Best Practice Guide

Commercial Office Buildings

Introduction

Planning an Energy Program

Funding and Approval

Lighting

Offices and Workstations

Daylighting

Hallways and Corridors

Restrooms and Closets

Signage

Outdoor Areas

Building Envelope

Central HVAC System

Distributed Generation

Demand Response

Commissioning

Procurement Policy

Water Use

Education

Energy Efficiency in Telecommuting

Resources and Appendices

Lessons Learned


Adobe Systems Incorporated and Cushman & Wakefield

Arden Realty and next>edge

Cypress Semiconductor

Equity Office Properties

Glenborough Realty Trust

Natural Resources Defense Council

Qualcomm

Swinerton, Inc.

Transwestern Commercial Services


View the Glossary

Lighting

Restrooms and Closets

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The easiest way to achieve energy and cost savings in restrooms and storage areas is to install CFLs with occupancy sensors. Occupancy sensors ensure that energy is not wasted lighting an empty room and make it easy for people to move into and out of low-occupancy areas. Using an occupancy sensor rather than a manual switch saves up to 60 percent of the energy needed to light bathrooms and closets.

Business Examples

Glenborough Realty Trust purchases its lighting equipment through Light Source, a specialty lighting distributor and member of the EPA Greenlights program. Light Source maintains an online customized inventory of all lighting equipment in each Glenborough building. This allows Light Source to analyze stock and usage so that they can recommend to Glenborough energy saving products that last longer or are less expensive, choosing among the best products from multiple manufacturers.


Glenborough uses its corporate offices in San Mateo to conduct experiments with new building technologies. Various lighting controls, for example, have been tested in an attempt to maximize efficiency and optimize management of the lighting system. One test is of a stairwell fixture that incorporates both a low-wattage compact fluorescent light (CFL) and a 360 degree motion sensor with photometric technology. Once proven, new lighting technology is then installed at Glenborough's other commercial properties across the country.