Teaching Schools to Save Money

Universal Lighting Technologies Offers Five Ballast Families to Reduce Energy Costs in the Classroom

Universal Lighting Technologies is targeting public schools and universities with the opportunity to protect millions in taxpayer dollars in a troubled economy through energy-saving retrofits. Thanks to a comprehensive range of high-efficiency lighting ballasts, Universal Lighting Technologies gives educational facilities the power to slash energy consumption in the classroom for monthly savings on utility bills.

Switching outdated lighting ballasts for today’s high-efficiency models can result in ongoing financial savings that can be predicted and verified. For example, a recent retrofit project at six universities in Tennessee is saving the state’s taxpayers approximately one million dollars per year in energy costs. Such projects pay for themselves in the short term while providing a continued return on investment (ROI) in the long term.

For classroom applications, Universal Lighting Technologies offers five complete ballast families to ensure the best fit in terms of functionality as well as energy savings for any retrofit project. The most powerful option is DEMANDflex™ ballasts with a DCL Control System.

DEMANDflex™ Ballasts

Designed to operate two F54T5HO lamps or up to four F32T8 lamps, these ballasts can be individually “tuned” by the installer to the proper power level (ballast factor) in order to prevent the common problem of wasting energy on unnecessarily bright lights. After they are installed, DEMANDflex™ ballasts can work with a DCL Control System to provide unmatched energy management capabilities. DCL (Demand Control Lighting) technology allows an educational facility to control power levels to lighting fixtures in one-percent increments down to 50-percent power. Changes in power levels can be made manually by computer or they can be automated by scheduling software, occupancy sensors, or photocells for daylight harvesting. The ballasts and control system communicate on the circuit level so there is no need to install costly control wiring.

With a DCL Control System, the facility can also opt into a demand response program where the local utility company has the ability to reduce power levels to the facility’s lighting fixtures in order to reduce stress on the area’s electrical grid in times of peak demand. Minimizing energy consumption during peak hours when electrical rates are at their highest can result in significant cost savings, whether the facility is part of a demand response program or is acting on its own.

AccuStart5® Ballasts

For pure energy efficiency in the classroom, AccuStart5® ballasts for T5 lamps provide an 8% energy savings or more compared to traditional T5 products. With Programmed Rapid Start Technology, these ballasts are ideal for classroom settings with a high number of on/off cycles or for multi-level lighting control. They offer more than 100 initial lumens per watt while helping the facility comply with ASHRAE, IECC and Title 24 energy codes. Plus, universal input voltage and a low-profile case simplify installation. AccuStart5 ballasts are available in .95 and 1.15 ballast factor options.

Ballastar® T5 Ballasts

Ballastar® T5 ballasts also offer up to eight percent energy savings over standard T5 ballasts, plus the ability to switch from half to full output via wall switch or lighting relay. The light-level switching capability of the Ballastar T5 allows for simple compliance with ASHRAE 90.1 and California Title 24 switching requirements. Unlike standard ballast and lamp switching, light-level switching illuminates an entire area evenly without dark spots. All Ballastar ballasts incorporate two “hot” power leads for control with two standard switches or relays, which simplifies installation. Switching on one lead provides 50-percent power, while having both switches on provides 100-percent power. These ballasts are also compatible with occupancy sensors and feature programmed starting for long lamp life.

DaliPro® Ballasts

For programmable lighting environments with unlimited scenes and versatility, DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) technology allows lighting fixtures to be assigned to a limitless variety of lighting groups and each group can be programmed to perform multiple commands at the push of a button. Commands include on/off, light level control, scene recall, and more. This technology is ideal for classrooms where instructors need to switch between a wide variety of lighting arrangements. Wall station devices make initial programming and daily operation simple and convenient. DaliPro® ballasts from Universal Lighting Technologies are compatible with DALI technology while also providing high-efficiency operation for energy savings.

ULTim8® Ballasts

The ULTim8® family of T8 ballasts is designed to provide a quick payback by slashing energy bills up to 40 percent compared to T12 systems and up to six percent versus standard electronic T8 ballasts. More than 57,000 ULTim8 ballasts were used in the retrofit project for Tennessee universities.

“We’re saving the taxpayers of Tennessee about a million dollars per year. That’s why the Board of Regents is so pleased,” explained Rob Wilson, vice president of Stones River, the lighting contractor selected to handle the installation. “But the students and staff at these six universities are getting a lot more than just energy savings out of this retrofit project. With the ULTim8 ballasts, they now have improved light quality, more consistent light levels, and—last but not least—reduced maintenance costs.”

For more information on Universal Lighting Technologies and its high-efficiency ballasts for classroom applications, call 1-800-BALLAST or visit the Web site at www.unvlt.com.

For more than six decades, Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc., has been bringing power and precision to the world’s most innovative lighting. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., with operations and distribution worldwide, the products of Universal Lighting Technologies are marketed under the Universal® and Triad® brand names. Universal Lighting Technologies is focused on designing, manufacturing and distributing the industry’s finest lighting ballasts and controls. Universal Lighting Technologies—Energy Intelligence in Lighting.™

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