Ok team, here is the outline of the report. The actual .doc is highly formatted, so rather than posting for all to edit, I created this page and will copy and paste. (It took me a bit of time to figure out formatting and I know from experience that when it gets altered it is almost impossible to fix - you must start over. I will submit this draft in .doc to Dr. Staggers and will post on webcampus.) We do need to start writing, so feel free to pick one and go.

Richard - let me know how you want to include your info/findings. If you want, you can post here and I will write around it. Just let me/us know. I know it seems simplified for you at this point, but I think the rest of us are still struggling to understand. Also, how can I help/do the appendices and source info?

Also, any comments/thoughts/dissension are welcome...just let me know.

Letter of transmittal

Cover/Title Page

Executive Summary

Table of Contents

Introduction................................................................................................................................. 3

Background.................................................................................................................................. 3

Client Description....................................................................................................................... 3

The Problem................................................................................................................................. 3

Recommendation........................................................................................................................ 4

Research........................................................................................................................................ 4

Methodolgy or Methods and Findings                                                                                      4

Introduction

Global Cash Access, a service provider for the gaming industry, has a Las Vegas office composed of two main building sections. Like any office building, its office contains numerous fluorescent bulbs which are operated by only one control for an entire section. Despite the fact that large portions of the building are unoccupied during the evenings and sporadically throughout the day, these lights are very rarely turned off. These circumstances present an obvious problem of waste and inefficiency with Global Cash Access's power consumption.The purpose of this report is to present a series of directives designed to tackle this issue and to provide the client (Global Cash Access) with viable options to reduce their overall power consumption

Background

The current office layout, lighting plan, and the timing of employee hours are tremendously inefficient. As such, we have devised a proposal that includes several sustainable directives that aim to decrease daily power consumption. Most of the lighting is 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 an entire 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). These issues present tremendous opportunities for cost savings that are not only financially enticing but are environmentally conscious.

Client Description

Global Cash Access (GCA) is the premier provider of cash access products for the gaming industry in the United States and the world. Established in the early 1970s, GCA  provides products and services to over 1,100 gaming establishments worldwide, including all of the largest gaming companies in the United States. GCA's headquaters are located in Las Vegas, NV, a suitable site for the industry that they serve (http://www.globalcashaccess.com/Contact.html). 

The Problem

The current office layout, lighting plan, and the timing of employee hours are tremendously inefficient. As such, we have devised a proposal that includes several sustainable directives that aim to decrease daily power consumption. Most of the lighting is 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 an entire 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). These issues present tremendous opportunities for cost savings that are not only financially enticing but are environmentally conscious.

I HAVE BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM THE SAME…ARE THEY?

Recommendations

I think it is best to list in order of our recommendations, which I believe are:

1.    Rewiring to:

1.1   Add individual light switches

The current wiring arrangement causes all of the lights in one area to be turned on from only 1 switch. To mitigate excessive power consumption, zones have been create to divide up the current circuitry into more manageable areas.  For the North side office in particular, seven equally sized and lit areas would allow for maximum control over individual areas while maintaining sufficient lighting for working conditions. Each of the seven zones would contain 10 lighting fixtures that operate at 96 watts each. For each of these zones, a switch would be installed in a relevant and accessible area on the wall. 

1.2    Add motion sensors

Motion sensors add an additional level of sensitivity in the efforts to reduce overall power consumption. In addition to the switches that are to be implemented for each of the zones, each of these will also be synchronized with a respective motion sensor. Outside of normal business hours, the motion sensors will take the place of individual initiative by ensuring that an unoccupied zones would remain off until an employee trips its sensor. Motion sensor will only be effective if used in conjunction with manually operated switched along with a company wide memorandum to inform employees of their importance. 

Research

Our research consisted of:

• ·      On-site inspections
• ·      Evaluation of office layout 
• ·      Evaluation of wiring diagrams
• ·      Internet searches

Methodolgy or Methods and Findings

Richard – maybe you could list the methods/findings you used here. They could be listed in bullet or numbered form.

Conclusion

List of Sources

Appendices