las Vegas office composed of two main building sections. Each section has one light switch that controls all the lights (fluorescent tubes) for the whole section. These lights are very rarely turned off, even though there are portions of the building unoccupied from 5 or 6 PM until roughly 7 to 9 AM on weekdays, and unoccupied through the entire weekend. Often one person working late (say, until midnight) will result in the lights for the whole side of the building being lit. There are only two areas with people working in them 24/7, and one of these (the help desk, where Richard works) already has separate light controls. The other area, the call center, is a fairly large area (occupying about 1/2 to 2/3 of that section of the building).

Turning off the lights for an entire side of the building is not really an option generally, because most of the time there will be at least one person who needs light. The real problem here seems to be the lack of separate light switches for small sections of the building. Of course, offices have their own light switches, but the number of people in cubicles under general lighting is much greater than the number of offices.

If turning off the lights is not a viable option, perhaps setting the lights on a timer is. This solution saves electricity during non-standard hours of operation while keeping the option to use the light switch open. However, it does not take into account the handful of people that work during these operational anomalies that will manually adjust the lighting. Even if the lights are on timers, people are still utilizing the inefficient source of overhead lighting during these times. In addition, the light switches are currently by the exit doors; putting times in would mean that if a timer were to go off, workers in the affected area would have to interrupt their work, get up and go to the timer, and turn them back on. Workers are likely to view this as a nuisance and may just set the timer for much longer than they actually need.

Alternatively, motion sensor lighting provides flexibility that timed lighting does not. Since certain areas remain unoccupied during times of the night the motion senors will not be triggered therefore providing energy and cost savings while meeting the necessary lighting requirements for those left in the building. However, the feasibility of this option would be very limited by the structure of the cubicles (full wall height); there would have to be a motion sensor for each cubicle, which would be relatively expensive to wire.

Infrastructure changes to the building's lighting can be time consuming and possibly cost prohibitive. There is also a potential loss of productivity during the construction phase. the feasibility of efficient and cost effective energy efficient individual or group lighting solutions may prove a viable option. the benefits are that it is quick and still saves energy. Options such as desk lamps or floor lamps to replace overhead lighting during off hours could quickly and easily change the company's energy consumption. However, due to company concerns with aesthetics this is unlikely to happen; in addition, this is likely to be an expensive option to implement, as the price for separate additional lights for each cubicle would quickly add up.

Introducing the Team 

North Office Building 

South Office Layout

Recommendations

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Alternative Light Sources 

Understanding How They Work

Timed Automatic Switches

If turning off the lights is not a viable option, perhaps setting the lights on a timer is. This solution saves electricity during non-standard hours of operation while keeping the option to use the light switch open.

Automatic Timed Lighting only uses electrical energy during set timed sequences which turn lighting on and off at alternating times during a 24 period. Pricing is set at $18.00-$48.00.

Motion Detectors

Alternatively, motion sensor lighting provides flexibility that timed lighting does not. Since certain areas remain unoccupied during times of the night the motion sensors will not be triggered therefore providing energy and cost savings while meeting the necessary lighting requirements for those left in the building.

Motion Detectors only use electrical energy when triggered by movement inside a space. In addition, motion detectors permit users to manually adjust lighting. The sensor also permits users to determine the length of duration that the lights remain on. These durations are usually set at 10, 20, or 30 minutes. The motion sensors cover an area of 180 degrees, which is 2,100 square foot coverage. Pricing is set at $118.99 per unit.

Energy Efficient Bulbs

Infrastructure changes to the building's lighting is often time consuming and possibly cost prohibitive. There is also a potential loss of productivity during the construction phase. The feasibility of efficient and cost effective energy efficient individual or group lighting solutions may prove a viable option. The benefits are that it is quick and still saves energy. Options such as desk lamps or floor lamps to replace overhead lighting during off hours could quickly and easily change the company's energy consumption.

An ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months. It uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb (EngeryStar.gov, 2010, para. 2). Pricing is set at $118.99 per unit.

Research Methods

Indentifying Project Obstacles

The team proposal is based on the business environment of team member Richard Wood. As such, Richard is responsible for conducting the majority of the preliminary research leaving the secondary research, analyzing, and processing of the information to the remaining team members.

Reporting the Findings

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Timed Automatic Switches

Using timed automatic switches does not take into account the handful of people that work during operational downtimes which means manually adjusting the lighting. The inefficient source of overhead lighting is still the main source of light regardless of whether the lights are on timers. In addition, the light switches are located by exit doors. If the times that the timers go off employees in the affected area would have to manually turn the lights back on. GCA employees are likely to view this as a nuisance and set the timer for much longer than they actually need.

Motion Detectors

The feasibility of this option would be very limited by the structure of the cubicles full wall height. The pricing for the installation of motion sensors in each cubicle in addition to the price of wiring makes this option relatively expensive.

Energy Efficient Bulbs

Executives at GCA are likely to show concerns with the aesthetics of energy efficient bulbs; making them an unlikely option. In addition, this is likely to be an expensive option to implement, as the price for separate additional lights for each cubicle would quickly add up. 

Schedule

Since the building has restricted access, we have to rely on Richard to do most of the research and collecting pertinent data. This will be completed during or by the end of Spring Break. The rest of the team will then work collaboratively to process and interpret the data and then to present it. Please see our chart link below.

Preliminary Gannt Chart

Conclusion

End the memo with a courteous message and request approval for this project. Your request should reiterate why your group is particularly qualified to do this research. Finally, be sure to leave an open avenue for communication and an offer to answer any questions the reader may have.