Q. This is the year we’re going to do something about our energy bills. We want to start with lighting. In our business, we sell merchandise through catalogs, mail order, and a retail location. So, our building includes a warehouse, offices, and the store. We’re looking for advice on efficient lighting for all of these spaces. – PL, Windham County
Paul:
Great energy-saving options are available for a building like yours. We’ll give you information about upgrades that are typical for your three, distinct spaces.
Dan:
In your warehouse, replace any high-pressure sodium or metal halide lighting with high-performance T8 or T5 fluorescent tube lighting. High-performance T8s are also a great upgrade for offices that currently use T12 fluorescent tubes for overhead lighting. Your energy savings could run from 25% to 50%. Also in your offices, replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), and you’ll use as much as 75% less energy for those lamps.
Paul:
Dan’s advice about office overhead lights also applies to general lighting for a retail store. And, if your store currently has screw-in halogens for merchandise display, use screw-in LEDs (light-emitting diodes) instead and your energy use for product display will drop by as much as 80%. With a light quality similar to halogens, these LEDs are ideal for displays because they provide directional rather than diffused lighting. Screw-in LEDs are also a great option for use in recessed cans.
Dan:
All of these energy-saving lighting systems are designed to last much longer than older technologies, so they also can save you money on replacement costs and related maintenance-installation costs. They run cooler too, so they can reduce cooling needs in some spaces. As importantly, the quality of light you’ll get with efficient lighting matches or improves on traditional lighting. That quality can boost worker morale/productivity, provide greater safety, and create an improved retail environment that literally puts your merchandise in a better light and makes for a better shopping experience for your customers.
Paul:
While you’re upgrading your lighting, it makes sense to consider occupancy sensors. Sensors save energy by automatically turning off lights in empty rooms and turning them on again when someone enters the space. These can be a good option for offices and for spaces less-frequently used, like rest rooms, break rooms, and storage areas.
Dan:
I want to point out that reducing lighting energy costs is about more than the kind of equipment you use. Savings also come from locating and aiming your lights in a way to bring illumination only where you need it. With that kind of sensible lighting design, it’s possible to actually lower the amount of lighting you’ll need to buy. That means a smaller initial cost and lower utility bills going forward. Working with a lighting designer can increase energy savings by an average of 40% compared to simple one-for-one replacements of old lighting with new. Rebates are available, from Efficiency Vermont’s RELIGHT Program, to Vermont businesses working with a professional lighting designer.
Paul:
Efficiency Vermont also offers rebates for occupancy sensors, recommended screw-in LEDs, and for specified replacements for T12s, high-pressure sodium, and metal halide lighting. Go to www.efficiencyvermont.com for information and for new, easy-to-use downloadable rebate forms for lighting, as well as for a range of other efficient equipment -- including boilers, furnaces, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and more. If you have questions, call Efficiency Vermont, toll-free, at 888-921-5990.