A recent report from McGraw-Hill Construction projects that the market for nonresidential green building retrofits is poised to take off in a big way. That’s good news for designers, builders, and those who specify electrical solutions. The market for retrofit projects (including things such as the installation of energy-saving lighting, mechanical and electrical systems) is expected to grow to $10.1 billion-$15.1 billion by 2014. It’s expected that green buildings will account for 20 to 30 percent of the total U.S. retrofit and renovation market within five years.
It’s not really surprising, given that the United States currently has almost 80 billion square feet of commercial real estate that is ideal for energy efficient upgrades. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) paved the way for commercial property owners with policy mandates for federal building energy efficiency. ARRA allocated $4.5 billion to make federal buildings more energy efficient. While federal buildings constitute less than 3 percent of U.S. commercial space, the example ARRA set has motivated major companies to invest in green updates for their properties. Property managers, retrofit contractors, builders, and professionals that specify electrical solutions can’t afford to ignore such a significant part of the market.
Lutron has multiple energy-saving retrofit solutions that you can offer to your clients—whether you’re the company that specifies solution, designs the retrofit, or installs the solutions.
Lutron’s new Stairwell Retrofit Solution is a prime example. It utilizes a lighting fixture coupled with a Lutron digital dimming ballast that’s pre-programmed to occupied and unoccupied light levels specific to a project’s code requirements. The solution is designed to separate fixture and sensor components—providing the flexibility to determine occupancy sensor quantities, mounting configuration and placement requirements based on the stairwell design.
The result? Through high-end trim and occupancy sensing, the Stairwell Retrofit Solution enables buildings to use more than 80% less energy for lighting. That’s just one of many solutions you can make available to your clients. Shoot us an email for more information about how going green can be good for your business.
