The Elliott Community LED Retrofit Case Study
An LED Lighting Upgrade at The Elliott Community in Guelph, Ontario.
Think Green Solutions upgraded 2,500 T8 lamps at The Elliott Community in Guelph, Ontario, to LED, cutting monthly lighting costs by $10,800.
Client Overview
The Elliott Community is in Guelph, Ontario. Think Green Solutions upgraded 2,500 T8 lamps across the community to LED, replacing the old T8 fixtures with LED panels. In the project video below, Dean Broughton, Director of Environmental Services, CEO Trevor Lee, Marketing Coordinator Fiona Melitic, nursing and personal support staff, and residents talk about the old lighting, how the project was structured and what changed.
The Challenge
About a year before the video, The Elliott started looking at ways to reduce costs on its utility bills.
2,500 T8 Lamps
Dean Broughton, Director of Environmental Services, says the team met with Think Green Solutions to look at an LED retrofit and get away from the community's T8 lighting: 2,500 lamps in all.
A Yellow Glowing Room
The old fixtures left “a yellow glowing room” instead of natural light.
Dark and Deserted
Fiona Melitic, Marketing Coordinator, heard from one person who came looking for a retirement home and didn't choose The Elliott because it “did look dark and deserted.”
Inside The Elliott Community's LED Upgrade
How The Elliott Structured the Project
CEO Trevor Lee explains that The Elliott looked at the efficiencies and savings that would come from reduced utility costs, and matched that monthly savings stream to its obligations under a five-year capital lease. “So for five years we're revenue or cost neutral.”
Everything that comes in as a capital incentive is reinvested in other capital projects. The Elliott identified flooring, other capital equipment and refurbishing.
The Results
In the team's words, “The change was drastic. It's much more natural light, like walking outside.”
$10,800 in Monthly Savings
On-screen figures in the video put monthly lighting costs at $15,500 with the T8 lamps and $4,700 with Think lighting, a saving of $10,800 every month.
A $310,583.68 Cheque From Guelph Hydro
The video shows a Guelph Hydro Electric Systems cheque for $310,583.68 made out to The Elliott, dated November 17, 2015.
Cost Neutral for Five Years
With the monthly savings matched to its lease obligations, The Elliott is “revenue or cost neutral” for five years, and capital incentives go into other capital projects.
Easier Reading and Bingo for Residents
For resident Emily Laing, the brighter lights help with reading any newspaper she picks up. “It's really made a difference in here.” Residents Chester and Elvira Janicki say the new lights help with a visual impairment, and at bingo it's easier to see the numbers.
More Alert on 12-Hour Shifts
Delmy Hernandez, RN, normally works 12-hour shifts. “Under this lighting I find I'm not as tired anymore. I think the brightness really keeps me more awake and more alert.”
Safer Floors
Charles Nwodika, PSW, says everywhere is so bright that staff see water on the floor and clean it up immediately for the residents. “It's all about safety.”
Their Number One Home
Client Testimonial
I have heard feedback from a particular person who came looking for retirement and did not choose our home because it did look dark and deserted. And since the lights have been on, this person is now back looking for a higher level of care and chose The Elliott as their number one home, and they said that there was a huge difference in the feeling of the building from three years ago to the present time.
Marketing Coordinator, The Elliott Community
Why Think Green Solutions
To find out what an upgrade could save at your facility, book a free lighting energy audit, read about LED lighting rebates in Ontario or explore our LED retrofit projects and solutions.
Over $75M in Retrofit Projects
Think Green Solutions has completed over $75M in LED retrofit projects.
Over $15M in Incentives
Over $15M in incentives delivered to clients in Canada.
16+ Years, Under 5% Failure
Its longest-running projects are more than 16 years old, with a failure rate under 5%.
Free Lighting Energy Audit
A free lighting energy audit shows what an upgrade could save before you commit.
