PROFILE, continued from page 12
Kate Lozon installs lighting.
Small-business helpline Riley chose to specialize in lighting because of the impact it can have on a business’s bottom line. ENERGY STAR® LEDs use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs and can save about $55 in electricity costs over the lifetime of the bulb. They are more durable and, since they last 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs, reduce replacement costs as well. Riley got into the lighting business in 2008, during the Great Recession. Times were tough, and while coldcalling family-owned businesses for a completely different industry, he noticed people working in the dark and cold, keeping lights off and turning the heat so low they had to wear coats and gloves in the office. “They could hardly pay their utility bills,” he says. “I started to think about how I could help small businesses save money, and it led into lighting because it’s the biggest bang for the buck.” Riley began to carve out a career serving manufacturing plants, warehouses, office buildings and schools. Through his business, Verb, he retrofits or replaces existing lighting, helping his customers save energy and get rebates on the equipment and bulbs he installs. “We’ll handle all the rebate paperwork, purchase all the lighting and do all the installation,” he says. “It’s a turnkey process.”
14
semiconducting material. Customers can choose the lumens, or brightness, of the bulbs, as well as their color temperature, from soft white to daylight (see sidebar on page 13). The wattage — or amount of power — it takes to get the same brightness in an LED bulb that an incandescent bulb has is considerably less. For example, a 60-watt incandescent bulb requires 60 watts of electricity and emits about 900 lumens. A 9-watt LED, on average, produces the same amount of light. The LED’s quality of light is also considered superior. For added energy efficiency, LEDs provide a better dimming solution than fluorescent bulbs and can be equipped with motion sensors and timers so light is only used where and when it’s needed. They last longer as well. ENERGY STAR®– certified LEDs come with a minimum three-year warranty. Riley says his customers are usually extremely happy with the improvement LED lighting makes to their work environment. He recalls retrofitting a Detroit-area machine shop with new LEDs and seeing one of the workers make a beeline straight for him as he wrapped up the job. “He literally reached out and shook my hand to thank me,” Riley says.
The power of LED tech
The man told Riley he no longer had to open his visor shield to do his welds. Because of the new lighting, his work was much easier to see.
Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs produce photons by passing electric current through the diode, a
“The biggest complaint people have is that once the lighting is replaced, they realize how dirty their carpet is,” Riley quips.
Energy-saving tips Use ENERGY STAR® products. Compared with standard fixtures, they typically use one-quarter of the energy and distribute light more efficiently. Look for the UL seal. It means bulbs have been tested by UL and meet rigorous safety and environmental standards. UL-certified LED bulbs perform better and last longer than specialty or inexpensive bulbs. Take advantage of natural daylight. Determine areas where natural light can substitute for light fixtures during peak office hours. Besides reducing energy use and saving money, taking advantage of natural daylight has been shown to increase employee wellness and productivity. Switch to LED bulbs. Swap out incandescent bulbs for ENERGY STAR®–certified light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, which use less energy and generate considerably less heat, reducing cooling needs. Install dimmers on LED bulbs. Daylight sensors automatically dim room lights based on the available natural sunlight. Use timers and sensors. Many ENERGY STAR®–certified LEDs are now compatible with motion and touch sensors as well as timers that automatically turn lights on and off in frequently unoccupied areas like restrooms or supply rooms. These reduce energy usage and cut down on maintenance costs. Source: DTE TOOLBOX
Start saving today! Visit: dteenergy.com/smallbusiness Email: DTE-small-business@ franklinenergy.com Call: 855.748.2525