Lighting the Way: Sustainability Efforts Illuminating UF’s Western Farm

As part of University of Findlay’s ongoing environmental stewardship efforts, and in partnership with Hancock Wood Electric Cooperative and GEM Energy, several lights at the Western Farm were replaced to decrease energy use.

Compact fluorescent lights were swapped out for LED’s. A total of 2,234 lamps and 48 fixtures at the farm now have new bulbs.

Hancock Wood provided a $15,000 rebate check for the project. As the University’s energy manager, GEM Energy worked with the electric cooperative to identify and secure the incentive. Pictured above during the check presentation, from left to right, are: UF Farm Business Manager Jacob Bowman; Physical Plant Director Orion Jones; and Bruce Warnecke, energy services advisor and key account representative for Hancock Wood Electric.

The Western Farm has the majority of the same lighting on a very large scale, “so purchasing and replacing was much easier,” said UF Physical Plant Director Orion Jones. “Western Farm personnel cut the project cost in half by changing out the lighting themselves, which created a 1-year return on investment,” he pointed out.

According to GEM Energy Project Engineer Stephanie Andrews, annual kilowatt reduction will equate to 214,290, and C02 emission reduction to 334,078 pounds per year. Those emissions control numbers translate to 370,502 in vehicle miles per year, and 32.2 passenger cars driven.

Plans are in the works to replace lights at other UF facilities too, said Jones.