Most of the time it’s easy to see when technology is improving: new smartphones roll off the shelves every few months. But for other technologies, change can be harder to recognize—especially if you’re used to your current set up.
According to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, which is the most current data available, more than 2 million facilities built between 1980 and 2003 have been using the same lighting systems for the past few decades- despite the number of advances in lighting technology made since then. Three quarters of commercial buildings have outdated technology.
Do you know if yours does?
Luckily, you don’t have to. Bulbs.com certified Lighting Specialists are experts in the field and will assess your building for you. We will provide your business with the greatest possible savings on an energy efficient lighting system: fixtures, ballasts, controls, and bulbs.
Savings
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) stated that energy usage from commercial lighting accounted for 19% of total commercial sector electricity consumption in 2014. It’s easy to see why lighting is one of the best places to start when attempting to generate energy savings for a facility.
In the previously mentioned survey by the DOE, nearly 40% of an average commercial building’s electricity use was lighting.Upgrading an outdated lighting system can often save between 40-60% of energy costs. It’s a wise investment for any company to make.
Plus, many energy efficient lighting products on the market last much longer than their traditional less-efficient counterparts, some as much as twenty five times longer. A new lighting system won’t just pay for itself in a matter of years; it could save you from having to replace burned out bulbs for a decade or more. For example, a single LED can outlast 30 incandescent before needing to be replaced.
There are other savings too. LEDs use up to 80% less energy than CFLs and incandescent, saving you money on your energy bill—and they emit less heat, saving you money on your air conditioning and related HVAC costs.
Quality
LED’s have the highest lumen efficacy of any lighting technology on the market—measured in lumens (brightness) per watt. In addition, upgrading your lighting system is also an opportunity to make changes to the color rendering, color temperature, and brightness of your lighting system to best suit your need.
LEDs turn on instantly and they won’t suddenly burn out as they get older.
LEDs are not affected by on/off cycles like compact fluorescent lighting. This could be very useful in areas where lights are turned on and off frequently.
An additional opportunity exists—upgrading lighting can free up electrical capacity, as fewer watts will be required to create the same amount of brightness.
Green
330 million tons of CO2 are released into the atmosphere every year unnecessarily from people who haven’t upgraded their antiquated lighting systems.
Being ecologically friendly can earn you more than a clean conscience and good publicity. There’s also the question of additional benefits—in some places, the U.S. government is rewarding companies that are working to reduce their carbon footprint. Local utility companies may also offer rebates for switching to more energy efficient lighting.
Energy Efficient Lighting Assessment
Bulbs.com now provides Energy Efficient Lighting Assessments for our commercial customers. Our team delivers a complete lighting audit experience from identifying utility rebate opportunities and sourcing product to analyzing energy usage and calculating savings to reduce your facility energy costs. We will work with you every step of the way- RFP completion, simple audits or investment grade audits (necessary for financing). The Bulbs.com Energy Services team will help you find the most efficient lighting options and the best available utility rebates for your business.
If you have any questions about the Energy Efficient Lighting Assessment or would like to know more about the Benefits of LED lighting, please contact one of our certified Lighting Specialists at 888-455-2800.