Energy Efficient Parking Lot Lighting Saves Big!!

Energy efficient replacement solutions for Parking Lot fixtures (pole lights) were virtually non existent until recently. Induction lighting has been a great alternative to HID lighting for years. The popularity of this technology has been slowly growing in the United States primarily on the west coast, but you still don’t see this technology used much for outdoor area lighting. Parking lot lighting and Induction lamps are a great fit, providing quality lighting while cutting energy consumption.

   For example, using Induction lamps to illuminate Car Dealerships has wonderful benefits not only energy savings. The high Color Rendering Index of the Induction lamp enhances the colors of the products on display. Then you need to consider the long life (100,00hr) that dramatically reduces maintenance, this is of great value for applications where buckets trucks are often needed for re-lamping. The life span of one Induction lamp will replace five HID lamp changes.

   Most companies that use outdoor lighting such as pole mounted HID fixtures do not operate on a 24 hour schedule. So this creates another question. What can we do to reduce the consumption of these fixtures after business hours when only security lighting is needed? Back to our Car Dealership example, after business hours cars are no longer being sold creating a very wasteful and inefficient lighting system no matter what technology is being utilized. There exists a great solution to this problem. Induction Shoe Box fixtures are available with duel 150 & 200 watt lamps and ballast. The lamps in this fixture can be controlled independently making it the most versatile Shoe Box fixture on the market. When wired through an astronomical time clock, half of this light can be shut off after business hours when the only lighting needed is for security. During night time business hours the light would operate at 300 watts, then after business hours the light can be reduced to 150 watts greatly increasing the energy savings and not compromising security.

   For existing systems where re-wiring to provide a second feed to control each light is not a possibility, wireless or line voltage relays can be used.. These relays are able to receive a signal via wireless or existing power feed conductors which will turn off half the fixture at a predetermined time. The DimOnOff control panel contains an astronomical time clock which controls the relays and automatically adjusting for day light savings.

 Reducing outdoor lighting consumption will have a huge impact on your bottom line creating positive cash flow with a quick return on your investment.

-Michael Hale. www.GetGreenLighting.com

What Is Induction Lighting and how can it benefit My Business?

The basic Technology for induction lamps in not particularly new. Essentially, an induction lamp is an electrodless fluorescent. Without electrodes, the lamp relies on the fundamental principles of electromagnetic induction and gas discharge to create light. The elimination of filaments and electrodes result in a lamp of unmatched life. Lasting 100,000 hours or 25 years, this system can outlast 100 incandescent, five HID, or five typical fluorescent lamp changes.

     Based on these well known principles light can be generated via gas discharge through simple magnetism. Electromagnetic transformers, which consist of rings with metal coils, create an electromagnetic field around a gas tube which contains gas, using a high frequency that is generated by an electronic ballast.

     Although it is not breakthrough science, until recently, it has not been so commercially viable. New developments have broken down the barriers of Technological setbacks, such as EMC interference, lumen depreciation, ability to dim and a useful range of voltages.

     Today its obvious benefits make it the clear cut choice for many lighting applications over traditional light sources.

How Can Induction Lighting Benefit My Business?

 

     Replacing HID fixtures such as high bay lighting will cut your lighting consumption by 50% or more while maintaining or improving light levels and visual acuity. The benefits don’t stop there! The exceptional long life of the induction lamp will have a drastic impact on maintenance cost. For example, the average facility with HID lighting will spend $75.00 or more parts and labor to change a 400 watt metal halide high bay lamp. This would be performed five times over the life of one induction lamp. That equates to $375.00 per fixture saved. So if you have 100 fixtures in your facility you would save $37,500 in maintenance by switching to an induction system over a 100,000 hour period.

     Now let’s examine the energy savings. Let’s assume this same facility operated two shifts five days per week which is roughly 6,500 hours per year. This warehouse facility has (100) 400 watt metal halide high bay fixtures which have an operating wattage of 460 watts with ballast, and we will use the national average cost of 12¢ per KWH. This system would be replaced by a 200 watt induction high bay fixture which consumes 215 watts. That’s a reduction of 245 watts per KWH. Here is where the math comes in:

 245w saved X 6,500 hrs per year X 100 fixtures ÷1,000 watt to kilowatts X 12¢ per  kwh=$19,110.00 saved annually.

      Next, you break down the maintenance cost of $37,500 to gain the per year average of $2,500.00 per year in maintenance savings. $37,500÷ (100,000hrs ÷ 6,500hrs).

      Now add the maintenance saving savings to the annual energy savings and you get a new annual savings of $21,610.00. 

      Another advantage of induction lighting is its “instant on” technology which gives it the ability to be controlled via motion sensors further increasing you energy savings potential. The disadvantage of induction lighting is its cost. These fixtures can cost a pretty penny which can mask the enormous energy savings and benefits this technology offers. What good is such technology if it’s not affordable? Well fear no more. Get Green Lighting Co has made it their mission to provide this wonderful energy saving technology at a fraction of the cost, 30 to 50% less than other induction lighting suppliers.

      If you would like more information on induction lighting visit us on the web at: www.GetGreenLighting.com you can email me your questions or request a fixture quote.

-Michael Hale Get Green Lighting Co.

The American Energy Efficient Lighting Tragedy.

Energy efficient lighting alternative have existed for years. The amount of carbon emissions that can be eliminated from the environment through utilizing lighting efficiency is enormous.  Let’s consider street lighting as an example, 100-400 watt HID fixture are commonly used as illumination for our Nations highways, roadways and alleyways.  The consumption of these fixtures can be cut in half with the use of more efficient Induction lighting technology. In many cases the replacement of these fixtures will also improve the quality of light. There are millions of these inefficient lighting fixtures in the US. Replacing 5 million 100 watt Metal Halide street lighting with 80 watt induction will yield approximately the following results:

    963,600,000 kw reduction, $77,088,000 annual savings. This is the equivalent to removing 129,375 cars from the road or 183,975 acres of forest replenished. It would also have a coal burning reduction of 315,196 tons per year. Mercury contamination will be reduced by 14,978,196 mg. per year. The conservation rate of 8¢ per KWH was used for the cost saving analysis.  An induction lamp has 4 to 5 times the life of an HID lamp. Using again a conservative number of $100.00 per lamps change, induction would save Americans approximately 2 billion dollars in maintenance cost over the next 20 years. A reduction of 5 million 400 watt HID to 150 watt Induction would have 3 times the impact. The aforementioned results are only the tip of this energy efficient iceberg floating beneath our fears to commit to new technologies.

    Other areas such as Parking Lot lighting, Parking Garages and interior spaces can greatly benefit from this technology. The “instant on” quality of Induction lighting makes it an ideal candidate for numerous control options. Recent collaboration between Get Green Lighting Co and DimOnOff has produced the Smart-Bright System for existing Parking Lot applications. This intelligent Induction lighting system uses 2 lamps per fixture with the option of shutting off one lamp during late night hours when only security lighting is needed. For existing applications, many of which do not have the option of providing additional control feeds, the DimOnOFF powerline controls allows for the use of the duel controls option without costly reconstruction. Simply change the fixture, install the DimOnOff control panel and tie it into the existing electrical supply. Some simple programming is required and the astronomical time clock takes it from there.

   In large Warehouse spaces Induction high bay lighting can be used to replace 400W HID fixtures. The 200 watt Induction high bay can efficiently and effectively replace these high consuming environmentally damaging light sources. Again, control options can be used such as motion detection in spaces seldom used. Another practice that might seem minor is shutting these fixtures off at lunch time, the absence of  re-strike downtime enables these fixture to be turned on providing immediate illumination for safe occupation of work space.

    Induction lighting is certainly not the only energy efficient lighting technology that can help reduce the Nations environmental impact. Compact fluorescents and LED’s will have a significant role in reducing our dependence on foreign resources. As a Nation, we need to take advantage of this energy source that is available now. It requires no digging nor is dependant on our relationship with other countries. It doesn’t require nuclear power, or the burning of coal, no off shore drilling expenses. All that is required is the insight to implement these preventive measures, resulting in triumph not tragedy for generations to come. Michael Hale – www.GetGreenLighting.com.