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Retrofit Delivers Savings for Courier Company Induction Lighting Suited to Spaces with High Ceilings
September, 2008
By Sean Zimmer
Lighting is often the obvious first place to find energy savings, but businesses remain reluctant to switch over to energy-efficient lighting unless they see a return - and the faster, the better.
Induction lighting is an emerging option for commercial and industrial spaces that uses about 45% less energy, typically lasts at least 12 years and emits a bright quality of light. Other choices such as T5/T8 fluorescents, 200-watt industrial strength compact fluorescents and LED lighting are also more efficient than metal halide, high-pressure sodium or mercury vapour lighting.
Critical Path, a courier company specializing in delivery across Canada and the US, recently installed induction lighting at its head office and warehouse in Mississauga, Ontario. Previously, efficient T8 lighting had been used in the company's warehouse, but the move to induction lighting lowered energy consumption from 40 kilowatts to 24 kilowatts, resulting in an annual cost savings of about $14,400.
AUDIT OUTLINES ECONOMICS
Before choosing a new lighting option, it is important to crunch the numbers for different types of energy-saving lights. Every case can be different.
Switching from fluorescent tube lights to induction lighting can be complicated and requires an experienced electrician. Logistically, though, the installation at Critical Path was easier because it happened in conjunction with the company's move into a new workspace.
A lighting audit is a critical beginning step to examine lighting needs and business priorities. Will the retrofit and light replacement disrupt business continuity? What type of light is required for the workspace? What will the labour cost be? What aesthetics are required? What is the desired return on investment? etc.
The lighting audit should provide a basic economic breakdown of expected savings. For Critical Path, this was a projected 2.5-year return on investment, meaning that many subsequent years of lighting efficiency should bring exponential savings.
Previously, the company worked with T8 lights in a facility with 16-foot ceilings. Since T8 lights last about two years, this meant the company had to rent an expensive lift and hire a qualified technician to replace lamps on a fairly frequent schedule. Although T8s might be relatively inexpensive to purchase, labour and maintenance added costs.
WEIGHING CHOICES
Generally, T8s and T5s are best suited in facilities with low ceilings where in-house maintenance staff can easily replace the lamps. LEDs last about half as long as induction but work very well for directional or decorative lights.
Compact fluorescent, the popular residential lighting, is now making its way into the industrial/commercial market in the form of a 200-watt compact fluorescent. Lasting twice as long as a traditional metal halide or high-pressure sodium, this option is the cheapest and easiest. However, it can be more expensive in venues with high ceilings, since the bulbs typically need to be replaced on a three-year cycle.
It is important to test out one or two of the lights before committing to the complete replacement. During a two-week test at Critical Path, feedback was gathered from building occupants about the brightness and quality of the light, and it was judged to be the right fit for the space.
However, induction lighting can also be adjusted if it is deemed too bright. This could save even more on lighting bills since lower light levels would have a reduced wattage.
INCONSISTENT INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
Building owners and managers may be able to take advantage of incentives for energy efficiency upgrades that are now widely available. In Ontario, however, many of the current energy retrofit incentive programs are administered locally by local distribution companies (LDCs) even though they are provincially funded.
LDCs may or may not have applicable incentive programs when companies are embarking on retrofits. Notably, Critical Path did not receive an incentive because there simply was not a program in place at the time.
Nevertheless, the company benefits from more efficient lighting with or without an incentive. It started out with a somewhat dark space and doubled the amount of light. Beyond the financial savings and brighter lights, the company is also able to showcase its new energy-efficient lighting as evidence of it energy-efficient mandate.
Sean Zimmer is Sales Coordinator with ESLIGHT International Inc., providers of commercial/industrial induction lighting and the contractor/supplier for the lighting retrofit project at Critical Path's head office and warehouse. For more information, see the web site at http://eslightinc.com.
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