Lighting Controls Upgrades Maximize Energy Savings
Challenge
Founded in 1917, Providence College is a respected Catholic, Dominican liberal arts institution committed to academic excellence and student success. As the college continued investing in its campus environment, leaders identified an opportunity to modernize lighting systems in the Phillips Memorial Library and the Peterson Recreation Center while reducing energy consumption and operating costs.
Like many higher education institutions, the college faced the challenge of balancing occupant comfort, facility performance, and sustainability goals. Continuing to rely on aging lighting infrastructure risked unnecessary energy use, higher utility expenses, inconsistent light levels, and missed opportunities to improve the campus experience.
Mantis Innovation helped the college identify a path toward greater energy efficiency and long-term performance.
Solution
To help Providence College achieve its objectives, Mantis designed and implemented a comprehensive LED lighting and controls upgrade across both facilities, building on the identified path forward.
The plan focused on three clear steps:
- Assess existing lighting performance and energy usage.
- Replace outdated fixtures with high-efficiency LED technology.
- Deploy wireless lighting controls that automatically respond to occupancy and available daylight.
The final design introduced a more efficient fixture layout, reduced fixture counts where appropriate, and incorporated advanced controls that provide automated, granular dimming through occupancy sensing and daylight harvesting. Together, these changes created a more intelligent lighting environment that supports both energy efficiency and improved facility performance.
Results
The completed project helped Providence College avoid the ongoing costs and inefficiencies associated with outdated lighting systems, while advancing campus sustainability objectives.
By combining LED lighting with wireless controls, the college improved operational efficiency, reduced energy demand, and created a smarter, more responsive environment for students, faculty, and staff.
Performance Outcomes:
- $368,600 in utility incentives captured
- $182,111 in total annual savings
- 1,644,705 kWh reduced annually
- 1.9-year project payback achieved
- 1,166 MT CO2e annual emissions reduction