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Turning Off the Lights!
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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
Sustainability Project: Red Team One
Team Member
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Background
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Richard Wood
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Richard has the unique advantage of being an employee of Global Cash Access (GCA). Having worked there for nearly 10 years, he is familiar with the general business climate and has access to the personnel who can approve our proposal.
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Jennifer Smith
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A former sales executive with over 14 years experience in prospecting, research, and presentations. Jennifer has also worked on several group projects and managed budgets up to $1,000,000.
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Antonia Connolly
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Antonia Connolly is an Information Developer with a Point of Sale Software company in Las Vegas. Working in a similar 24/7 work environment, working collaboratively on a daily basis to create and maintain both internal and external documentation helps provide a certain familiarity with the subject matter.
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Jeffrey Hajibandeh
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Jeffrey is a licensed Engineering Intern (EIT) and Civil Engineer with experience in green building design. He has worked on several development projects to optimize site plans and maximize the efficiency of design. Additionally, he has created several proposals and post-construction reports, making him a capable member of a Sustainability Team.
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North Office Building
South Office Layout
Recommendations
[Text]
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
Question
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Primary/Secondary
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Method
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Source
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Assignment
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What is the best way for Global Access to cut costs/consumption regarding electricity usage?
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Secondary
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XXXX
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XXXX
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How much the project would cost (this may be the most difficult part; the company will likely want some solid numbers for savings before they approve getting an estimate)?
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Secondary
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XXXX
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XXXX
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How many lights are in use under each switch?
How the building is currently wired (i.e. where the electrical sources for each light "split off"); this will help determine how much rewiring will cost?
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Primary
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Site Visit
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Richard
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How many lights are in each potential zone?
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Secondary
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Layout Draft
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Jeffrey
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How much energy does one fluorescent tube use?
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Primary
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Site Visit
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Richard
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What are the typical hours someone would be in each zone (and therefore when the lights would be off)?
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Primary
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Survey
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Richard
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What is the price per kilowatt? How many fluorescent tubes are needed to provide sufficient light during non-standard hours of operation?
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Secondary
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Internet Research
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Antonia
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Is there a more effective light source the company can use?
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Secondary
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Internet Research
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Jeffrey
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How many "zones" are needed (by looking at different possibilities for lighting up the areas)?
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Secondary
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XXXX
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Antonia
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9 zones total
South Building:
Zone 1: Upper Half of Left portion of office (18 fixtures), Zone 2:Lower Half of Left portion of office (18 fixtures), Zone 3: Customer Support Supervisors (9 fixtures), Zone 4: Customer Support Upper Half of Left portion of office (20 fixtures), Zone 5: Customer Support Lower Half of Left portion of office (20 fixtures), Zones 6: Guest (10 fixtures)
North Building
Zone 1: Finance and Legal (16 fixtures), Zone 2: sales relationship mgmt/ billing (24 fixtures), Zone 3: IT administration (16 fixtures)
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How much electricity each zone uses (per kWh); determined by # of lights times wattage per light?
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Secondary
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Internet Research
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Antonia
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Answer: Each 4 tube fixture uses 6.4kWs per hour.
South Building Zone 1 115.2 kWh
South Building Zone 2 115.2 kWh
South Building Zone 3 57.6 kWh
South Building Zone 4 126 kWh
South Building Zone 5 126 kWh
South Building Zone 6 64 kWh
North Building Zone 1 102.4 kWh
North Building Zone 2 153.6 kWh
North Building Zone 3 102.4 kWh
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The savings in electricity (based on the time lights would be off per zone times electricity used per zone times the electrical rate). Calculate max. and min. figures
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Secondary
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Internet Research
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Antonia
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Answer:
South Building Zone 1 Each hour off saves $9.09
South Building Zone 2 Each hour off saves $9.09
South Building Zone 3 Each hour off saves $4.55
South Building Zone 4 Each hour off saves $10.10
South Building Zone 5 Each hour off saves $10.10
South Building Zone 6 Each hour off saves $5.05
North Building Zone 1 Each hour off saves $8.08
North Building Zone 2 Each hour off saves $12.12
North Building Zone 3 Each hour off saves $8.08
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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
[Text]
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.
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