Research: dimmable lights, done correctly, save energy

Call Aztec Electrical today at (541) 245-8560 to learn how our services can assist your project with new lighting technology. 

We can assist you with understanding the available rebates and incentives to improve your lighting project ROI.

Our #electrical and #lightingdesign services include #ledlighting.

Recent studies estimate more than 800 million recessed downlights are in operation in the United States, split nearly equally between residential and commercial applications, with about 83% still using incandescent lamps. Inexpensive compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) downlights are commercially available, but most of these units are not dimmable, which is a desired attribute for many downlight applications. Therefore, energysaving CFLs often are overlooked in lieu of the functionality of incandescents.

Bidwell Mansion Visitor Center,
Chico, CA

Installation of LED downlights in retrofit and new construction situations is almost identical to typical incandescent or CFL recessed downlights. The exception is that many LED downlight housings can be in direct contact with insulation. Replacement scenarios are generally one-to-one in retrofit applications. Equipment costs range from $100 to $300 depending on the manufacturer and distributor, but costs may  be offset by maintenance savings and utility rebates. 


BENEFITS:

• The HALO LED recessed downlight is the first ENERGY STAR-rated LED downlight and exceeds the high efficacy requirements set by energy regulations
• High color rendering and warm white color temperature: 80CRI at 3045K
• Delivers light equivalent to many standard incandescent sources used in recessed downlight applications
• Dimmable to 15% of total light output with standard AC incandescent dimmers, 5% with low-end trim adjustment

Article Source: UC Davis

LED Retrofit: Local business installs new lighting tehnology (video)

The Rrrink in Medford, a popular skating rink, took advantage of rebates and incentives to install 400 watt metal halide, to LED lighting. See more information and pictures here.

New Lighting Technology: What Are Benefits To Small Business?

The owner of Mishka’s café, had two  goals for the recent lighting upgrade in his café: create a cozy, inviting  atmosphere for customers and save energy. In the main seating area  alone he was able to cut his lighting energy use 85% by upgrading to LED lighting.

Throughout the rest of the café, energy consumption for lighting  has been cut in half, reducing Mishka’s annual energy use by over 10,000 kWh and saving nearly $2,000 every year in energy  costs. The lighting upgrade will have paid for itself after just eight  months, and because LEDs last up to fifty times longer than older light sources, the lighting retrofit is producing others savings too.

“It’s not just the cost of buying the light bulb, but needing to drive to the store, spending time to install it, the inconvenience to customers...

Time and maintenance savings are vastly undervalued,” says the cafe owner.  LED lamps can last more than 50,000 hours, meaning there is less time changing lamps and more time focusing on the customers. It also means less waste sent to the landfill every year.

Call Aztec Electrical today at (541) 245-8560 to learn how our services can assist your project with new lighting technology. We can assist you with understanding the available rebates and incentives to improve your ROI.

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Lighting Retrofit: hospital secures 66% energy savings

In 2014, NorthBay VacaValley Hospital became one of the first U.S. health care facilities to install an energy-efficient, ultra-smart outdoor LED lighting system. The award-winning project was so successful that the NorthBay Healthcare group is now considering expanding the VacaValley system and retrofitting the outdoor lighting at other sites.

Prior to installing the networked LED system, NorthBay VacaValley Hospital’s  exterior lighting consisted of 40 induction luminaires, 13 high-pressure sodium  (HPS) luminaires, and 7 metal halide luminaires, all operating at full lighting power  throughout the night.

A total of 57 luminaires were installed with dimmable LED technology for the  lighting demonstration. Motion sensors were installed to provide maximum  coverage of the site, ensuring lights operate at sufficient levels when occupants  are detected and use less energy when areas are vacant. An “ultra-smart” lighting  control network was also put in place, giving facility managers the ability to adjust  lighting schedules, light levels and time-out settings, monitor the system’s  energy use, and receive automated alerts when luminaires require maintenance.

UC Davis’s California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) customized the lighting  components to integrate them into a single, fully functional system and worked  with hospital personnel to ensure system settings meet the site’s lighting needs.  The retrofit reduced the site’s exterior lighting energy use by 66.4%, dramatically reduced lighting maintenance needs, and received positive reviews from about 88% of end-users surveyed for feedback.

Call Aztec Electrical today at (541) 245-8560 to learn how our services can assist your project with new lighting technology. We can assist you with understanding the available rebates and incentives to improve your ROI.

#electrician #lightingdesign

New lighting technologies

In 2007, Congress passed the bi-partisan Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), which included higher efficiency standards for light bulbs.

The goal was to take advantage of new lighting technologies to decrease consumer bills while increasing energy security and resilience. New lighting technologies, such as LED and compact fluorescent light bulbs, last longer and use less energy than the traditional incandescent bulbs that previously dominated the market.

Several new lighting technologies—including halogen incandescent, compact fluorescent and LED lighting—currently provide energy savings of up to 75 percent compared to traditional incandescent lighting bulbs.

Traditional Incandescent Lighting

Traditional bulbs produce light by using electric current to heat a wire filament until it starts to glow—90 percent of the energy used by the bulb is lost as heat, making them very inefficient.

Energy- Saving Incandescent Lighting

Energy-saving incandescent bulbs increase bulb efficiency by using halogen gas in the bulb. By law, these new bulbs must use at least 27 percent less energy and will last up to three times longer than traditional incandescent light bulbs.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)

CFLs are simply compact versions of the fluorescent lighting commonly founding household garages and commercial warehouses. CFLs use less electricity to produce light than traditional incandescent lighting, resulting in a 75 percent total energy savings. CFLS can also last up to ten times longer than traditional light bulbs, lowering replacement costs.

Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

LEDs are a type of solid-state lighting that use semiconductors to convert electricity into light. Though LEDs have traditionally been used for traffic lights and car-indicator lights, this highly efficient technology has recently been adapted for use in a variety of other technologies.The most efficient LEDs use only 20–25 percent of the energy of traditional light bulbs and can last more than 20 years. Though this technology is not yet available for every lighting need, LEDs are rapidly evolving and are expected to represent 25-35 percent of the lighting market by 2025. Currently, they can be used to replace 40W, 60W and 75W traditional incandescent bulbs, reflector bulbs often used in recessed fixtures and small track lights, including holiday lights.They are also becoming more popular as industrial lighting.  Because LED lights last so much longer than traditional lighting options, they reduce not only the cost and waste associated with traditional bulbs, but can eliminate the labor costs associated with replacing traditional bulbs in difficult to reach areas, such as public streetlights, traffic signals and commercial overhead lighting.

Call Aztec Electrical today at (541) 245-8560 to learn how our services can assist your project and to discover how rebates and incentives can improve your ROI.

Adapted from material at the National Conference of State Legislatures web site.

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Lighting Retrofit Is Benefitting Schools

In many instances, schools will benefit from technological advances or energy savings that create “opportunity costs.” Schools that installed systems with T-12 fluorescent lamps and magnetic ballasts during the 1950s and ‘60s have found the systems are not only inefficient but costly to operate. The trend is to replace these systems with the more efficient T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts.

Many schools are removing the aged fluorescent systems installed in classrooms and offices and replacing them with more technologically advanced systems. Often the motivation for a retrofit is reduced operating and energy costs. However, schools are also reaping the benefits of higher quality illumination.

At Northwood Middle School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for example, retrofitting an existing fluorescent system boosted light levels to 50 foot candles in classrooms. Replacing an aging fluorescent system in the library of Holy Spirit Catholic School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, increased horizontal footcandle levels by 34 percent. Vertical foot candles were also increased by more than 25 percent.

In the library at Holy Spirit Catholic School, 15 4-foot fluorescent fixtures with three T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts replaced 12 8-foot units with two T-12 lamps and magnetic ballasts. According to Phil Onstott, owner of ProElectric, Tuscaloosa, who led the lighting project, the new system increased light levels and reduced energy and maintenance costs.

The existing system with the T-12 lamps required 1.92 kilowatts, compared to 1.3 kilowatts for the new system. Lamp life for the T-8 lamps is 20,000 hours, compared to 12,000 hours for the T-12 lamps. With the original system, ballast temperature was 180 degrees. Now, it is 85 degrees.

“The previous system generated a lot of heat on the ceiling, which escalated air conditioning costs. Much less cooling is needed now, which saves the school money,” Onstott described.

Call Aztec Electrical today at (541) 245-8560 to learn how our services can assist your project and to discover how rebates and incentives can improve your ROI.

Adapted from material at http://www.holophane.com/education/tech_docs/jr2.asp

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Lighting Maintenance - often overlooked, but it's a money saver

For a business, perhaps the most overlooked item in budgeting or forecasting energy expenses is outside lighting.

Today in the Rogue Valley area, there are many businesses with outdated lighting technology in place. By upgrading that to LED lighting, you will save energy, and most important, save on your energy bill. In some cases we can help you receive a cash incentive or rebate for your lighting maintenance project.

Call Aztec Electrical today at (541) 245-8560 to learn more.

#electrician #lightingdesign