Gallery receives grant to update lighting system, reduce energy

The Gallery at Penn College has updated its lighting system, thanks to a $15,000 award from the Frankenthaler Climate Initiative, a grantmaking program established by the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation.

Located in The Madigan Library at Pennsylvania College of Technology, the gallery replaced its original halogen track lighting system, installed in 2006, with an LED lighting system. The former wattage output of 50 to 75 watts per bulb has been reduced to 20 watts per bulb.

The new LED track lighting in The Gallery at Penn College allows visitors, classes and groups from the public to properly view the work, while keeping the sensitivity of the artwork in mind.

“Thanks to the grant from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, we were able to completely upgrade the lighting system in The Gallery at Penn College,” said Penny Griffin Lutz, gallery director. “The lack of availability of the former halogen lightbulbs, the inability to repair the light units and rising energy costs all made this project a priority to Penn College and the gallery.”

Halogen bulbs from the former track system were no longer being manufactured, and as bulbs burned out, they were unable to be replaced. The new LED lights are moveable, have an adjustable output and also feature an adjustable beam for the artwork on display.

Professional electricians from Penn College’s General Services department replaced the gallery’s track lighting system.

The college is committed to reducing energy consumption and has upgraded approximately 90% of its exterior lighting. As areas on campus are renovated, General Services also upgrades interior lighting to save on energy costs.

The Gallery at Penn College is a cultural asset to the college and local communities, providing the opportunity for appreciation and exploration of contemporary art and encouraging critical thinking and meaningful experiences.

The Frankenthaler Climate Initiative is the largest private, national grantmaking program to support climate action at cultural institutions and the first nationwide program of its kind for the visual arts. The initiative is a program of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, established and managed in partnership with RMI, the leading global expert in clean energy, and Environmental & Culture Partners, a nonprofit driving the U.S. cultural sector’s climate action efforts.

Launched in 2021, the multiyear initiative funds energy efficiency programs and clean energy projects at visual arts organizations, including art museums, art schools, non-collecting arts institutions and nonprofit art events. To date, the foundation has conferred more than $4.1 million through the initiative to support 244 energy efficiency and clean energy projects at 200 institutions across 37 U.S. states.

Penn College offers a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture & sustainable design, teaching alternative building methods and technologies that promote energy efficiency, preserve natural resources and reduce negative environmental impacts.

The college is also home to the Clean Energy Center, one of the nation’s leading providers of clean energy workforce training and technical assistance. The center’s mission is to improve the comfort and safety of buildings and reduce energy consumption in communities.

For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.