Lighting Enlightenment By Matt Stupnik and Sam Petrovich | Cedar Creek Energy
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s savvy property managers know, keeping a handle on operations and maintenance costs is a key component to maintaining a profitable bottom line. Energy, specifically electricity, has been rising on average 3% annually over the last 20 years in the Minnesota. In addition to rising electric costs, ongoing maintenance expenses associated with items such as lighting continue to be a drain on day-to-day operations. With this in mind, the advent of new LED technology has presented building owners and managers with new products to substantially reduce electrical consumption in their facilities. In addition, there are a number of advantages to having LEDs in your facility. First, LED light levels (lumens) are a vast improvement over the existing fluorescent, metal halide, or high pressure sodium (HPS) systems. With LEDs, the lights do not fade, so the customer receives the same light today as they will at the end of life. Inefficient lights, even though they have faded, are still drawing the same amount of power. From an environmental standpoint, LEDs do not emit harmful UV light, and they do not contain mercury. Next, the lifespan of an LED, can, at a minimum, be 2.5 times greater than a fluorescent light. An example: A standard rated T8 fluorescent bulb lasts roughly 20,000 hours, where a new T8 LED will last 50,000 burn hours (see also CFLs). In some applications, the LED will last 5 times as long as a metal halide and HPS (i.e., exterior lighting application). Third, maintenance is an ongoing battle in facilities and organizations. LEDs are eliminating ballasts from existing applications, thus reducing the organizations’ deferred
The advent of new LED technology has presented building owners and managers with new products to substantially reduce electrical consumption in their facilities. Ask how much more efficient it can be.
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Minnesota Communit y Living