Media Contact:
Mark Treichel
Hoffman York
(414) 225-9554
mtreichel@hyc.com
– MATC saves $16,000 annually from lighting upgrade –
Madison, Wis. (October 7, 2009) – With the help of Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide resource for energy efficiency and renewable energy, Madison Area Technical College’s Truax Campus brightened more than just minds this semester. The campus upgraded to high-performance, energy efficient lighting in its industrial and automotive shop wings, swimming pool and even its racquetball courts.
MATC received $25,000 in financial incentives from Focus on Energy for upgrading nearly 300 metal-halide light fixtures to high-performance T8 fluorescent high-bay fixtures. The new fixtures provide better lighting while using only half the wattage the old fixtures required. The upgrade will save more than 220,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually – enough energy to power 22 Wisconsin homes for a year. The college will also benefit from a $16,000 savings on its energy bills each year.
A high-performance T8 system can save up to 40 percent more energy and last 4,000 hours longer than a standard system because it uses an advanced high-lumen, long-life T8 lamp and low-ballast-factor electronic ballast. This combination results in strong energy savings without reducing light output.
“We really wanted to conserve energy,” said Wesley Marquardt, engineering services manager at MATC. “The lighting quality is significantly better and the lights use less energy, which will help keep our operational costs down.”
Not only does the lighting upgrade save energy and money, but it’s also environmentally friendly. The annual environmental benefits are equivalent to offsetting 435 barrels of oil from being burned – eliminating 372,500 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) from being released into the atmosphere.
“Whether you’re a homeowner, small business or a large facility like MATC, upgrading to high-performance lighting will save substantial amounts of energy and money,” said Ken Williams, Focus on Energy’s business programs director. “Energy efficient lighting upgrades are a great way to manage operational costs and get better lighting in the process.”
Focus on Energy can help businesses and residents across the state identify and evaluate energy saving opportunities, provide specific recommendations, develop energy management plans and arrange technical training opportunities about energy conservation. And now through September 30, 2009 Focus is offering bonus incentives above and beyond our standard incentives when businesses upgrade to high-efficiency lighting solutions.
For more information, call (800) 762-7077 or visit focusonenergy.com .
About Madison Area Technical College
Founded in 1912 to teach vocational skills, today Madison Area Technical College is a nationally recognized technical and community college serving parts of 12 counties located in south central Wisconsin. It’s the second largest of the Wisconsin Technical College System’s 16 colleges and serves about 42,000 students.
About Focus on Energy
Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Focus information, resources and financial incentives help to implement projects that otherwise would not be completed, or to complete projects sooner than scheduled. Its efforts help Wisconsin residents and businesses manage rising energy costs, promote in-state economic development, protect our environment and control the state’s growing demand for electricity and natural gas. For more information call (800) 762-7077 or visit www.focusonenergy.com.
