Five
Reasons For Installing Energy Efficient Lighting
by
Kimberly Quang
As the
public sector becomes much more concerned about the cost and
sustainability of energy in general, energy efficient lighting has a
major point of focus in our industry. Since much of this technology is
still very new and continually evolving (as in the case with LED and
Induction), explaining the technical dynamics of new luminaires to your
clients may not be the best way to sell them on the idea of an upgrade.
Since engineers are constantly coming up with new ways to conserve
power and extend lamp life, and since new ways of producing light
itself are still emerging, it is best to talk about the general
benefits that an upgrade will bring to organizations regardless of the
actual fixtures and lamps ultimately chosen for the new system. The
following summary represents the top five benefits that clients can
expect from energy efficient lighting.
Energy
efficient lighting uses less electricity.
This is
probably the first benefit that comes to everyone's mind when
they consider upgrading to energy efficient lighting. Rising fuel costs
have had an effect on the cost of power in general, and reducing
expenditures even by a marginal amount helps buffer any organization
against the problematics of an unstable economy. Now is the best time
to take stock of all indoor and outdoor luminaires and make a
qualitative assessment of their long term value. If more energy
efficient lights can be substituted in their place, then savings on
power bills will pay for the fixtures in a few short years.
Energy
efficient lighting minimizes replacement costs.
Light fixtures
eventually wear out because of thermal stress on the
components. The less electricity a fixture uses, the less heat it will
generate during use. This works to prolong the life of the bulb and
minimize replacement costs. When you encounter clients that know they
need to upgrade to energy efficient lights, but fear the budgetary hit
the expenditure may cause, remind them that this is not something they
will need to do again for a considerable amount of time. The money
saved on continual maintenance and/or replacement is yet another
revenue stream that brings ROI on the equipment investment.
Energy
efficient light fixtures are more environmentally friendly.
It has been
estimated that buildings with inefficient lighting systems
contribute 40% of the world's greenhouse gases. A great deal of this
pollution is the result of outdated incandescent technology that has
already been banned in some places like California. Replacing all
incandescent luminaires with energy efficient equivalents significantly
contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions. Imagine the positive
impact that a nationwide retrofit would have on the global environment.
Companies should consider the many advantages that a more sustainable
and environmentally friendly public image will bring to their branding
and marketing efforts.
Energy
efficient lighting is essential to LEED certification.
Companies are
starting to take LEED certification very seriously. Power
conservation is becoming a top priority for new building construction,
and is much easier to accomplish when designing the building with LEED
certification in mind. Companies in existing buildings, however, may be
facing more of a challenge. Older architectural styles, wiring systems,
and incandescent lighting were intended for today's power management
demands. Remodeling such a facility can represent an enormous expense.
Energy efficient lights may not provide all the necessary points for a
LEED certificate in such places, but they will greatly improve the
organizations budget and possibly help pay for further remodeling down
the line.
Energy
efficient lighting helps avoid conflict with lighting regulatory codes.
Lighting
regulations vary from city to city throughout the United
States. Currently, most codes are focused on dark sky conditions and
light pollution reduction. The safety hazards caused by excessive glare
are also something that lighting codes often address. In some parts of
the country, energy efficient lighting is required under regulatory
codes as part of a more comprehensive community push toward
sustainability. In other places such as California, state legislation
has now stepped in to make power conservation and environmental
sustainability a top priority.
While there is
currently no nationwide standard for regulating energy
efficient lighting, we have reason to believe one may be created in the
near future with increasing public demand for a comprehensive, national
energy policy.
When that day
comes, your client will already be equipped with the best
possible technology for conservation of resources and funding.
We offer
consultative lighting design services to clients and
photometric analysis of any facility you wish to have scientifically
analyzed prior to drafting your proposal.
About the Author
rlldesign.com. For more information on Energy Efficient Lights or to read other articles on Commercial Lighting Products visit us online.
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