Efficient lighting illuminates education and discovery at Headwaters Science Center

After completing the upgrades last year, the project team and guests have been happy with the final results.

“We are very pleased with the installation of new lights… The lighting is a huge improvement, and our energy bills are reduced,” Furuseth said.

The new lighting uses significantly less energy. The team estimated a savings of more than 18,000 kWh per year, or a dollar savings of nearly $1800 per year. Other benefits cited include the fixtures’ appearance, improved visibility in the facility, and the lighting’s functionality.

“While the lights are much smaller, they illuminate much more. [They’re] much brighter for guests, visitors and staff,” Furuseth said.

Those guests and visitors have been sure to express their approval.

“Our staunchest members and supporters love the lights.” Furuseth said. “It is particularly gratifying when a guest or members stand just inside our front door and marvel at the much brighter appearance. The most typical reaction has been somewhere between ‘Wow!’ and ‘Now, that’s more like it!’”

Photo: The Headwaters Science Center space in 2012, prior to lighting upgrade.

The team was also pleased with its experience of applying for a CERT Seed Grant and recommends other organizations communicate throughout the process using multiple lines—from email to phone calls and text messaging to get the most out of the resources and support along the way.

While the lighting retrofit was a clear success, the HSC team did navigate some setbacks to its original project goals as a result of closures, delays and stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team completed the lighting upgrades as planned, but had to postpone developing their “Shine a Light on Science” exhibit to showcase topics related to the lighting technology and clean energy. The team still hopes to complete this exhibit and host a major event to display the project, once the team can meet in-person again. 

“We are looking forward to telling this story to our guests and visitors through a new exhibit dedicated to lighting technology,” Furuseth said.

When it comes to other clean energy upgrades, the Headwaters Science Center project team isn’t losing momentum. The team is already in the process of accepting bids for replacing the building’s windows, which will improve the building envelope and efficiency.

“This [lighting project] has made us realize that there are other features of the Science Center that need updating and replacement. Our windows are over 60 years old. The heat is floating right out of our porous, single pane windows,” Furuseth explained.

Approaching these projects with an open mind and experimental approach, Headwater Science Center is leading by example to improve its building’s energy efficiency and providing unique ways to learn about and share the benefits of clean energy.