Illuminating Sustainability: Lenbrook Upgrades Lighting as Part of Ongoing Initiative
At Lenbrook, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a commitment to creating a community that thrives well into the future. As part of its ongoing sustainability initiative, Lenbrook recently upgraded to energy-efficient LED lighting in the Brookhaven Tower hallways, the first floors of the Brookhaven and Lenox Towers, and the Lenox Tower stairwells. This change is part of Lenbrook’s dedication to environmental stewardship and operational excellence.
A Bright Idea
The lighting upgrade began when the Lenbrook Maintenance Team identified a significant opportunity to enhance energy efficiency in key parts of the campus. The team then worked with the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Task Force, a dedicated group of residents and associates, to develop goals for the lighting transformation. The group wanted to implement the best possible lighting solutions with LED technology, capitalize on available Georgia Power rebates, reduce power consumption, decrease maintenance labor hours, address outdoor and pole lighting challenges, enhance lighting control capabilities, and secure optimal warranty protection.
These goals aligned perfectly with Lenbrook’s commitment to meet Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) standards by demonstrating investment in emergency preparedness and operational excellence. CARF routinely assesses how Lenbrook compares against 1,400 business practice standards, including financial accountability and preparedness.
“Our transition to LED technology wasn’t just about following trends, it was a strategic decision backed by compelling benefits,” said Priya Raghunauth, Manager, Facility Services.
Benefits of the lighting upgrade include:
- Remarkable Energy Efficiency: LED bulbs convert up to 90% of energy into light rather than heat, dramatically reducing wasted energy and lowering electricity costs.
- Extended Lifespan: Traditional incandescent bulbs typically last 1,000 hours, but LED fixtures provide up to 50,000 hours of operation, reducing replacement frequency and associated costs.
- Consistent Performance: LEDs maintain their brightness and quality throughout their lifespan, providing reliable illumination without flickering.
- Minimal Maintenance: The durability of LED technology means fewer replacements and less downtime, helping ensure lighting reliability.
“The results have been immediately noticeable. We have more consistent lighting temperature and color throughout common areas, which creates a more pleasant and harmonious environment for everyone,” Raghunauth said.
Part of a Larger Vision
The lighting upgrade also contributes to Lenbrook’s environmental goals to reduce the community’s carbon footprint, generate less waste, operate in an eco-friendly manner, and reduce demands on cooling systems. It also complements other Lenbrook sustainability efforts, including the highly successful reusable container program, which eliminated approximately 54,600 single-use containers, saving $30,000 while substantially reducing waste since its launch in August 2022.
“We want to strategically position Lenbrook for long-term relevance, and this initiative is another step on our journey to do that. We’re proud to be lighting the way toward a brighter, more sustainable future for our residents – and our planet,” Raghunauth said.