Over the last decade, lighting technology has grown by leaps and bounds. LED light bulbs, low cost circuit breakers, and energy efficient security lighting have made both savings and security available to all business owners and homeowners. This means that upgrading lighting is literally a “bright” idea for business developers and people who rent commercial or other space. It’s an easy way to make your business location more energy efficient, more secure, and in turn save the tenant a great deal of money on their utility and insurance bills.
Step 1: LED BULBS
LED (light-emitting diode) technology has been at the forefront of the lighting industry. In addition to being long lasting, LED bulbs only require a fraction of the energy of their incandescent and fluorescent counterparts.
Consider:
* The person who pays the utility bill (usually the renter) replaces the existing light bulbs with LED bulbs. The savings add up pretty quickly.
* By switching from fluorescent to LED bulbs, the energy savings is still 80% of the energy cost of using fluorescent bulbs. (LED lights require less power to run, hence the cost savings.)
* LED bulbs generate half the heat of incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. Given the number of light bulbs in the average commercial space, replacing existing light bulbs with LED bulbs will save money by reducing AC power usage.
Because the savings are constant per bulb, both a small business and a large business save 80% (fluorescent to LED) or 90% (incandescent to LED) on lighting energy costs. LED lights come in a variety of shapes, brightnesses, and widths to match almost any lighting fixture. Retrofit bulbs and circular and U-shaped tubes are among the many options available. In most cases, the savings pay for the LED bulbs in three years.
Step 2: AUTOMATED SWITCHES
Inexpensive circuit breakers turn lights on when a room is occupied and off when the room is empty. While most commercial spaces should be lit continuously, some commercial spaces are used only intermittently, such as restrooms and storage rooms. These intermittent-use spaces only need lighting for a fraction of the business day.
As with LED bulbs, most circuit breakers can be easily installed by the building owner or tenant. Given the average use of bathrooms in commercial spaces, circuit breakers can pay for themselves in three years, even when controlling LED light bulbs.
Step 3: SAFETY LIGHTING
Many businesses turn off their lights at night, leaving their space dark and vulnerable. Some businesses leave the lights on to discourage vandalism and theft. Another alternative is to install energy efficient security lighting.
In recent years, several companies have developed energy efficient LED lighting integrated into outlet cover plates and switch plates. Coming in standard outlet and Decora outlet styles, these outlet plates feature photosensor-controlled LED bulbs that use less than 1 watt per hour, saving 90% compared to a standard commercial LED bulb.
Replacing existing exit plates with security light plates is simple for any building owner or tenant. The cost of replacing most exit plates with these security light plates is quickly recouped in three years compared to after-hours lighting.
Business owners using leased space should also keep old light bulbs, original switches, and outlet plates when upgrading to LEDs, switches, and security lighting. Why? The LEDs will last an average of 50,000 hours of operation. For most companies, that translates to 1,500 days of operation or nearly five years! When moving to a new location, they need to replace light bulbs, switches, and outlet plates, replace old light bulbs, switches, and plates, and bring LEDs, circuit breakers, and security lighting with them to install in the next location.
Summary
The moral of the story: Replace LED light bulbs, install circuit breakers and security lighting whenever you get the chance, and be more energy conscious of other potential cost savings. Your efforts will also lead to a greener tomorrow.
