Orion Energy Systems, Inc. (Orion Energy), a US-based designer and manufacturer of energy management systems, has introduced a new parking lot lighting system designed for energy savings and better lighting outdoors. The fixture boast fluorescent lamps that lessens users' energy consumption by 50% or more while appreciably increasing light levels in comparison to the legacy high-intensity discharge lights that are utilized in most parking lots.
Orion extended its product line to include the outdoor fixture as another substantial way to help customers save on light related energy costs. It is anticipated that there are well over 20 million parking lot lights nationwide. As per a study conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy, only 4% of the parking lot lights in the US are energy efficient fluorescent fixtures. As a result, parking lot lights utilizes a staggering 22.2 billion kilowatt-hours per year, which could be lessened by 50% or more with Orion’s technology.
Orion’s President and chief executive officer Neal Verfuerth said the lights will assist decrease a company’s energy costs and offer excess capacity to utilities during nighttime hours.
This is going to be significant, Verfuerth said. Typically, power during non-peak hours, or night hours, is in excess, but that will change over time as more demand is required overnight. Just like daytime hours, we’re going to need more electricity during non-peak hours. In fact, we envision a day when load reduced in the evenings and nighttime will be deployed to power electric vehicles.
The new parking lot system is an economically viable solution to parking lot lighting, said Mike Potts, Orion Energy executive vice president. Like all Orion technology, it’s developed to not only provide substantial energy savings, but to do it without compromise to current operations or systems. Our customers’ parking lots will be illuminated with a whiter, brighter light which means a safer environment for their guests and employees.
The fixture is designed to function in intense hot and cold conditions and will be tested later this month by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). It is anticipated to earn a wet location rating, similar to the rating attained by Orion’s wet location fixture, which was designed for wet environments like the brewing, beverage and food service industries.
Mounting brackets will be available for all standard pole mounts and wall mounts. The angle of the lights can be changed onsite on the basis of customer’s outdoor lighting needs.
Companies utilizing Orion Energy ‘s products are an essential part of helping local utilities displace electricity capacity and lessen strain on the electrical grid. Orion has installed its energy management systems in 4,387 facilities across North America. Since 2001, Orion Energy technology has shifted more than 423 megawatts, saving customers more than $514 million and lessening indirect carbon dioxide emissions by 4.3 million tons. Orion Energy ‘s technology was recently recognized with a Platts Global Energy Award forthe single most innovative and sustainable green technology of 2008.