WATTS THE BIG DEAL?

LIGHTING THE WAY TO A GREENER FUTURE AND A GREENER BOTTOM LINE

Ever wondered why incandescent bulbs get so hot to the touch? It’s because they create excess heat energy that isn’t converted into light. What a waste! Compact florescent light-bulbs (CFL’s) are an alternative option that use 50-70% less energy.  In fact, if everyone in the U.S. replaced just one incandescent bulb with a CFL in their home, the energy saved would be equivalent to amount used to power all the homes in Delaware and Rhode Island combined.

Federal legislators have finally gotten the message on this ‘low hanging fruit’ of the energy efficiency game and implemented a phase out of incandescent bulbs, to be complete by 2020. As you can probably tell, the potential savings for businesses, homeowners, and tenants is significant with low upfront expenditure, short payback periods and high returns on investment.

Bright Ideas in Energy-Efficient Lighting
Fluorescent lights are probably the most popular energy efficient indoor light source because of long life span, cost about 50-70 percent less to run, and most closely mimic the output of incandescent bulbs.  High-intensity discharge (HID) lights are also a similar energy efficient option. Examples of HID lights are metal halide lamps and high pressure sodium lamps.  Until the last few years, these lights were available only in high wattages and primarily for outdoor fixtures. However, a number of lower-wattage lamps have recently been introduced to the market, making them viable options for indoor facilities with high ceilings such as warehouses and gymnasiums. Energy Savings: 30-70%, Payback: 1-3 years

Sensing a New Trend
Occupancy sensors reduce wasted energy by taking over the job of the manual light switch, providing a trigger against our human tendency of forgetting to turn off lights when not in use.  Sensors detect when someone enters a room or area and activate lights on.  Consequently, the sensors will shut off lights after a pre-determined time or when occupancy is no longer detected.  Sensors can easily be mounted in an unobtrusive area like the corner of a room or on the ceiling.  There are three types of sensors that can adequately regulate light usage: motion-detecting (ultrasonic and microwave), audio-sensing, and infrared (heat sensing). These sensors are best suited for spaces not in continual use such as bathrooms, storage areas, conference rooms, private offices, or even classrooms.  The size and layout of the area and the types of surfaces in the space helps determine which sensor would be most effective.

Energy Savings: 20%, Payback: 1-3 years

Exit Here for Cost Efficiency

Energy Star rated LED exit signs now operate on as little as 5 watts of electricity compared to the 40 watts of conventional signs.  That’s a whopping 87.5% reduction in energy usage.  When installed properly throughout a building that can add up to thousands in savings.
Energy Reduction: 80%+, Payback: 1.5-2 years

Good Old Fashioned Sunlight
Adding southern facing windows and skylights draws more daylight into a facility or building.  Adding natural light reduces the dependance on heating systems, the need for artificial lighting, and has been shown to increase overall mood and worker productivity!