Colorado Real Estate Journal - May 21, 2014
LED lighting creates extremely crisp and clear viewing that doesn’t merely illuminate the area – it casts the light in a stunning panorama that makes everything look brilliant. In fact, LED lighting attracts people who are drawn to the incredible display. Imagine saving between 60 percent and 85 percent per month on the cost of lighting your office or property. Imagine not having to replace a bulb for 10 to 15 years. Eliminating replacement bulbs, maintenance costs and the headaches and complaints of burned-out bulbs. Now factor in bright, clean, healthy light and you may start wondering why you haven’t switched to LED lighting already. Driven to change the world one socket at a time, LED manufacturers specializing in energy efficiency and clean tech lighting solutions offer a broad range of cutting-edge products designed to install and retrofit into all new and existing infrastructures, including office and apartment buildings, schools, warehouses, retail, hospitals, municipalities, all businesses, shops, stores and homes. Potential Savings Magnitude Examined. LEDs deliver more than just tremendous savings – they also deliver incredible value. According to Xcel Energy’s “Lighting Efficiency Input Wattage Guide,” a T5 4-foot florescent, two-tube fixture uses 54 watts per tube and 120 watts for the electronic ballast. That is a total of 228 watts for that one fixture. LED lighting can be switched to only one 4-foot tube and receive up to 40 percent more light, using only 17 watts per fixture and eliminating the ballast. That saves 211 watts on one fixture for a 92 percent savings. Multiply that by the number of fixtures and then translate that into dollars, and you can immediately see the kwh cost savings. Here are some real-life examples: •In the nation’s largest LED lighting project, the Green LA Initiative has thus far replaced 114,000 high-pressure sodium streetlights in the city of Los Angeles with LED lighting and is now saving $5.3 million annually. Once completed, Los Angeles anticipates LED lighting will save taxpayers $10 million a year, nearly two-thirds of what the city had been paying for lighting its streets. •In Las Vegas, 42,000 streetlights have been replaced with LED lighting and the city is now saving $2 million annually. •Boulder is in the process of switching to LED lighting, not only for the savings, but also to limit light pollution through the Boulder Dark Skies Lighting Initiative. Better Lighting Translates into Higher Sales. Car dealerships like Infinity of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Hyundai of Toronto are realizing a reported gain that LED lighting on the showroom floor has increased night sales by 17 percent. The advanced LED solution has a direct light source that creates a more sophisticated impression while delivering an impressive 105 to 120 lumens per watt. Long-rated 75,000- to 100,000-hour rated life slashes maintenance for added cost savings. The sleek, streamlined LED fixtures are perfect for retail, warehouse and industrial settings, where image and overall performance are both priorities. Available in multiple lengths, they install easily and work seamlessly with energy management lighting control systems. Health Benefits of LED Lighting. Think of the slight flicker and hum associated with traditional florescent lighting. According to OSHA, this flickering can cause “headaches, eye strain and general eye discomfort.” In fact, a study published by Lighting Research and Technology in 1989 found that exposing workers to lights without flickering “resulted in more than a 50 percent drop in complaints of eye strain and headaches.” Researcher John Ott studied the effects of noise pollution associated with fluorescent lights and found that it can cause “irritability, hyperactivity, and mental fatigue leading to attention deficits.” Fluorescent and CFL bulbs also are potential health risks because they contain mercury and emit ultraviolet radiation, which can cause premature aging and skin cancer, and also can contribute to eyestrain and headaches. With none of the dangers of fluorescents, LED lighting offers peace and quiet, and the full spectrum of quality light. Switching to LED actually can increase productivity, lower the chance of eyestrain and headaches, improve mood and reduce exposure to UV radiation and toxic materials. Not All LED Lighting Systems Are the Same. You get what you pay for. As the popularity of LED lighting grows, so does the number of different types of bulbs and tubes on the market ranging in price. Most are Asian made with varying levels of quality and reliability. When choosing LED lighting, quality counts. Do not waste your time and money on cheap products. LED lighting that is UL and Energy Star Listed with DLC certification guarantees quality, long life, maximum energy saving and lighting quality. Isn’t it time that you switched?