Baltimore County, with a diverse population exceeding 805,000 residents, has undertaken an innovative energy-efficiency retrofit in a first-of-its-kind in the United States multiple garage lighting installation by deploying an advanced, highly energy efficient, web-based lighting system for all of Baltimore County’s municipal parking garages that will allow the County to reduce energy consumption by 60 to 75%, with a 3-year return on investment.
The completed project, managed by Orion partner Pritchett Controls of Maryland, is expected to decrease the amount of kilowatt-hours the Baltimore County parking garages consume for lighting by 1,885,838 kWh annually.
As a result of this significant energy reduction, Baltimore County Revenue Authority is projected to cut its light-related energy costs by $235,729 per year.
The system, manufactured in the United States by Orion Energy Systems, includes a combination of motion detectors, lighting zones and ambient light sensors, high-efficiency fluorescent lighting and fixtures designed specifically for parking garage deployment. The integrated lighting network allows for web-based control of all lights within the entire parking garage system and can be controlled remotely by smart phone or laptop.
As a result of the decreased energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 1,225 tons annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. During that same period, Baltimore County will reduce 4.48 tons of sulfur dioxide and 1.69 tons of nitrogen oxide.
The reductions are the air-scrubbing equivalent of a 346-acre forest planted annually or removing 305 cars per year from the road.
In recognition of this innovative and leading-edge energy efficiency initiative, Baltimore County, Maryland and the Baltimore County Revenue Authority have earned Orion Energy Systems’ Environmental Stewardship Award.
Kevin Kamenetz, County Executive of Baltimore County and Donald Hutchinson, Chairman of the Baltimore County Revenue Authority Board of Directors received the Environmental Stewardship Awards on behalf of their respective jurisdictions.
Additional comments recognizing that this multiple garage lighting installation (the first of its kind in the United States) project is one that will assuredly serve as a prototype for other municipalities throughout the country were offered by Congressman Ruppersberger and Congressman Sarbannes in addition to a commendation from Maryland Governor O’Malley.
Orion Energy Systems Inc. (NYSE Amex: OESX) is a leading power technology enterprise that designs, manufactures and implements energy management systems, consisting primarily of high-performance, energy-efficient lighting platforms, intelligent wireless control systems and direct renewable solar technology for commercial and industrial customers without compromising their operations. Orion has deployed its energy management systems in 7,368 facilities across North America, including 137 of the Fortune 500 companies. Since 2001, Orion technology has displaced more than 678 megawatts, saving customers more than $1.38 billion and reducing indirect carbon dioxide emissions by 11.6 million tons. For more information, visit http://www.oesx.com.
