The Rockwell Automation Inc. clock tower has completed a massive conversion of its lighting system expected to reduce energy use by 81 percent and save about $750,000 over the life of the new lights, the company said Wednesday.
The company has replaced the clock tower's fluorescent lights with more than 10,000 new light emitting diodes (LEDs). Rockwell is a Milwaukee-based manufacturer of industrial automation systems, controls and software.
The Milwaukee landmark — the largest four-sided clock in the Western Hemisphere — celebrated its 50th anniversary Wednesday.
"The new clock tower lighting demonstrates our commitment to environmental excellence," said Jeff Wolf, Rockwell Automation manager of global workplace services.
Reduced energy demand for the LED lighting is expected to eliminate 7.2 million pounds of carbon dioxide over an estimated 20 years of usage, according to Murphy Energy Systems, a Milwaukee-based company hired by Rockwell Automation to oversee the project. This has the environmental impact of planting 44 acres of trees, removing 34 cars from the road and saving 21,937 gallons of gasoline every year.
"The energy savings are equivalent to powering 33 homes annually," said Scott Garland, Rockwell Automation senior facility engineer. "We'll also eliminate the maintenance expenses we used to pay when we had to replace more than 500 fluorescent lights every two years."
