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 Energy efficiency, money, the environment, and a safer, more efficient system all argue in favor of upgrading outdated lighting systems in favor of newer technology that allows an area to be well-lit while keeping the room cold.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When using outdated lighting systems in cold rooms, we burn energy unnecessarily in two ways: we spend more energy keeping the room cold because the lights warm it up, and we need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.

California Goes for Energy Efficiency With New Light Bulb Law

On January 1, 2011, California required light bulb manufacturers to meet new efficiency standards to save consumers money and energy. California based its requirement on a federal standard signed into law and effective January 1, 2012, which required companies to phase out the manufacture of incandescent bulbs slowly over a three-year period. California merely enacted the standard a year early to avoid the sale of 10.5 million inefficient 100-watt light bulbs.

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School Lighting Retrofits: Teach Students By Example

A conversion to LED school lighting by a school district simultaneously accomplishes a variety of important goals. The energy savings can be substantial. Plus, LED lights are Eco-friendly in numerous ways. A lighting retrofit at a primary school in Peoria, IL is estimated to eliminate 1.76 million lbs of carbon dioxide emissions over the next decade. In a retrofit at Thomas Jefferson School, 600 T12 fluorescents were replaced by dimmable LEDs.

Fluorescent lights have been omnipresent in school buildings for many years. In fact, in many buildings, they have represented the primary source of electrical usage, by far.

 

An example of poor lighting in a school cafeteria.
An example of poor lighting in a school cafeteria.
An example of good lighting in a school cafeteria.
An example of good lighting in a school cafeteria.

 

Now, LED lighting addresses the significant shortcomings of such lighting. First, energy consumption is typically reduced from 50 to 90 percent. Imagine a $10,000 electric bill cut to $5,000, or much less. Second, LEDs do not emit the UV wavelengths of l ight that fluorescents do. UV light exposure is associated with the premature degradation of numerous substances, including certain plastics, and fabrics.

Third, fluorescents contain mercury. Accidental breakage of fluorescent tubes has often resulted in the need for very careful, and therefore expensive, clean up. Furthermore, the deleterious effects of mercury on the environment and on human health are well-documented. A conversion to LED lighting demonstrates concern for the well being of students and faculty alike.

Fourth, the greenish tinge of fluorescent light quality is both unflattering and an impediment to lab observations, for example, that require attention to color changes. By contrast, LEDs can be installed that closely mimic the light spectrum of sunlight.

Fifth, LEDs offer much greater longevity than traditional fluorescents. The long hours that fluorescents have to be in service in a school are self-evident. It is not only during class hours that illumination is required. Today, school structures are more multi-purpose than ever, For example, many high schools serve as campuses for technical colleges that offer primarily evening classes. And, extracurricular activities are as numerous as ever. What’s more, many sports practices, for example, require the illumination for large areas for hours on end. Basketball courts, wrestling practice areas, and swimming pools all require significant illumination.

To specifically explore what a LED lighting retrofit could mean for your facilities, please contact us at Relumination. Our experts will quickly assess your specific needs and calculate the savings possible

Control Options Boost Interest in LED Lighting

Building and property managers who are serious about tackling the challenge of reducing energy costs have another reason to consider employing LED lighting in their plans.

Building LightingA recent report from Pike Research says the growing move to LED lighting is fueling a drive by controls manufacturers to develop more innovative and sophisticated digital controls that will boost the energy savings potential of these systems.

These intelligent lighting systems are a growing market segment.

A summary of the report includes this observation:

“New technologies emerging in recent years have enabled a wide range of innovative strategies, from room-level intelligence of occupancy and daylight sensing to building-wide coordination of a fully networked system.”

The key to implementing any of these advanced technologies is LED lighting which is easily adaptable to digital controls.

The potential for expanding and enhancing the cost savings associated with incorporating LED lighting is one more reason to consider these energy savings options.

The use of LED lights has been a growing segment of the market and as costs have fallen even more building operators have chosen this option. LED has become one the hottest trends in retrofitting projects because of its energy cost savings.

Building managers looking to control energy costs, improve lighting efficiency and gain better control of energy use should consider LED lighting in their planning. LED lights can be incorpoprated for indoor and outdoor lighting needs.

If you want to learn more about LED lighting and how it can help you regain control of your energy usage, contact us.

Take Advantage Of Section 179d Tax Deducations

There’s still plenty of time to take advantage of the Section 179d tax deductions available to commercial enterprises that convert over to LED lighting. The new lighting must go into service by the end of 2013 to qualify for this generous federal tax deduction.

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