Council Energy Saving with Chamaleon LED Light from enLighten

Local Government Case Study Parramatta eliminates lighting waste

Summary
Project Date: March - September 2013
Client: Parramatta City Council
Project site location: Hunter St, Wentworth St, Erby & Horwood Place Car Parks, Parramatta, NSW
Project type: Fire stair lighting retrofit in car parks & administration building
Energy efficiency rebate: TBC
Estimated electricity savings (%): 88%
Project ROI: 4.1 years (ex maintenance savings & Energy Savings Certificates)

Background
Parramatta Council commissioned an independent Level 2 energy audit from Environ Australia, to understand in more detail the energy consumption at its four multi-level carparks, of which three were in Council's top ten energy using sites.

From left: Wentworth St, Hunter St Car parks & Council Administration building

Traditional fluorescent lighting with simple on/off switches were the principal source of the car parks' energy consumption, and lights were frequently left on after closure. At one car park, the energy efficiency activities included installing a CBUS control system with motion and light sensors, which delivered 33% energy savings without any change of lights. At another car park, a combination of control systems, sensors, and T8 fluorescent lights were replaced with T5s, delivering over 50% lighting energy savings.

In the Council administration building fire stair, the emergency lighting consisted of one T8 and one T5, as twin T5s could not operate as emergency lighting.

Chamaeleon retrofit project scope
Electrical contractor Argyle Electrical Contractors Pty Ltd proposed the Chamaeleon LED light for the car parks during the lighting upgrade.

Council had previously been notified of the award winning light by its Australian manufacturer, Enlighten Australia, and analysed the project payback calculations before adding the lights to the scope of works.

Single ceiling mounted 10 chip emergency Chamaeleon lights were installed in the fire stairs, replacing twin 36watt T8 fluorescent tube fittings, operating 24/7 without controls A total of 173 lights were installed across the 4 car parks in the car park fire stair areas.

Project results
The overall project lighting energy savings were 88%, representing a 4.1 year payback. The payback figure calculation was inclusive of product supply and installation costs & exclusive of the maintenance savings and the value of potential Energy Savings Certificates generated by the project. Council intends to apply for the creation of the energy efficiency certificates under the NSW Government, which will deliver a further financial rebate, post sale.

The energy savings are delivered by the Chamaeleon light's patented dual circuit design. This enables the light to operate on a standby mode, drawing 7-9 watts, whilst the area is unoccupied, increasing to full light output (28-32 watts) once a presence is detected via an inbuilt microwave occupancy sensor. The Chamaeleon's adjustable inbuilt microwave sensor settings allow for flexibility in timing and proximity to suit the area of use.

Chamaeleon light in full light output (left) & standby mode (right)in Hunter St Car park

Client feedback
According to Council's Lord Mayor, Councillor John Chedid, the decision to go with the Chamaeleon light was as a result of the product knowledge combined with the recommendation of the preferred electrical contractor, Argyle Electrical, who had had experience installing the light in commercial office stairs in the Parramatta local area.

"We were very happy with the energy savings results of the lighting upgrade. On the strength of the car park lighting upgrade results, we have since installed Chamaeleon lights in all four multilevel carparks, our main administration building and the Parramatta Library".
Councillor John Chedid, Lord Mayor, Parramatta City Council

"Having installed the Chamaeleon light in a neighbouring property & being conscious of Council's energy savings commitment, I co-ordinated a site visit with Council's Sustainability & Asset Managers. Once the Council's Officers had seen the Chamaeleon fittings operating and investigated the power saving and maintenance advantage, the decision was made to proceed."
Peter Sparke, Argyle Electrical Contractor Pty Ltd