The Palace Theatre Albany, N.Y..

After connecting at a local Chamber of Commerce networking event, Palace Theater staff invited RISE Engineering to conduct an energy assessment of the building's lighting system. RISE identified and recommended lighting improvements, arranged installation, and helped make this energy-efficiency retrofit project affordable by working with National Grid on financial incentives and by coordinating third-party financing.

THE NEED

This landmark, city-owned theater was becoming difficult to maintain due to negative cash flow. The city was considering selling or closing the building..

THE SOLUTION

• Upgraded over 8,000 incandescent lamps and other lighting fixtures to high-efficiency LED, including 4,000 specialty lamps on the building marquee
• Ensured new LED fixtures were compatible with the pre-existing dimming controls
• Identified third-party financing to make the project even more cost-effective for the city

THE OUTCOME

• An estimated $50,000 in annual electricity savings
• Over $10,000 in annual maintenance savings
• The city was able to keep the building
• The theatre is open and projected to be profitable for the first time in several years
• Significant local media coverage, including press events with Albany’s mayor and reps from the Palace Theatre, National Grid and RISE Engineering