LINCOLN, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Axis Technologies Group Inc. says that more than 1000 Axis Dimming/Daylight Harvesting (DDH) ballasts are currently being installed in the newly renovated Zorinsky Federal Building in Omaha, NE. This building will house the Army Corp of Engineers, the Secret Service, and other federal agencies upon completion.
A previous evaluation was conducted to determine the economic and environmental costs and benefits that would result if this 12-story, 415,000 square foot facility converted its current lighting system to a more energy-efficient system (i.e. joined the EPA's Green Lights Program). Lighting accounts for 20-25 percent of all electricity sold in the United States. Costs considered in the study included the cost of retrofitting the building's existing lighting system and the cost of disposal of the current lamps and ballast fixtures. Benefits included a reduction of electric utility costs and a reduction of emissions of SO2, NOX, CO2, and CO from electric utility power plants. Environmental and health issues for air pollutant emissions were also addressed.
The results showed that significant reductions in utility bills as well as reductions in air emissions would result from a major building converting to a more energy efficient lighting system. The results showed that conversion of this large building would reduce SO2 emissions by 14.6 tons/yr and NOX emissions by 6.3 tons/yr. In addition, the conversion would reduce annual energy costs by approximately $114,000.
A "ballast" is an electronic component that regulates voltage in fluorescent lighting. Axis Technologies Group, Inc. has developed an innovative new ballast with the aim of expanding daylight harvesting into mainstream fluorescent lighting applications. The patented Axis Dimming/Daylight Harvesting Ballast is a new technology that transforms the ballast, a once standard lighting industry staple, into a dynamic energy saving system that can reduce lighting energy costs by up to 70%. The Axis DDH Ballast utilizes an individual photo sensor to automatically adjust the amount of electrical current flowing to the light fixture, and then dims or increases lighting in conjunction with the amount of available sunlight that may be harvested from available windows and sunlight. The Axis DDH Ballast avoids "over-lit" conditions that increase energy costs by keeping lighting "tuned" to the desired level in a designated area.
In related news, The Department of Homeland Security Facility in Omaha, NE recently earned Gold Certification in the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design New Construction Category (LEED-NC). The facility was equipped with 300 Axis Dimming/Daylight Harvesting (DDH) ballasts with the goal of achieving the energy efficiency requirements necessary to obtain LEED-NC certification. This installation of Axis products combine with other Green applications aided this facility in becoming LEED-NC Gold Certified.
The Energy Policy Act of 1992 and Executive Order 13124 requires Federal buildings to reduce their energy use by 35 percent by 2010 (compared to 1985). The Department of Homeland Security facility is one of eight Federal buildings to have already received LEED Certification. In addition, it is estimated that more than 60 Federal buildings are also vying to obtain this certification.
"We believe this government act that encourages Green buildings and initiatives to be an extremely positive development for our company," said Kip Hirschbach, CEO of Axis Technologies. "The Axis DDH Ballast is an obvious component for those facilities that want to lower energy consumption and become more environmentally friendly," Hirschbach added.
About Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
The Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rate System is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach by recognizing five key areas of human and environmental health. The system focuses on sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental qualities. The LEED Rating System was created to transform the built environment to sustainability by providing the building industry with consistent, credible standards for what constitutes a green building. Eligibility requirements include and extensive site plan review and specific site audit. Click here to learn more about LEED.
About Axis Technologies Group, Inc.
Axis Technologies Group, Inc. conducts its business through this wholly owned subsidiary Axis Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Axis Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets a proprietary line of energy-saving and daylight harvesting electronic dimming ballasts for the commercial lighting industry. The company's target market is small to large commercial users of fluorescent lighting including office buildings, wholesale and retail buildings, hospitals, schools, and government buildings. In 2002, Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved Axis products for sale in both the United States and Canada. The Axis DDH ballast is priced competitively and is the only daylight harvesting ballast system that can be marketed as a replacement for a standard ballast.