Lighting Tech Tip: Light Up School Projects

Do you have a working relationship with your local K-12 schools, community college, or university? If not, now is a great time to develop meaningful contacts with these institutions. While many schools have postponed capital projects in the past year, some districts are now receiving additional financial assistance to help in getting projects off the ground.

The benefits of upgrading classrooms go well beyond energy savings:

• Lighting controls allow teachers to modify the light levels to enhance learning environments.
• Retrofit light fixtures offer daylighting control required by code, dimming, and color tuning as needed.
• Upgrades to exterior and common areas with long hours of operation offer an attractive return on lighting investments.
• Non-energy benefits that add value to individual health and well-being are important too. Many facility managers are working to improve building health ratings and find that lighting is an important tool for meeting healthy building initiatives.

Energy cost savings make an impact on tight school district budgets, but don’t overlook non-energy saving benefits in your sales presentation. Sometimes they are the final piece of the puzzle to help move a decision forward. You may also suggest developing projects in phases to allow school administrators greater flexibility in awarding contracted work. Most utilities allow project phasing as a great way to soften budget and time constraints.

As you explore school project opportunities in your area, remember to work with your local field specialist to determine utility incentive availability and project requirements.