Giving business buildings a
greener glow

As a promoter of sustainability, Cushman & Wakefield is always looking for new ways to conserve energy. The company turned its attention to one of the properties it manages: an expansive campus owned by an insurance firm. Covering four million square feet and comprising five tenant-lease commercial buildings and four parking garages, the site had sky-high operating costs.

Innovative illumination was the answer. A new lighting system would drive down energy and maintenance costs while ensuring consistent color through the site. Chosen for the job were Philips Energy AdvantageT8 25W Lamps featuring ALTO II™ Technology, driven by Advance Optanium® 25W Electronic Ballasts. Our lights replaced the old fluorescent fixtures, creating a welcoming working environment over 110 floors of office space.

In the four parking garages, our efficient 25 watt lamps were used to replace 1,600 outdated 175 watt metal halide lamps. The previous lamps had been operating on a 24–7 basis, using excessive electricity. To prevent future energy waste, the new fixtures were fitted with motion-detecting controls. The lights are timed to turn on at 9pm, but will turn off automatically if there are no people around. When they are switched on, the lamps create bright light with no glare, guaranteeing comfort and safety for drivers.The new lights have reduced energy consumption by up to 45% relative to the old T12 lamps and magnetic ballasts, and by 20–30% relative to conventional T8 lamps and electronic ballasts. What’s more, with a 30,000 hour life cycle, the lights will only need minimal maintenance in future.