LED's: A Truly "Green" Lighting Alternative
By
Rob Everhart, Energy Tech Solutions, LLC
Energy saving initiatives have become a much bigger priority for businesses
than ever before. With utility prices up 130% since 1999 and no clear end to increases in sight, more and more companies are
looking for ways to reduce energy expenditures to improve their bottom line. One alternative to consider is the use of LED
lighting. LEDs are the most efficient light source available and last longer than any other conventional lighting product.
They also produce no UV rays and do not contain any mercury. Therefore, they are a truly “Green” lighting
alternative.
For example, LED lighting will not only reduce your electrical load but will substantially reduce your maintenance
costs as well. New LED lighting ratios are as follows:
• LEDs use approximately ten times less energy than
a standard incandescent
• LEDs use approximately three times less energy than compact fluorescents
• LEDs
use approximately half the energy of fluorescent tube technology
• LEDs use approximately one third the energy
of HID products
LEDs are more cost effective than people realize. In commercial applications, returns can range from
1 to 5 years placing them as a very cost-effective alternative to standard lighting products.
For example, replacing
24 hour use, standard incandescent lighting with LED products will produce the biggest return on your investment. A
LED replacement exists for most incandescent technology used today. With
a 10 to 1 ratio, the payback will likely be
from 1 to 3 years. Utility companies may offer rebate incentives that will improve the payback even more. Also,
considering the fact that most standard incandescent lamps only last approximately 1,000 hours as compared to LED’s
at 50,000+ hours, maintenance savings may affect the payback as well. Based on product life, one would have to purchase 50
incandescent bulbs to equate to that of one LED resulting in an additional cost savings potential. Although the cost
of an incandescent lamp is significantly less than that of a LED, the maintenance costs alone balance the playing field in
comparison.
Based on a blended rate of $.10 per kilowatt hour and a 24 hour operation, a LED replacement for a
standard incandescent lamp works out to be a 1.6 year payback with a 63% return on the investment based on the lamp energy
savings alone. These numbers can only get better when adding energy savings related to reduced air conditioning loads, maintenance
savings and potential utility rebates.
Another area of potential savings is in the upgrade of the common fluorescent
fixture. One option is to simply use an LED replacement tube. Two different types of tubes exist. One has an integrated
driver built into the tube which requires you to bypass the ballast and wire the system direct. These tubes typically come
in 120V or 277V. This is a good option if the ballasts have reached the end of their useful life allowing you to apply your
ballast change-out budget to the use of the new tubes. The other type of tubes comes with a small driver that replaces the
ballast. These tubes range anywhere from 15 to 20 Watts per tube resulting in roughly half the energy usage depending on your
current configuration. The payback based on the previously used variables comes in around 2.5 years.
The second
option is to use a light panel system. Light panels are great for several reasons; they are very thin, (roughly one inch),
they allow for a lot of flexibility in output and use and they can be suspended freely, mounted in a drop ceiling or even
hung on a wall. Most are fully dimmable and have life expectancies of up to 100,000 hours. At 24/7 hour operation, this option
offers over 11 years without changing a lamp or ballast. The down side is that these fixtures are expensive resulting in longer
paybacks. Expenditures can be reduced in multiple ways:
• Using the incremental cost differential in new construction
• Taking advantage of Day-Lighting and using the dimming function to contribute more energy savings
• Replacing
product that is close to the end of its useful life
• Capturing utility rebates
• Calculating
maintenance savings.
Moving on to the other cost-effective areas, you may consider looking at High Intensity Discharge
(HID) replacements. Most LED exterior security and parking lot lighting will provide you with a 100,000 hour life. Based on
a standard 12 hour per day cycle, these products will provide you with a run of over 20 years without having to maintain or
replace your lights. The payback is long on LED parking lot lights based on the costs of the fixtures, up to 15 years, but
again, one must consider the costs associated with maintaining the original fixtures. This work is typically contracted out
resulting in high rates per hour to change out your lights. LED security lighting is a little more reasonable in price offering
shorter payback terms.
Using LED under cabinet lighting for office cubicles is another opportunity for energy savings.
The new systems offer good beam spread and color options. An occupancy based control system allows for additional energy savings
as well. Color temperature can be changed to match that of the current office lighting system. Installation can be as easy
as sticking the new LED system under the metal cabinets with a one sided magnet system and plugging it in.
LED sign
lights also exist as a cost-effective alternative to either neon or fluorescent systems. Traditional sign lights are expensive
to maintain and operate and the LED alternative can offer a substantial savings.
In summary, LED lighting is one
of the most exciting, fastest growing, emerging technologies in the energy industry. At current pace, it is simply a matter
of time before LED lighting becomes the standard and the norm. Contrary to some beliefs, cost-effective LED alternatives are
available now. Energy savings are being realized by those companies who have incorporated LED technologies into their corporate
infrastructure. Even if a group relamp is not an option, a “replace upon burn out” policy could be implemented
to initiate the integration of LEDs into the work place. LEDs will not only reduce your electrical load and maintenance
costs, but will improve your bottom line in an earth-friendly fashion. LED lighting is as green as you can get in the
lighting arena.
Web Site: http://www.ledenergysolutions.com
