Lighting Efficiency: A Key Trait of Sustainable Energy

energy efficiencyTechnological advances in the 21st century can be summarized by several key words; innovative, avant-garde and prolific to highlight a few. However, in a world where energy resources, the growing population and the increasing demand for available energy are all in direct competition, perhaps no technological goal should be more pressing than the creation of efficient energy.

Efficient energy use strives to reduce the amount of energy required to accomplish such tasks as interior and exterior lighting, home insulation and transportation through the creation of products that simultaneously use less energy and last longer. The goal is to create energy that is as self-sustaining and re-usable as possible without compromising the quality of the product.

Our modern world runs on batteries, electric lights and staff willing to work late nights in front of glowing computer screens. In a corporate, technologically-advanced society like the one we live in, efficient lighting surfaces as one of the key ways that everyone from the head CEO to the stay-at-home mom can participate in energy conservation. The benefits of simple modifications that increase lighting efficiency in homes and offices are reflected on both the electric bill and in the long-term health of the planet and longevity of its resources.

Use of LED lighting has long been recognized as a front-runner in energy efficiency. LEDs are simple to install. They’re affordable, long-lasting and provide energy-efficient technology that makes an immediate (and significant difference) in the production of sustainable technology.

The future of LED lighting is even brighter thanks to a ground-breaking new study out of Europe called the NEWLED Project. The study is based out of Scotland and will run through 2016. It aims to “develop a new generation of 50-60% energy efficient white light-emitting LED lights, which would be more than twice as efficient as existing LED-based bulbs”. Those involved with this European-wide project believe that “the higher efficiency white-light LEDs, if widely implemented, could have a significant effect on reducing global energy consumption and CO2 emissions”.

The study holds that these light bulbs “will enable effective heat dissipation and light management and the devices are expected to have applications in automotive, industrial lighting and displays. Widespread use would cut global energy consumption by about 10%”.

Advances in LED lighting, like the ones heralded by the NEWLED project, will continue to increase the availability of green, energy-efficient technology. As consumers it is both our responsibility and privilege to use the resources that both meet our energy needs and conserve the earth’s resources.

For more information please contact us.

The Effect of Heat Generated by Inefficient Lighting in Cold-Storage Facilities Can Be Costly

cold storageIf your business operates with cold-storage facilities, you know the importance of maintaining an absolute temperature; however, did you know lighting can be a source of generated heat? This extra energy can cost you more money than you may realize.

There are many types of lighting: incandescent; fluorescent; neon; and more. These lighting sources all use energy and release some amount of heat. Relumination can design a lighting system for you that does not generate this largely excessive heat.

Incandescent lighting is an old technology. It works by passing an electrical current through a resistive wire. As the electricity moves through this wire energy is released in the form of light and heat. These kinds of lighting systems generate the most heat and require the most energy.

Fluorescent lights utilize a special tube that contains a partial vacuum. There is no air in these tubes, but there is mercury in them. A ballast provides a high voltage through these tubes that excites the mercury. A fluorescent powder coats the inside of the tube and converts the UV radiation into visible light. The tubes themselves do not release much excessive heat energy, but the ballasts can be a problem with these systems. Depending on their efficiency, a ballast can release as much as 10% of input power as heat.

If your ballast is releasing 10 watts of heat, in an hour this could mean a potential increase of 39 degrees Fahrenheit for a 45 cubic foot volume. This much heat being released continuously requires your refrigeration system to cycle on and off meaning more costs in cooling.

Neon systems are like fluorescent systems but require much higher voltages and can be even less efficient.

LED lighting systems are different. They still produce heat, but they don’t produce the infrared energy like incadescent bulbs; furthermore, an LED system uses less energy than fluorescent lighting by using lower voltages and currents thereby reducing excessive heat output. LEDs also last longer than fluorescent lights. This saves you on costs for replacement of ballasts or the tubes.

Lighting is important for any business. It allows customers to see products clearly, gives employees a safe working environment, and let’s business move smoothly.

If your business can benefit from the lighting services of Relumination, please contact us for more information on how we can serve your needs.

Act Quickly – You Can Still Take Advantage of EPAct Tax Deductions in 2013

Tax MoneyIt has been estimated that only about 10% of eligible companies have taken advantage of the Commercial Building Deduction known as EPAct, originally implemented in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Are you among them? If not, you still have time, but you’ll need to act quickly. The “go green” incentive is set to expire at the end of 2013.

What type of energy-efficient upgrades qualify? Briefly, commercial building owners need to install interior lighting, HVAC or certain other technology that reduces energy and power costs to obtain tax deductions ranging from $0.60 to $1.80 per square foot. New construction and remodeling projects both qualify, with varying percentages of energy reduction requirements, depending upon what system(s) are being installed. Lighting deductions utilize a sliding scale proportional to lighting power density (LPD) reduction.

It may seem a little complex at first blush (what government-sponsored program isn’t?), but it can be well worth the effort and the experts at the Tax Analytics Group have compiled this helpful infographic and handy tax-savings calculator to simplify things and assist in understanding how to obtain the best deduction for your investment.

Bottom line: not only can a well-planned lighting installation including energy-efficient, long-life LED lights provide major benefits such as: lowering daily operating costs by reducing energy consumption by up to 90%; reducing heat output (which helps reduce HVAC loads in general areas as well as lowering temps in cold-storage facilities); and providing a healthier light source, it can also provide a reduced tax liability. And who doesn’t welcome that these days?

Contact us and let the lighting solutions specialists at Relumination help design, implement and service your lighting retrofit today – and take advantage of those 2013 EPAct tax deductions while there’s still time.

Dark Sky Ordinances Shine Spotlight on Future Lighting

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to gaze at the stars in a truly dark sky, you know what an awe-inspiring experience it is. But the sad truth is, most Americans have never enjoyed such an occasion. Not because they haven’t looked up at night, but because what passes as a “dark sky” in modern society is, in reality, far from actually dark.

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Walmart’s Experimental Stores and Lighting Energy Reduction

walmartWalmart is striving to be a leader in energy reduction. In the early 1990s, it built two experimental stores to test energy saving techniques. One store was located in CO, and one in TX. In 2006, it retrofitted the TX store to try several new energy saving techniques.

In 2010, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) published a conference pre-print on the performance of the original two experimental stores. Both stores incorporated upwards of 50 tests on materials, water systems, and energy systems–including lighting. The original experimental store results were compared against what was a considered a typical store at the time of operation.

One test for energy savings in the original experimental stores was in cold storage lighting systems. Walmart evaluated the use of LEDs in refrigerator and freezer cases, where a typical store uses T8 linear fluorescent lights.

The NREL reported that during the first year the experimental stores were in operation, the LED case lights in Walmart’s experimental stores used 58% less energy than those in a typical store. This energy reduction was considered so successful that Wal-Mart tested the addition of motion sensors in conjunction with the LED case lights starting in 2007. After the installation of the motion sensors, the LED energy savings were 45% over the linear fluorescent bulbs with an additional 25% saved by adding the motion sensors. Wal-Mart considered this energy reduction sufficient to warrant replacing the linear fluorescent bulbs in its low temperature cases with LEDs and motion sensors in most stores.

When Walmart retrofitted the TX store for additional energy reduction testing, it included some changes to the produce lighting. The retrofitted TX store performance was evaluated against the data from its operational period, and an independent analysis of the results was published by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in 2009. Walmart replaced the produce lighting with smaller fixtrues with small reflector lamps. The exact specifications were not available with ORNL’s report, although it was suggested that they are typically available as either halogen or LED. Walmart does not separate produce lighting from total lighting, but calculates that the replacement fixtures save 1000 kWh/month. ORNL reports that some of the conditions were unique to this store–apparently, the store has always used dim produce lighting.

These are highlights of some of Walmart’s energy savings obtained by using alternate lighting such as LED. If you are considering upgrading your lighting systems with the goal of energy reduction, please contact us with any questions.

Talking Stick Resort Arena Poker Room Goes Green with Relumination LED Lighting Upgrade

Poker Room LED LightingRelumination is proud to announce the completion of the Arena Poker Room at Talking Stick Resort. Partnering with Talking Stick Resort we worked to reduce lighting related energy consumption by 80%, saving over 11,500 kWh of electricity annually. From an environmental impact that is a reduction of almost 19,000 pounds of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) saved from polluting the environment each year.

In addition to electricity savings, Talking Stick Resort will also save money through reduced maintenance and facility downtime. The lighting has also been improved and there is less heat being generated for the HVAC system to offset.

If you are in the Scottsdale area be sure to stop in and check out the lighting in the Arena Poker Room. We think you will be impressed.

You can learn more about the project in our case study below:

 

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Lighting Efficiency in Cold Storage Facilities Saves Resources 3 to 4 Times Over

ColdStorageMost food service businesses have cold storage facilities and if your business fits into that category, we strongly urge you to consider upgrading your lighting system. Lighting efficiency is a major concern especially in areas where the lights, themselves, work against keeping the area cold. Energy efficiency, money, the environment, and a safer, more efficient system all argue in favor of upgrading outdated lighting systems in favor of newer technology that allows an area to be well-lit while keeping the room cold.

Energy efficiency

When using outdated lighting systems in cold rooms, we burn energy unnecessarily in two ways: we spend more energy keeping the room cold because the lights warm it up, and we need more lights because cold lighting systems have improved in brightness from what they used to be. Upgrading saves energy because fewer bulbs are required for the same amount of illumination and energy is saved because less is wasted fighting the warmth that results from having lights on.

Money

Energy efficiency saves money. By spending less energy, power bills are reduced — sometimes drastically. Depending on your facilities, you might see noticeable changes in the amount of money you spend on power so quickly that any necessary expenditures on upgrades might just pay for themselves in the first year of use.

The environment

By reducing energy use, especially around areas where freon or ammonia might be a necessary aspect of keeping cold rooms cold, we help preserve the environment. There are environmental risks associated with each energy source, so reducing the amount of electricity needed to keep a cold room cold and well lit helps preserve the environment. This planet is the only one we’ve got and we need to take care of it.

Safety and efficiency

When foods kept in cold rooms are kept too close to light sources, they can warm up when the lights are on for long periods of time. A cycle of slight warming and re-freezing can lead to freezer burn and food expiration. It’s safer when foods that should be kept frozen are kept completely frozen without being warmed when the lights are on.

Knowing this, we might opt to keep the lights off as much as possible, but the problem with a solution like that is the fact that a poorly-lit area can lead to workplace accidents and injuries. No business wants to have that happen, both for the sake of the employees and saving money.

For more information on upgrading your cold room lighting to an efficient system, contact us.

How LED Lighting Can Improve Your Triple Bottom Line

TripleBottomLineAs you are no doubt aware, EISA, the 2007 Energy Independence And Security Act means that traditional incandescent light bulbs will no longer meet energy efficiency standards, with even 40 watt bulbs being phased out in January 2014. Despite somewhat vocal grumbling from certain quarters, this actually represents a great opportunity for businesses to improve their triple bottom line of profit, people and planet through the use of LED Lighting.

First – profit. LED lighting can reduce energy consumption by up to 90%, which considering energy costs can have a significant impact on your bills and improve cash flow. Benjamin Franklin famously once said that “A penny saved is a penny earned”, but even such an innovator as he would no doubt be impressed by a technology that improved on his dictum 90 fold. Not only are LED lights incredibly efficient, but with an average lifespan of 50,000 hours or more, an LED bulb will outlive 50 of its’ incandescent cousins, which equates to a significant cost saving over the lifetime of the bulb, not to mention the labor costs involved in “Relamping” the same fixture 50 times.

Second – people. When used in an office environment, LED lights provide even, consistent illumination without the flicker associated with traditional fluorescent tubes that can result in eyestrain or headaches for employees, which means an increase in productivity, employee health, happiness and general well being. LED light is also free from both Ultraviolet and Infra-red emissions, both of which are harmful not only to people, but can also damage equipment over time and cause fading of fabrics and surface finishes. Their instant start up means that flicking a switch provides complete lighting of any area without any slow start up or flickering, an important security consideration in sensitive or areas that are illuminated infrequently.

Third – planet. LED lights are environmentally friendly as their much lower energy needs means less power generation simply for light and therefore a reduction in fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. They contain no harmful materials such as the mercury found in compact fluorescent bulbs, many of which still end up in landfill sites. They contain no glass, which means that they can be used in areas prone to constant vibration or temperature fluctuation, or in areas used for food preparation, handling and storage. They are also free of any gasses or filaments, another contamination source associated with incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.

These may seem rather ambitious claims for so small and apparently humble an item as a light bulb, but as is often the case, the devil is in the details. Who would ever have thought that in all the business decisions one can make that something as simple as changing a light bulb could have such significance?

For more information on how LED lighting can improve your business, contact us

Improved Clarity Polycarbonates Further Advance LED Lighting

LED Assembly MachineThe excellent life span of LED Lighting is well-known. They often have five to ten times or more the life span of the lamps that they replace. Now, advances in the use of polycarbonate (PC) resins for covers, lenses, and reflectors stand to further complement the longevity of LEDs. This is particularly true of their use in outdoor applications, where storms, vandalism, etc. can threaten such luminaries.

The competing materials, glass and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), have a couple of limitations. The obvious one is the breakability of glass. The other is the inability of PMMA to meet stringent UL94 V0 requirements.

Light Transmission
Polycarbonate resins with improved light transmission qualities are now able to offer 90-92 percent transmission, which is now competitive with PMMA. Lower-grade light transmission is a deal-breaker in many potential LED lighting applications. Also, improved clarity PCs are capable of offering high impact resistance while simultaneously meeting UL’s tough requirements for both flame retardancy and weatherability.

Heat Aging
The growing use of High Brightness (HB) LEDs is focusing more attention on the ability of components to resist heat stress. A new generation of PCs promise success in handling long-term exposure to temperates of 110-130 degrees C. HB LEDs already generate temperatures of 80-90 degrees C, and this will likely go higher as units grow smaller

Brightness vs. Energy Consumption
The effectiveness of PC lenses in focusing light exactly where it is needed bodes well in the ongoing effort to use less energy to light a given area. The goal — make good use of every lumen produced. PC qualities facilitate the fabrication of more efficient reflector shapes.

Flexibility In Fabrication
Polycarbonates can be fabricated in more ways than glass. Extrusion, blow molding, and injection molding are all options. Color can be molded right in and very complex shapes are viable as well. Thin-wall construction is another potential advantage.

Combine the right mix of LED types, rebates, and tax credits, and such lighting can offer whiter light more evenly distributed. Relumination can assess your potential projects and help you to find the highest quality, most cost-effective solutions. Please contact us today.