Albuquerque Academy Receives PNM Rebate for LED Project

Albuquerque Academy began a project in May 2013 to retrofit 681 lighting fixture to LED (light emitting diode) lamps. The project included lamps in all of the outside parking lots, the perimeter road, walkways, and exterior fixtures on campus buildings. The project also included the three gymnasiums, East Dining Hall, and Natatorium.

LED fixtures consume one fourth the power (on average) of the lamps they replace, and are warrantied for a ten year life. The lights replaced were also changed to a 4800 or 5100 kelvin temperature — much more like natural sunlight.

An average example of savings would be replacing a 400-watt metal halide lamp in the Gymnasium or Natatorium (that needs to be changed every 14 to 24 months on average) with a 100-watt LED (lasting ten years or longer). The estimated life cycle of a traditional metal halide fixture would require changing six times compared to an LED producing more light at less power.

The project qualified and was approved to receive a rebate of $49,960 as part of the PNM New Construction and Retrofit Rebates Project. The contractor was Colt Electric/SW Solar, Inc.; the retrofits were supplied by Gobal Tech LED.