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{{115inprogress|October 22 2009}} [[Image:BOLLWEAVER.JPG|thumb|right|700px | {{115inprogress|October 22 2009}} [[Image:BOLLWEAVER.JPG|thumb|right|700px]] | ||
== Background == | == Background == | ||
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=== About Boll Weaver === | === About Boll Weaver === | ||
[[Image:CDobbs.JPG|thumb|left | [[Image:CDobbs.JPG|thumb|left]] Boll Weaver (Figure 1) is owned by Crystal Dobbs (Figure 2) and has been in Eureka, California for 15 years. Boll Weaver is a textiles center, offering classes and materials for felting, weaving, crocheting, knitting, dyeing and spinning looms. [http://www.redwoodenergy.org Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA)] worked with Boll Weaver on a lighting retrofit to replace old ballasts and CFL light bulbs with new, energy efficient CLF light bulbs and ballast systems. The building is 1400 square feet, with a storefront space where yarn and products are displayed, and a back room where classes are held. The lights in the store front are on an average of six hours a day, six days a week, and the classroom lights are used only when customers wish to see the looms or when classes are taking place. Boll Weaver also has a desktop computer, used to track orders and purchases, which also contributes to the business's energy consumption.<br> | ||
=== Technical Background <br> === | === Technical Background <br> === | ||
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*KWH: | *KWH: | ||
This stands for kilowatt hours, which is a unit used to measure energy usage. | |||
This stands for kilowatt hours, which is a unit used to measure energy usage. | |||
*CO<sub>2</sub>: | *CO<sub>2</sub>: | ||
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Energy reduction is referred to in terms of CO<sub>2</sub> reduction, as the majority of the energy used is produced from either coal or natural gas combustion, which produces CO<sub>2</sub>. | Energy reduction is referred to in terms of CO<sub>2</sub> reduction, as the majority of the energy used is produced from either coal or natural gas combustion, which produces CO<sub>2</sub>. | ||
*Ballast (Figure 3):[[ | *Ballast (Figure 3):[[Image:LightingBallast.jpg|thumb|right|500px]] | ||
A lighting ballast can be any piece of equipment used to limit the flow of an electrical current through a light. <ref>
J. Dellaporta.
(06 October 2009), What is a Lighting Ballast?. (n.d.). wiseGEEK: clear answers for common questions. Retrieved November 10, 2009, from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-lighting-ballast.htm</ref>[http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-lighting-ballast.htm| Wisegeek.com] gives a complete definition of ballast. | A lighting ballast can be any piece of equipment used to limit the flow of an electrical current through a light. <ref>
J. Dellaporta.
(06 October 2009), What is a Lighting Ballast?. (n.d.). wiseGEEK: clear answers for common questions. Retrieved November 10, 2009, from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-lighting-ballast.htm</ref>[http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-lighting-ballast.htm| Wisegeek.com] gives a complete definition of ballast. | ||
*True Color light Bulb (Figure 4):<br> | *True Color light Bulb (Figure 4):<br> | ||
<br> | [[Image:Truecolor.JPEG|thumb|left]] A True Color light bulb has a higher temperature in the Kelvin Color Scale making it more similar to the light from the sun. A typical florescent bulb is between 3,000 and 5,000 K, where the True Color bulbs are around 6,000 K. The light from the sun on a clear, blue sky day is between 7,000 and 8,500 K. This gives the products illuminated by a True Color light bulb a more vibrant, "true" color. <ref>Tim Carter. (2009). Light Bulbs Alter True Colors . (n.d.). Ask the Builder - The Home Improvement Resource. Retrieved November 10, 2009, from http://www.askthebuilder.com/B101_Light_Bulbs_Alter_True_Colors_.shtml </ref> | ||
<br> | |||
== Lighting Retrofit == | == Lighting Retrofit == | ||
RCEA worked with Boll Weaver to retrofit all ballasts and bulbs at the shop. In total twenty four bulbs were replaced and twelve ballasts. The bulbs that were recommended by RCEA did not fit the needs of the business based on the color performance, and due to this an independent lighting contractor was used. The bulbs were replaced with True Color light bulbs, which had the same efficiency as the light bulbs recommended by RCEA. The nature of the products that are sold in the store require a more vivid color spectrum which required these special bulbs to be used. These true color bulbs were 59 watts, which is higher energy than the 32 watt bulbs that RCEA recommends. | |||
RCEA worked with Boll Weaver to retrofit all ballasts and bulbs at the shop. In total twenty four bulbs were replaced and twelve ballasts. The bulbs that were recommended by RCEA did not fit the needs of the business based on the color performance, and due to this an independent lighting contractor was used. The bulbs were replaced with True Color light bulbs, which had the same efficiency as the light bulbs recommended by RCEA. The nature of the products that are sold in the store require a more vivid color spectrum which required these special bulbs to be used. These true color bulbs were 59 watts, which is higher energy than | |||
== Outcome of the Retrofits == | == Outcome of the Retrofits == | ||
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There is no need for further retrofits in relation to the lighting at the Boll Weaver because all of the lights were replaced. | There is no need for further retrofits in relation to the lighting at the Boll Weaver because all of the lights were replaced. | ||
=== Overall Experience With RCEA === | === Overall Experience With RCEA === | ||
Ms. Dobbs said that she was happy with her overall experience with RCEA. They gave her the extra push she needed to get this project done. She said RCEA was very informative, polite and patient when it came to waiting for the independent contractor to finish the job. <br> | |||
== Related Links == | == Related Links == |
Revision as of 21:50, 11 December 2009
Background
About Boll Weaver
Boll Weaver (Figure 1) is owned by Crystal Dobbs (Figure 2) and has been in Eureka, California for 15 years. Boll Weaver is a textiles center, offering classes and materials for felting, weaving, crocheting, knitting, dyeing and spinning looms. Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) worked with Boll Weaver on a lighting retrofit to replace old ballasts and CFL light bulbs with new, energy efficient CLF light bulbs and ballast systems. The building is 1400 square feet, with a storefront space where yarn and products are displayed, and a back room where classes are held. The lights in the store front are on an average of six hours a day, six days a week, and the classroom lights are used only when customers wish to see the looms or when classes are taking place. Boll Weaver also has a desktop computer, used to track orders and purchases, which also contributes to the business's energy consumption.
Technical Background
Definition of Technical Terms:
- KWH:
This stands for kilowatt hours, which is a unit used to measure energy usage.
- CO2:
Energy reduction is referred to in terms of CO2 reduction, as the majority of the energy used is produced from either coal or natural gas combustion, which produces CO2.
- Ballast (Figure 3):
A lighting ballast can be any piece of equipment used to limit the flow of an electrical current through a light. [1]Wisegeek.com gives a complete definition of ballast.
- True Color light Bulb (Figure 4):
A True Color light bulb has a higher temperature in the Kelvin Color Scale making it more similar to the light from the sun. A typical florescent bulb is between 3,000 and 5,000 K, where the True Color bulbs are around 6,000 K. The light from the sun on a clear, blue sky day is between 7,000 and 8,500 K. This gives the products illuminated by a True Color light bulb a more vibrant, "true" color. [2]
Lighting Retrofit
RCEA worked with Boll Weaver to retrofit all ballasts and bulbs at the shop. In total twenty four bulbs were replaced and twelve ballasts. The bulbs that were recommended by RCEA did not fit the needs of the business based on the color performance, and due to this an independent lighting contractor was used. The bulbs were replaced with True Color light bulbs, which had the same efficiency as the light bulbs recommended by RCEA. The nature of the products that are sold in the store require a more vivid color spectrum which required these special bulbs to be used. These true color bulbs were 59 watts, which is higher energy than the 32 watt bulbs that RCEA recommends.
Outcome of the Retrofits
The overall outcome of the retrofits resulted in some savings, however they were less than the RCEA predicted. The average monthly KWH usage for the year prior to the retrofit (10/2007-9/2008) was 308 KWH, which amounts to about 162 lbs of CO2 produced per month (Table 1). The average monthly KWH usage the year following the retrofit (10/2008-9/2009) was 278 KWH, which amounts to about 146 lbs of CO2 per month (Table 1). This was calculated by finding the average KWH usage from September 2007 to August 2008 and comparing it with the average KWH usage from September 2008 to August 2009. To find the CO2 emitted, the average KWH use was multiplied by 0.5246lbsCO2/KWH. To find the monthly savings KWH was multiplied by the rate $0.16716/KWH. This is a yearly reduction of about 192 lbs of CO2 (Table 2) or a 10% reduction in energy use. The actual yearly KWH reduction this far has been 28% of that predicted by RCEA.
Table 1 (Raw data obtained from RCEA[3]):
Average Monthly KWH Usage |
CO2 Produced Per Month | |
Before Retrofit |
308 KWH |
162 lbs/month |
After Retrofit |
278 KWH |
146 lbs/month |
Table 2 ( Raw data obtained from RCEA [3]):
Predicted |
Actual | |
KWH Saved |
1,308 KWH/year |
360 KWH/year |
Dollars Saved Per Month |
$18.22 |
$5.01 |
CO2 Reduction |
680 lbs/year |
192 lbs/year |
Total Cost |
$1,933.00 |
$2,050.00 |
Payback Time |
7.8 years |
30 years |
Clients Habits After the Retrofits
The habits of the client did not change after the retrofit, most in part because Ms. Dobbs had preexisting habits that were energy conscience. One of the major reasons that Ms. Dobbs went through with the retrofit was because of environmental impact, which Ms. Dobbs has always been a strong advocate for.
Boll Weaver's Motivation to Go Forward With the Retrofits
Ms. Dobbs went forward with the retrofit because she is an advocate of energy efficiency and needed to upgrade the lighting of the store, as the lighting was there since she opened her business 15 years ago. Ms. Dobbs did the retrofits for the idea of promoting energy efficiency more than for the money it would save. Ms. Dobbs would have liked to upgrade her lightning either way, but the push from RCEA made it a reality.
There is no need for further retrofits in relation to the lighting at the Boll Weaver because all of the lights were replaced.
Overall Experience With RCEA
Ms. Dobbs said that she was happy with her overall experience with RCEA. They gave her the extra push she needed to get this project done. She said RCEA was very informative, polite and patient when it came to waiting for the independent contractor to finish the job.
Related Links
More about Kelvin Color Temperature
More about what impacts CO2 emission
Learn more about RCEA
References
- ↑ J. Dellaporta. (06 October 2009), What is a Lighting Ballast?. (n.d.). wiseGEEK: clear answers for common questions. Retrieved November 10, 2009, from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-lighting-ballast.htm
- ↑ Tim Carter. (2009). Light Bulbs Alter True Colors . (n.d.). Ask the Builder - The Home Improvement Resource. Retrieved November 10, 2009, from http://www.askthebuilder.com/B101_Light_Bulbs_Alter_True_Colors_.shtml
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Redwood Coast Energy Authority. (2009). Welcome to the Redwood Coast Energy Authority website. (n.d.). Welcome to the Redwood Coast Energy Authority website. Retrieved November 12, 2009, from http://www.redwoodenergy.org/