There is a new tool out to help choose quality LED lighting products, the Lighting Facts Label. Similar to a nutrition label, the Lighting Facts Label provides a summary of performance data for LED lighting products. Lighting manufacturers who take the SSL (Solid State Lighting) Quality Advocates pledge agree to use the label to disclose performance results in key areas – lumens, efficacy, watts, correlated color temperature (CCT) and color rendering index (CRI) – as measured by the new industry standard for testing photometric performance, IES LM-79-2008. There is a list of 160 LED products that qualify to use the Lighting Facts label available at the DOE website.

Jason
Estimator

According to industry sales data, T-12 Fluorescent lamps still account for 3 out of 10 fluorescent lamps sold in the U.S. With the July 1, 2010 date for the final step of a multi-step phaseout of T-12 Ballast quickly approaching, there is still opportunity to put together lighting retrofit projects for all of these commercial and industrial facilities that are still using T-12 technologies that are literally 70 years old. Facility owners and managers stand to reap significant benefits from these upgrades, from increased energy savings of as much as 48% to incentive programs offered by the Federal Government and State agencies that can offer a 2 to 3 year payback for these projects. Now is the time to act, contact Harmon Electric to find a lighting solution that’s right for you.

Jason
Estimator

Maintenance programs for lighting are a good way to make sure that you facility lighting doesn’t come into disrepair, which keeps production levels high, but most of the time it overlooks real cost saving areas. Instead of just replacing bad lamps and ballasts with the same old thing as is customary, take a look at the following ideas that can help make your maintenance program even more effective.

Cleaning fixture lenses and reflectors will increase light output and also the dirt and bug build up will increase the amount of heat inside the fixture which in turn will decrease the efficiency and life of the new lamps and of ballasts that you just installed.

Look into more modern and efficient lighting technologies to replace your old and inefficient lighting systems. Cost can always be prohibitive when looking an entire facility upgrade, so just start with one room. Motion sensors can be installed to save wasted energy when no one is occupying the space. New 2X4 T-5 HO (High Output)direct/indirect lighting can put out more usable light with less power that older prismatic lens, parabolic, and even older direct/indirect 2X4 lighting.

There are a lot of newer lighting technologies out there that have been put to the test, and the prices are coming down daily as the technology becomes more and more commonplace with set standards. Starting slowly with your lighting system maintenance on a monthly basis you can build a more efficient and more effective lighting system for your building.

Jason
Estimator

One of my suppliers and I were discussing Lighting Retrofits, and he told be that FSC Lighting has a new energy efficient light out. The PLI 99100i is an Induction Parking lot light fixture that is available in a 100W or 200W fixture. This fixture is extremely efficient, it has an average lamp life of 100,000 hours compared with a standard Metal Halide lamp that has an average lamp life of 10,000 hours. It’s lamp design has no electrode which allows for installation in high vibration applications. Instant on and instant restrike allow for the lights to be “Full On” immediately compared with Metal Halides that take several minutes to get to full brightness, and can take up to 10 minutes to restart after being shut off. These fixtures are pricey, but the 10 year warranty for the lamp and ballast on all induction fixtures makes that cost worth the savings in lamp and ballast maintenance and replacement. Depending on the situation, it may also be possible to take advantage of lighting retrofit incentives.

If you are looking at lighting retrofits, but were unhappy with the bottom line, it’s time to take a second look with a Phoenix electrical contractor that has enlisted the help of a leader in the lighting retrofit industry.

Jason
Estimator

LED’s are on the cutting edge of Green Technologies. It seems that every manufacturer of lamps has a new line of LED lamps (light bulbs) and LED Luminaries (light fixtures). The marketing of these products is geared toward the fact that these lamps use a fraction of the power that even fluorescent lamps use, and the lamp life is extraordinary. However, these technologies are still fairly new, and standards are still being worked on. Before you go out and spend a small fortune to replace all or your existing lamps with an LED equivalent, you need to educate yourself about the issues that you can face.

Although the LED itself has an incredible life expectancy, the drivers that power them may not last as long, especially if they are going to be used outside in the extreme heat of Phoenix. It is very important to employ the services of a designer that is aware of not only the advantages, but also the disadvantages of LED’s. Harmon Electric and Harmon Solar have recently partnered with a company who is very knowledgeable about LED’s and is very willing to do a site visit and discuss ALL of the options available in LED technology, and whether or not LED is the way to go, or if there is another option that will be better.

Jason
Estimator

Have you looked at doing a lighting retrofit for your building in the past, and decided not to proceed because the rebates were not large enough? It’s time to take a second look. Because of new legislation there are more incentives available for lighting retrofits. In some cases, the owner of a building can receive a Personal Tax Deduction if the energy savings are enough.

I recently had a customer ask us about taking a second look at doing a retrofit on their building. Originally we just looked at replacing the existing lamps and ballasts (most of which were T-12 magnetic ballasts) with high efficiency T-8 Lamps and Ballasts. Now we are looking at replacing entire fixtures with new technologies that were not as readily available, and more expensive two years ago.

The last time that I looked at the project, I had to “go it alone”, looking for all of the information about what it took to get a rebate, and then where I could get all of the proper parts. It took a lot of time and energy to do this. Now, because there is such a demand for lighting retrofits, there are electrical contracting companies that are willing to help you do this initial work up. We have enlisted the help of a lighting supplier that deals with these types of jobs all the time. They are willing to go out to the jobsite with us, and the owner, and discuss the options. One of the greatest parts about it is that they are willing to provide 2 to 4 new fixtures that can be installed so that the customer can see the difference that these new technologies make.

Now is the time to take action. If you have already looked at lighting retrofits, but were unhappy with the bottom line, it’s time to take a second look with a Phoenix electrical contractor that has enlisted the help of a leader in the lighting retrofit industry.

Jason
Estimator