Muskogee, Oklahoma VA Medical Center

Customer Profile:

In Oklahoma, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates major medical centers in Muskogee and Oklahoma City with well over 1.5 million square feet. One of the most visible of all VA benefits is health care.

Customer Issues:

• Increased Energy and Maintenance Cost
• Assurance of Adequate Light Levels
• Older Lighting Technologies
• Variety of Lighting Technologies
• High Number of Burned Out Lamps and Ballasts
• Controlling Lighting Consumption

Project Objective:

As part of a comprehensive energy project, we designed and implemented an energy efficient lighting upgrade at the Oklahoma VA facilities. The upgrade was designed to improve the healthcare environment, replace old lighting technologies, reduce maintenance and utility cost and standardize lighting materials. A burn hour analysis was conducted throughout both facilities to determine where lighting controls could be applied. Light levels were evaluated at each area to ensure the areas met the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) lighting standards. The overall project was funded utilizing the reduction of energy dollars from within the existing utility budget.

Results:

Improved lighting systems and reduced utility cost were achieved at both sites. At the Oklahoma City VA facility a partial lighting upgrade had been completed four years prior to our evaluation. As part of our project, we standardized on lighting throughout the hospital greatly improving the aesthetic appearance for both administrators and patients. All new construction at the Muskogee VA facility was previously designed with newer T8 technology. Our project at that facility was targeted at the older construction to upgrade technologies for a consistent lighting system throughout. The new lighting systems at both facilities included upgrading the incandescent and T12 fluorescent lamps and magnetic ballasts with new energy efficient T-8 fluorescent lamp and electronic ballast technologies. Lighting Controls were installed where appropriate. The project resulted in many benefits for each facility that included increased light levels, provided consistent light output, reduced energy costs, reduced operating costs, and standardization of lighting materials. Improved lighting and reduction of burn hours in many areas, funded with reduced energy cost, extended life of lamps and ballasts, increased maintenance productivity, and protracted material warranties.