Why LEDs?

Last month GSA released a report on the cost savings benefits of Occupant Responsive Lighting. The report emphasizes the enhanced financial benefit of occupancy sensor lighting in addition to the already apparent benefits of energy efficient lighting.

Article Excerpt:
“Through the use of advanced lighting controls, retrofits generally achieved energy savings of around 1 kWh/sf/yr, resulting in calculated annual savings by site ranging from 27% to 63%. The large variations in energy savings were attributable mostly to the way space was used. Spaces where the tenant required…”

To read the entire report, please click the PDF above. Article & download courtesy of GSA. Visit the GSA Green Proving Ground Program at www.gsa.gov/gpg for additional resources.

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Many organizations in West Michigan are affected by the increased cost of utilities and resources. They are also dealing with reduced operating budgets for their grounds and facilities. The current LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Version 2.2 (EBOM v2.2) standard proposes that by reducing or eliminating the mercury content of the lamps purchased for your facility, you will not only have a positive impact on the environment — you will also see a reduction in bottom-line operating costs.

The LEED Materials & Resources Credit 4 makes three valid points for your business case to replace conventional lamps with low-mercury lamps:

1) Low-mercury can be comparable or slightly higher in cost than conventional lamps, but they may also have a longer life and a higher lumen output than conventional.

2) Mercury-free lamps, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), can have a much higher lumen output and use significantly less energy. The cost per lamp may be higher, sometimes up to 10 times higher than lamps containing mercury, but overall there will be a positive impact on your bottom line with reduced utility bills.

3) The return on investment of purchasing LEDs or other low-mercury lamps can be justified, as they often outperform conventional, incandescent and even compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). For example, LEDs have a 10- to 15-year life span, which will keep re-fixturing costs down over their lifetime. Due to the lamp’s minimal heat output, energy costs to air-condition the area also will be reduced.

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