CCES was part of a team that helped a warehouse/office complex in Queens comply with NYC Local Law 87, mandatory energy audits. We performed the energy audit as required by the law, identifying seven strategies that would reduce energy usage and, thus, save significant costs. The energy audit report and other materials (including a retro-commissioning analysis) were completed and submitted to the agency in time for the firm to comply with LL 87.

Company management reviewed the report and was impressed with and selected two of seven recommended strategies to implement. The facility has significant warehouse space which was lit with nearly 700 T8 4-foot fluorescent tube lights, each requiring 32 watts of electricity. In addition to this inefficient source of light, the lights were not controlled in any way. They were on for most of the day, every day of the year, illuminating the entire warehouse continually, even when an area is not used. The report, needed to comply with LL 87, recommended switching to 4-foot LED tubes reducing wattage by over 50% and installing occupancy sensors to turn off lights when nobody is in an area. Management really understood this value, as they realized that one corner of the warehouse has workers within it – at most – only a couple of times per week, for perhaps 10 or 15 minutes only. Yet the inefficient lights were on continually.

Management used the discussion and calculation to implement both suggested changes. Changing the lights to LEDs (with new, modern ballasts) and installing occupancy sensors saved the company over 200,000 kWh of electricity usage per year. Their cost savings on their utility bill (which they can realize right away) was about $45,000 per year. Given rebates to procure and install the LED tubes and sensors, the cost was quite affordable and the simple payback was only 8 months. Given an estimated lifetime of 10 years for the LEDs and sensors, that’s a lot of positive cash flow. In addition, the warehouse benefited by reduced O&M costs, much fewer trips to the ceiling to replace burned out fluorescent lamps and reduced risk of injuries (fewer trips in a cherry picker).

If you have done a LL 87 report or had any other energy audit done, read your report and see the opportunities to save substantial costs and expenses with energy upgrades. CCES has the experts to help project manage and implement the energy upgrades you choose for your building. Contact us today at 914-584-6720 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..