During the last decade, lighting technology has grown by leaps and bounds. LED bulbs, inexpensive circuit breakers, and energy efficient security lighting have made savings and security available to all home and business owners. This means that updating lighting is literally a “bright” idea for business developers and people who rent commercial or other commercial spaces. It’s an easy way to make the business location more energy efficient, safer, and in turn, save the tenant a great deal of money on their utility and insurance bills.

Step 1: LED BULBS

LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology has been at the forefront of the lighting industry. In addition to being durable, LED bulbs only require a fraction of the energy of their incandescent and fluorescent counterparts.

To consider:

* The person who pays the utility bill (usually the renter) replaces the existing bulbs with LED bulbs. Savings add up pretty fast.

* When switching from fluorescent bulbs to LED, energy savings are still 80% of the energy cost of using fluorescent bulbs. (LED lights require less energy to operate, hence the cost savings.)

* LED bulbs generate half the heat that incandescent and fluorescent bulbs produce. Given the number of bulbs in the average commercial space, replacing existing bulbs with LED bulbs will save money by reducing AC power use.

Because savings are constant per bulb, a small business and a large business save 80% (fluorescent to LED) or 90% (incandescent to LED) on lighting energy costs. LED lights come in a variety of shapes, brightness, and widths to match almost any light fixture. Retrofit bulbs and circular and U-shaped tubes are among the many options available. In most cases, countries save for LED bulbs in three years.

Step 2: AUTOMATED SWITCHES

Inexpensive circuit breakers turn lights on when a room is occupied and off when the room is empty. While most commercial spaces need to be continuously lit, some commercial spaces are used only intermittently, such as bathrooms and storage rooms. These intermittent use spaces only need lighting for a fraction of the business day.

As with LED bulbs, most circuit breakers can be easily installed by the building owner or tenant. Given the average use for bathrooms in commercial spaces, circuit breakers can pay for themselves in three years even when controlling LED bulbs.

Step 3: SAFETY LIGHTING

Many companies turn off the lights at night, leaving their space dark and vulnerable. Some companies leave their lights on to discourage vandalism and theft. Another alternative is to install energy efficient security lighting.

In recent years, several companies have developed energy efficient LED lighting integrated into outlet cover plates and switch plates. Coming in standard outlet and Decora outlet styles, these outlet plates feature photosensor controlled LED bulbs that use less than 1 watt per hour, saving 90% compared to a standard commercial space LED bulb.

Replacing existing exit plates with security light plates is simple for any building owner or tenant. The cost of replacing most exit plates with these safelight plates quickly pays for itself within three years compared to after-hours lighting.

Employers using the rented space should also keep old light bulbs, original switches, and outlet plates when upgrading to LEDs, switches, and security lighting. Why? The LEDs will last an average of 50,000 hours of operation. For most companies, that translates to 1,500 days of operation or nearly five years. When they move to a new location, they need to replace the bulbs, switches, and outlet plates, replace the old bulbs, switches, and plates, and take their LEDs, circuit breakers, and security lighting with them to install in the next location. .

Summary

The moral of the story: Replace LED bulbs, install circuit breakers and security lighting whenever you get the chance, and be more energy conscious of other potential cost savings. Your efforts will also lead to a greener tomorrow.