New York Times Green Lighting Reduces Energy Use More Than 70 Percent
Cutting energy use by half is a commendable feat for any business. But an innovative lighting system installed by NECA contractors and IBEW electricians in the New York Times’ new 52-story headquarters is delivering energy savings of more than 70 percent per square foot, according to recently released performance figures.
The New York Times’ skyscraper tower, covering 1.6 million square feet, sits between 40th and 42nd streets in New York City, the last major tower developed as part of Times Square’s revitalization. The building was designed to use 1.28 watts per square foot of lighting, but with the installation of a state-of-the-art total lighting management system by the NECA/IBEW team, actual usage has been significantly reduced to only .38 watts per square foot. That’s a decrease of more than 70 percent, according to performance data released by Lutron Electronics Co., whose Quantum lighting system is featured in the building. The reduction translates to yearly savings of about $30,000 per floor — almost $600,000 total — and the elimination of 1,250 metric tons of CO2 annually.
“Total light management is the single greatest opportunity for energy savings in new or retrofit buildings,” says Glenn D. Hughes, director of construction for The New York Times Company.
Integral to the system are radiometers mounted on a rooftop mast to measure the power of the sun, as well as global luminance sensors that gauge the brightness of the sky.
“We wouldn’t be able to run the system without the knowledge of what the sky conditions are,” says Hughes.
Specific lighting levels on each floor are automatically adjusted based on available sunlight, with lights turned on, dimmed or off, while occupancy sensors extinguish unnecessary lights when spaces are vacant.
