Five Signs You Should Invest in LED Lighting
What if you discovered there’s a way to modernize your facilities and save costs for years to come—all with a simple switch of your lighting?
LED (light-emitting diode) lighting is one of the most energy-efficient and rapidly evolving lighting technologies available today. In fact, it’s very likely you’ve started using them as replacement bulbs, or as your holiday lights.
Maybe you’ve even been considering LED lighting for your facilities, but it’s fallen down the priority list. If that’s the case, you may have unintentionally made a great choice in waiting, since LEDs have evolved to the point where they offer not only a number of quantifiable benefits (ROI, anyone?), but some less quantifiable—though equally important—advantages as well. Is it time to invest in LED lighting? Here are five great reasons to make the switch:
- You Have High Utility Bills (and they’re getting higher!)
Because LEDs are more energy-efficient they last longer, reduce costs and make your monthly utility bill less painful to open. ENERGY STAR®, the U.S. government-backed agency that certifies energy efficiency, compares two bulbs that emit the same brightness level (800 lumens) to show they have very different estimated energy costs per year. A 43-watt halogen bulb’s estimated energy cost is $6.02 per year, while a 9-watt ENERGY STAR-certified LED bulb’s estimated energy cost is just $1.26 per year.
To give you an idea of the large-scale cost savings possible with LEDs, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that by 2027, widespread use of LEDs could save the equivalent annual electrical output of 44 large electric power plants (1,000 megawatts each). That’s a total savings of more than $30 billion at today’s electricity prices.
- Maintenance Costs are on the Rise
Do your facilities have a number of different kinds of bulbs? Does your maintenance staff spend too much of their valuable time replacing burned-out bulbs?
LED lights could be the answer. Standardizing and streamlining your lighting products saves both time and money. Depending on usage habits, LEDs have been shown to last as much as 50 times longer than incandescent bulbs, and 10 times longer than fluorescents. That’s a lot less time, effort, and overhead costs expended on replacing lighting—especially if forklifts are required to reach the fixtures.
- Your Lighting Looks and Feels Outdated
We promise, that’s not an insult. But you really should take an honest assessment of the lighting used in your facilities. Do you see outdated fixtures, mismatched bulbs, or poor lighting conditions?
Detrimental health effects associated with poor lighting include:
- Headache
- Eye, neck, back, and shoulder strain
- Trips, slips, and falls
- Difficulty using or dropped materials or tools
- Depression (as a result of insufficient or gloomy lighting)
Updating your lighting can do much more than enhance the look of your facilities. It can increase employee safety and morale and improve productivity—and save you money as a result.
- Your Local Utility Company is Offering a Rebate
Many power companies offer rebates for switching to LEDs, since the new initiatives benefit both consumers and utilities. And we all know when homeowners, businesses and other organizations reduce their energy bills, it’s a win-win for all. For more information on some of these initiatives, check out our blog article, Looking for Big Savings? Let Us Light the Way.
- You Want to Reduce Your Environmental Impact
Did you know that HPS bulbs, which are the most common non-LED light source used in industrial applications, contain enough mercury in a single bulb to poison an entire classroom? Because of that risk, HPS bulbs must be disposed of according to proper hazmat protocol.
LEDs contain no mercury or other hazardous materials—which mean they’re safer not only for the planet, but for its people. They also use less energy, last longer and deliver crisper and clearer lighting, making it a win-win all the way around.
Whether you’re hoping to make life easier for your employees, be more environmentally conscious, improve your bottom line or all of the above, there’s never been a more opportune (or exciting!) time to explore the many ways LED lighting solutions can improve your business.
Not sure where to start? For a turnkey LED solution—from consult and design, to financing and installation—rely on Woodward Energy Solutions. We can streamline the process of retrofitting your facilities with LEDs, saving you both time and money. Call us today at (866) 967-4533 for a free audit. We think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the results! To learn more and view some of our projects, visit www.woodwardenergy.com.
Sources:
https://www.energystar.gov/products/lighting_fans/light_bulbs/learn_about_led_bulbs
https://ledlightguides.com/how-long-do-led-lights-last/