News Story

ECE Engages in "Green" Lighting Effort

The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department is currently engaged in new efforts to contribute to a greener campus.

As part of the Sustainability Maryland campaign, the University of Maryland is experimenting with new, energy-efficient lighting. The new lighting has been introduced in the hallways of the A.V. Williams Building, where the ECE Department's administrative office and many of its faculty offices and laboratories are located.

The ultimate goal is to lower the amount of energy used to light hallways in all campus buildings. Currently, the University uses approximately one watt per square foot to light hallways in campus buildings. The new lighting in A.V. Williams will reduce that amount by 69% to 80%, saving the equivalent of 3,000 tons of carbon emissions and approximately $712,000.00 annually.

"I am proud that the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department’s hallways have been chosen for this experiment," said ECE Director of Technical Operations Bryan Quinn. "We have been working closely with the project managers, assisting their efforts in making the campus 'greener.'"

Signs have been placed at hallway junctions detailing savings and reductions. As part of the experiments, several sections of hallways have been painted different light colors to gauge the effects on the lighting.

A decision will be made balancing savings and lighting needs and the lighting will then be implemented throughout campus. The first floor of A.V. Williams will remain in its “experimental” mode until all other campus hallways have been converted as an example of the efforts being made by the University through the Sustainability Maryland campaign.

February 4, 2008