COLORADO GREEN BUILDING GUILD

Commercial Case Studies

Local Commercial Case Studies

Budget Home Center: Inefficient T12 lighting was upgraded to T8 lighting (with high efficiency electronic ballasts) in the shop, aisle displays, office, and restrooms. In the showroom and warehouse, 400 Watt metal halide fixtures were replaced with 6 lamp, 4 foot linear fluorescent high bay fixtures equipped with high efficiency electronic ballasts.

Longmont YMCA: The Longmont YMCA’s basketball and racquetball courts, cardio room, and weight room are each lit entirely by 400-watt metal halide lamps. Metal halide to T8 lighting improved light quality and decreased energy use.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship: BVUUF had an Xcel Small Business Lighting assessment, and completed all the items recommended. Their T12 lighting was replaced by T8s, and incandescent bulbs changed for CFLs. Occupancy sensors were mounted in the bathrooms, kitchen and “cry room” off the sanctuary.

Automatics & Machinery Company, Inc: Automatics & Machinery did a complete lighting retrofit project of the office area and warehouse that included replacing incandescent Exit signs with LED exit signs, replacing metal halide re-cessed and spot lights with LED and CFL lighting, retrofitted T12 lamps to T8 lamps, replaced
400 watt metal halide fixtures with 6 lamp T8 fixtures, and installed 20 watt LED wall pack on
the exterior of the building.

Nature Conservatory:  The Nature Conservancy projected nearly $7.00 a square foot cost, but is using $3.50, half of the anticipated energy per square foot.This cost reduction is paying back the initial investment in smart lighting, efficient windows and energy efficient heating and cooling strategies.The Nature Conservancy is using 20% wind energy, Windsource®, to further reduce their building's reliance on natural resources.

North Boulder Recreation Center:  The newly renovated North Boulder Recreation Center (NBRC) reopened in January  2003 and features a large spa, sauna, sun deck, and an expanded weight/cardio  room and gymnastics center. The facility was constructed to meet the U.S.Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) silver standard.

GEO Case Studies

Colorado Springs School District 11 Case Study

Canon City Performance Contracting Case Study

Leading By Example - The Colorado State Capitol LEED Certification
Published by the Governor’s Energy Office ©2009

On the Fast Track to Better Buildings and Energy Savings: A Case Study
Published by the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office ©2008

The City of Lafayette Improves Facilities and Reduces Utility Expenses

Turning Energy Savings into a Better Learning Environment: A Case Study
Published by the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office ©2008

Other Case Studies

U.S. DOE U.S. DOE High Performance Buildings Database
The High Performance Buildings Database is research sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy that seeks to improve building performance measuring methods by collecting data on various factors that affect a building's performance, such as energy, materials, and land use. The database collects information from buildings around the world, ranging from homes and commercial interiors to large buildings and even whole campuses and neighborhoods. These may be certified green projects, or simply projects that have one or more notable environmental features.

US Green Building Council - LEED Certified Project List USGBC page highlighting LEED certified projects from each of their programs including LEED for Homes.

South Western Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) Colorado Case Studies Links