Industry News

The Bidwell Mansion Visitor Center in Chico, California, now enjoys a variety of energy-efficient, aesthetic and cost-saving benefits thanks to the HALO® LED 600 Series recessed downlight from Cooper Lighting.

As the first stop for visitors to the Bidwell Mansion, a 19th century Victorian stately house operated by the California State Department of Parks and Recreation, the Bidwell Mansion Visitor Center (BMVC) sees more than 35,000 visitors each year.  This high visibility prompted the need for a more energy-efficient, dimmable and cost-effective light source as part of a recent retrofit effort.

Cooper Lighting and the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) partnered on this project with the California Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) to provide a solution.  Cooper Lighting's HALO LED 600 Series recessed downlight was selected because it is suitable for both retrofit and new construction markets while meeting ENERGY STAR® and California Title 24 require¬ments, providing high-quality, broad spectrum light, and successfully dimming on standard analog dimmers.  With a high lumen output, continuous dimming control and low power consumption, the HALO LED downlight exceeded the Lighting California's Future project's expectations.

The BMVC was retrofitted in two phases through the State Partnership in Energy Efficiency Demonstrations (SPEED) Program.  In the first phase, 14 existing, 10-inch compact fluorescent (CFL) recessed downlights and a 3-foot T12 strip light, located in the foyer, were replaced with 16 HALO LED 600 Series recessed downlights. Then, 11 additional downlights located in the audio/visual room and above the information desk were replaced.  The combined retrofits resulted in a 51% energy savings, which translates to 770 kWh of energy saved annually.

The energy savings represents an annual greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 560 pounds.  The increased lamp lifetime from 10,000 hours to 50,000 hours additionally reduced maintenance costs.

According to the CLTC, it is currently estimated that more than 800 million recessed downlights are in operation in the United States, with about 83% still using incandescent lamps.  Significant energy savings potential exists for long-life LED replacements, which last up to 25 times longer and use significantly less energy, as demonstrated with the Bidwell Mansion project.

Products like the HALO LED downlight offer a viable solution.  As the first ENERGY STAR® qualified LED recessed downlight, the fixture exceeds the high efficiency requirements set by California's Title 24 energy regulations.  It will last over 20 years in residential applications when used six hours a day, and over 10 years in commercial settings operating 12 hours a day.  Dimmable to 15% of total light output with standard AC incandescent dimmers, and 5% with low-end trim adjustment, the fixtures serve as a practical choice for any application. The downlight features high color quality with a preferred warm white color temperature.

Installation of LED downlights in retrofit and new construction situations is the same as traditional incandescent or CFL recessed downlights.  In addition, Cooper Lighting's HALO LED 600 Series LED modules can be installed in recessed housings that have direct contact with ceiling insulation. Replacement scenarios are generally one-to-one in retrofit applications.  Equipment costs are offset by maintenance savings and utility rebates.

Cooper Lighting offers a range of HALO LED recessed downlight options including multiple lumen packages available in four different color temperatures, with corresponding trims and accessories, all of which are specifically designed to maximize energy and cost savings.  For additional information, visit www.cooperlighting.com/led or email [email protected].

About Cooper Lighting
Cooper Lighting, a subsidiary of Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE), is the leading provider of innovative, high quality interior and exterior lighting fixtures and related products to worldwide commercial, industrial, retail, institutional, residential and utility markets. As lighting technologies have advanced over the years, Cooper Lighting has been at the forefront of the industry in helping businesses and communities leverage the latest technologies to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enrich the quality of the environment. For more information, visit www.cooperlighting.com.