Common Mistakes in Lighting Upgrades

In the May 2009 issue of Buildings Magazine, David R. Laybourn, director of marketing and sales for Lime Energy in Glendora, CA, offered some good advice in an article titled, “Prevent 17 Common Lighting Mistakes.”

Ten of these costly mistakes are paraphrased here:

1. Working with the wrong people: Choose experienced partners.
2. Conflicts in the chain of command: Invite input from all affected parties but empower a single project manager to make decisions from beginning to end.
3. Ignoring occupants: Include the lighting system’s ultimate users in the process.
4. Skimping on the audit: Conduct a thorough audit to avoid mistakes and realize full value of the lighting upgrade.
5. Focusing on price: Avoid substitutions and inexperienced service providers that can compromise lighting quality or energy savings.
6. No contingency planning: Consider “what ifs” in your planning.
7. Not testing thoroughly: Thoroughly evaluate all options before commitment.
8. Sloppy installation: Ensure the installation is properly planned and coordinated.
9. Using averages to calculate financial performance: Use localized data, such as the building’s actual energy rates, to conduct your economic analysis.
10. Missing opportunity: “It’s a big mistake to believe that installing new equipment to save energy is ‘not in the budget,’” Laybourn writes. “That’s like saying you can’t afford to save money. The mere act of paying your electricity bill means there’s cash waiting to work for you.”

Craig DiLouie

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