Rogers, AR /PRNewswire/ - The City of Chicago and U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Chicago Chapter recently selected Derry Berrigan Lighting Design (DBLD), for its LEED® Platinum expansion of the Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT), the Greenbuild Chicago 2007 Legacy Project.
DBLD achieved 45 percent below ASHRAE 2004 standards exceeding LEED Platinum requirements by 10 percent without any aesthetic or lighting quality compromises using daylighting and light emitting diode (LED) lighting sources. This accomplishment is a major advancement for sustainable lighting design.
"We are proud to be a part of this expansion project. The City of Chicago's Center for Green Technology is a place for learning by demonstration-every community should have one," says Jeff Beaver, project manager, DBLD. "The Center's educational outreach to more than 20,000 visitors a year will raise awareness of and support for sustainable lighting design and the viability of LED lighting for general illumination. This project has set a high benchmark and proven that LED lighting sources must become the new standard."
"The three pillars of sustainability-people, prosperity, and the planet-must be considered equally while designing," adds Derry Berrigan, DBLD's principal lighting designer. "We have the responsibility as lighting designers to not only deliver aesthetically pleasing visual environments while meeting the task requirements of the occupants, but also consider the total environmental and economic impact of our designs. We have the techniques and tools to deliver sustainable lighting now, and we owe it to our clients and our futures to do it."
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, lighting accounts for approximately 30 percent of a building's electricity consumption-its largest single demand. The cost to the environment is enormous. Lighting is responsible for approximately 130 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, about 7 percent of all carbon emissions.
The Chicago Center for Green Technology's first phase of expansion utilizes high-performance LED technology (90 percent of all lighting fixtures in the Center are LED). All occupants have access to outdoor views and daylight, and leading-edge Lutron lighting controls provide additional opportunities in minimizing energy usage, up to 50 percent. These strategies will allow the Center to reduce its energy consumption and environmental impact, and save money on electricity and maintenance costs.
One of the new and innovative lighting technologies used at the Center are the LR6 LED downlights from LED Lighting Fixtures Inc. (LLF). The LR6 consumes only 12 watts, saving 39 percent in energy consumption over fluorescent and 83 percent over incandescent lighting sources. "The LR6 is the most eco friendly interior lighting product available today," adds Berrigan. "It produces better light quality than any traditional light source." The LR6 is manufactured using recycled aluminum, contains no hazardous mercury, emanates no noticeable heat, produces no UV, lasts 50,000 hours, and is guaranteed for 3 years.
Stephen Bell, director of the Chicago Center for Green Technology, notes, "The challenge for the team at DBLD was to create a lighting design that met the stringent LEED Platinum standards and our needs while specifying products that were both environmentally conscious and within our budget. I am pleased that they exceeded every standard and overcame the many challenges all within budget."
About Derry Berrigan Lighting Design
Derry Berrigan Lighting Design (DBLD), located in Northwest Arkansas, provides sustainable lighting design services to select residential, retail, office, hospitality and restaurant projects across the United States. DBLD creates sustainable lighting designs that enhance architectural character, produce an inviting atmosphere, and increase the comfort and security for the occupants through thoughtful and artistic use of light. By meeting design challenges with creative, energy-conscious solutions, DBLD has established a reputation for versatility, reliability and innovation.
About Chicago Center for Green Technology
The City of Chicago's Center for Green Technology is a nationally-recognized green building with a Platinum LEED certification. It is a model for green building and a valuable resource showcasing green and sustainable building techniques, technologies, and materials that-when used-can enhance the quality of life for the building's occupants, save money, energy, and resources, and reduce the building's impact on the environment.
Source: LED Lighting Fixtures Inc. (www.ledlightingfixtures.com)
For additional information, contact Derry Berrigan, DBLD for LED Lighting Fixtures, Inc., [email protected].
