One of the largest selling points of switching to LED lighting is the huge amount that you will save in costs. But, what exactly does that look like and how do we know if that statement is true? This blog will cover what exactly LED lighting is and the financial cost breakdown before and after switching to LED lighting.
Commercial LED Lighting: What is it and why should I care?
Let’s start with what ‘LED’ actually means. LED stands for light-emitting diode and was invented in 1962 by a General Electric scientist named Nick Holonyak, Jr. The commercial LED lighting that you know today is still a relatively new invention, inspired by the ultra-bright blue LEDs invented in 1994 by Shuji Nakamura.
So how is LED lighting different from incandescent lighting? While incandescent bulbs use a curly tungsten filament that is burned and only lasts as long as the lifespan of the filament, LED lighting uses a solid conductor, such as a crystal that lets an electrical current pass through, rather than burning the substance, illuminating the bulb.
What is the lifespan of an incandescent bulb vs. an LED bulb?
Because incandescent lighting burns the filament to make the bulb glow, its user has to change out incandescent bulbs more frequently. On average, an incandescent light bulb can last anywhere from 750 to 2k hours per bulb. If you think about that in terms of your business and how many lights you are responsible for changing, that’s a lot, isn’t it?
This is exponentially lower compared to the lifespan of LED bulbs, which last anywhere from 40k to 50k hours! The cost of buying and changing LED commercial lighting is much lower than incandescent lighting or even fluorescent lighting, just based on the average lifespan of LED lighting.
What other costs are associated with LED commercial lighting?
We already discussed the cost based on the life span of incandescent vs. LED lighting. Now, let’s talk about the difference in electricity usage between the two commercial lighting contenders.
How much do you think it takes to power up incandescent commercial lighting? Take a second to think about it.
Ready for the answer? For a 60W incandescent bulb, it takes a whopping 60 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity every 1,000 hours, compared to a 12W LED bulb, which will provide the same brightness in your office. This means it is five times less expensive to use LED bulbs than incandescent!
If I switch to LED lighting, what other savings will it give my business?
Not only will LED lighting give your business financial savings through the cost to maintain the lights and less energy usage, but it will also provide environmental savings. It is true that incandescent lighting has a shorter lifespan, causing the price of purchasing new bulbs to rise. This also means that factories that make incandescent bulbs will emit more carbon dioxide to keep up with the increasing demand for more product.
This also ties back into the cost savings of your business, because you can actually claim eco-friendly LED lighting on your taxes in the United States, according to page 133 of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
So, what are you waiting for?
How can I get started on financial savings?
Mac Electric will start by providing your business with a FREE Lighting Audit. This is where our Value Engineering Team will visit your property, analyze your current lighting system, understand your specific needs, and determine how to maximize lighting distribution for your operation.
We will then write up a Comprehensive Lighting Plan that will include permits required by the city, a light distribution strategy, projected costs/payback period, and an energy savings audit.
Lastly, we will guarantee you get the most out of your manufacturer’s warranties and the maximum return on your project by managing the rebate process for your project.
To get started on this ‘must-do’ upgrade for your business, call us at (970) 669-2464 or visit our website!