CONTACT:
Sarah Reddington
GreystonePartners/978.618.0680
sarah@greystonepartners.net
Katie Pontius
OSRAM SYLVANIA/978.750.2895
katie.pontius@sylvania.com
OSRAM SYLVANIA LIGHTS UP GREEN BUILDINGS
New York, N.Y. – (April 12-14, 2005) – Current building and design practices will affect the future of such basic elements as the water we drink and the air we breathe. The building industry is working to reduce negative environmental impacts of construction and building use through the introduction of various green building rating systems.
SYLVANIA lighting products have recently been used in two major building projects that earned the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDâ) certification, a popular rating system for green building projects. LEED was started in 1995 by the non-profit organization the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and it has rapidly expanded over the past several years. The LEED Rating System is a voluntary, standard for high-performance, sustainable buildings.
LEED certification is currently available in three categories: new commercial construction and major renovation projects (LEED-NC), existing building operations (LEED-EB) and commercial interiors projects (LEED-CI). Standards to receive LEED certification were developed by USGBC members representing all segments of the building industry. Before a project can receive LEED certification it must meet environmental requirements in a variety of areas including energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, water efficiency, and indoor environmental quality. The lighting choices made during the course of a construction or renovation project are an integral part of the green building process.
Incorporating sound lighting practices, including the use of energy-efficient lighting systems into building and renovation projects earns points toward LEED certification. Several recent LEED certified projects, including the renovation of the historic Stewart’s Building in Baltimore, Maryland and the green building Motherhouse and Healthcare Center in Monroe, Michigan, have used innovative lighting processes to keep energy costs and waste production low.
Stewart’s Building
SYLVANIA relit the Stewart’s Building using several different kinds of interior products; SYLVANIA CAPSYLITE IR® 60-watt PAR38 spots and narrow floods, CAPSYLITE IR 45-watt PAR38 floods and lamps, METALARC® POWERBALL™ 39-watt PAR20 ceramic metal halide floods, and SYLVANIA DESIGNER® PAR16 narrow floods. For the exterior, SYLVANIA AR111 100-watt low-voltage aluminized reflector spots and 75-watt AR111 spots were installed. Previously used as a department store, the space underwent a major renovation, creating a 250,000 square foot high-tech office environment and ground level retail space.
Before the renovation, this building, especially at night, sat as a darkened hulk that was almost hostile to the street environment,” said Tom Liebel of Design Collective, the architecture firm responsible for the project. “The subtle uplighting of the structure and the lighting of the new additions make the building seem incredibly light and ethereal at night. It has a wonderful glow that is just mesmerizing to watch.”
The Stewart’s Building is now classified as a LEED-NC project by the USGBC. Buildings certified under the LEED-NC criteria hold the distinction for up to five years, after which they would use the LEED-EB standards for recertification.
Motherhouse and Healthcare Center
In the fall of 2000, the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) sisters began a major renovation to the 70-year-old Motherhouse and Healthcare Center in Monroe, Michigan. Maintaining the historical significance and aesthetic integrity of the facility’s lighting design, while moving to a more energy-efficient installation was a primary concern in this project. High-efficiency compact fluorescent lighting was installed to supplement the natural light, which is controlled through programmed lighting sensors.
Several prerequisites to achieve LEED-EB status address system upgrades to improve energy, water, indoor environmental quality and materials use. The completed project is required to reduce the environmental impact of a building over its functional life cycle. Specifically tailored for retrofit and upgrade projects, the facility must meet ALL the prerequisites in the rating system to be considered for LEED-EB certification.
“SYLVANIA products are the perfect choice to meet the lighting needs within the green building movement ,” said Jennifer Dolin, environmental marketing manager for OSRAM SYLVANIA. “Specifiers, contractors and builders are sure to find a number of SYLVANIA products that will help them meet the requirements and prerequisites of any rating system, including the LEED criteria.
The LEED system continues to grow as tenets of green buildings, including the focus on better energy performance are increasingly being adopted by building and facility managers. Additional LEED standards under development include core and shell projects (LEED-CS), homes (LEED-H) and neighborhood development (LEED-ND).
About OSRAM SYLVANIA
Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM SYLVANIA is the North American lighting operation of OSRAM GmbH. Together we are the second-largest lighting and materials enterprise in the world, serving customers in more than 140 countries.
We manufacture and market a wide range of lighting products, including automotive, electronic and magnetic ballasts, and precision materials and components for industrial and commercial users, original equipment manufacturers and consumers, sold primarily under the SYLVANIA brand name, but also under the OSRAM brand.
OSRAM SYLVANIA also offers lighting systems installation and maintenance services. For further information, please refer to our Web site at www.sylvania.com.