Facilities Services recently installed over 1300 LED retrofits in the Edelstone Center and 5720 South Woodlawn Avenue as part of the plan to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030. These retrofits reduced lighting energy use by over 70%, improved color resolution and light levels and reduced failure rates resulting in long-term operational and maintenance cost savings to the University.  Installation of new LED lamps increased the rated life from 18,000 hours for T12 florescent fixtures to 50,000 hours, reducing future service disruptions to the building’s occupants.   

The 50% greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan calls for retrofits of fluorescent to LED lamps across campus. This project was designed to start at buildings that used older, less efficient T12 fixtures that are being phased out by manufacturers. As a result of this project, electricity consumption was reduced by over 155,000 kilowatt-hours resulting in a reduction of 83 metric tons of equivalent carbon dioxide per year. The LED lamps will last at least 2.5 times longer resulting in less labor and cost to replace burned out lamps and ballasts. 

Replacement of lights in the atrium area often requires a lift or scaffolding. Installing LED fixtures rated for 50,000-hours reduces the operations and costs of maintaining light fixtures.

The University of Chicago is a proud recipient of the United States Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year award in 2021 and 2022, collaborating with peer institutions to reduce higher education campus energy usage. The goal of this energy efficiency program is to: (1) reduce the impact on the environment as about 70 percent of University greenhouse gas emissions are from energy usage in campus buildings; (2) redirect funds currently going to utility providers back into maintenance of our campus buildings; and (3) reduce the risk of disruption to our educational and research mission by locating and correcting issues before systems and components in our buildings fail.   More than 300 energy efficiency measures have been completed in the University of Chicago campus buildings since 2009, and buildings will continue to be the primary target of our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.