SENSATIONAL

TECHNOFILEBRIGHT LIGHTS,BIG SAVINGSPhoto by leigh freymike swanson, electrical specialist at AlbertaEnvirofuels Inc., wanted a roadmap for upgradinglighting at the company’s compressor and utilitybuildings, where it makes a blending component forpremium gasoline. He wanted a solution that mergedenvironmental awareness with cost efficiency andimproved the quality of lighting.The project turned out to be a perfect appliedresearch capstone project for Bachelor of Technologyin Technology Management students Ryan Kirstiuk andNadiya Herman, who graduated in 2011. Kirstiuk (alsoa Civil Engineering Technology grad, class of ’07) tookthe lead role. He analyzed Alberta Envirofuels’ lightingsystem and then suggested the company trade itsexisting HPS (high pressure sodium) lighting for new,highly efficient LED (light-emitting diode) lights.By December 2010, the company had changed allthe indoor lights in the compressor building and somein the utility building. Kirstiuk calculated that switchingto LED would save Alberta Envirofuels as much as 50per cent or approximately $59,000 in electricity andunit replacement costs over the approximate 10-yearlifetime of the lights.In time, Kirstiuk’s work could save the companyeven more. “We will make upgrades to lightingthroughout Alberta Envirofuels in the future based onbudget availability,” says Swanson.Meanwhile, Kirstiuk, an engineering technologist inproperty management at Atco Gas, hopes to bring whathe has learned about green lighting to his employer anda broader market. “A lot of places might be interestedin LED lighting but not be aware of the savings,” he says.“Sometimes the upfront capital costs scare off interestedparties.” However, after his work for Envirofuels, Kirstiuknow has the cost- and energy-savings numbers to sharewith those interested in making the switch.— Theresa SheaWhen Alberta EnvirofuelsInc. (above) wantedenvironmentally friendlylighting options for itsfacilities, it turned to NAITstudents.v5.1 2011 27