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3

Electricity

and

Lighting

LIGHTING

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to realize electrical energy savings is simply changing to more energy-efficient light bulbs. This is true from personal light fixtures up to commercial industrial fixtures.
Commonly used bulbs such as metal halide, high pressure sodium and fluorescent are not optimal compared to installing LED bulbs. Not only is the quality of light far superior from LEDs but the cost savings is alone is worth it.

QUALITY OF LIGHT COMPARISON

LEDs are now frequently being used as replacements for metal halide lamps in outdoor applications. This means substantial savings on energy costs. A 400 watt metal halide lamp can be replaced with a 120 watt LED for an equal and significantly better quality of light. LED bulbs have a much longer lifespan, meaning this transition will have a large impact on maintenance expenses. In addition to all of the obvious benefits, LEDs maintain their light intensity output by 2X, 5X and as much as 10X more than the other products listed, which all lose lumens over their lifespan.

MIDDLE SCHOOL GYM LIGHTING UPGRADE

Gymnasium after lightin upgrades

AFTER

Gymnasium lighting befoe upgrade

BEFORE

ABOUT LEDs and WHY THEY ARE SO MUCH BETTER

A Light Emitting Diode (LED) is a type of solid-state lighting that uses a semi-conductor to convert electricity into light. LEDs can reduce energy costs by 80% over incandescent lighting. An LED bulb has a life of three years if run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With a life of 25,000+ hours, they work 25 times longer than traditional light bulbs.

LEDs use energy far more efficiently with very little wasted heat. In comparison, old-fashioned bulbs release up to 90 percent of their energy as heat. Not an energy-efficient method as you then must mitigate that heat.

LED light bulbs

LEDs are quite versatile in the ways they can be used as well. From traffic lights and vehicle lights to TVs and display cases, LEDs have many unique characteristics including compact size, ease of maintenance, resistance to breakage and the ability to pinpoint the light in a single direction.

LEDs contain no mercury, another huge advantage over compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). LED technology has been steadily improving since its introduction and will continue to improve in the years to come.

LEDs were invented in 1962 by Nick Holonyak, Jr. when he was working for GE. By 2011, global sales of 60 watt equivalent LED bulbs alone increased by 22 percent while the cost of 60 watt equivalent bulbs of other sorts declined by 40 percent.

In 2012, close to 49 million LEDs were installed in the United States, saving about $675 million in annual energy costs. This reduces energy consumption by nearly 50 percent thereby avoiding 1,800 million metric tons of carbon emmissions. By 2030, it is estimated that LEDs will account for 75% of all bulb sales. 

ECOterra Energy can assess your building’s lighting needs then recommend and implement a plan to replace older, non-efficient lighting with up-to-date fixtures and lamps, saving energy and maintenance costs immediately.

Almost every energy-saving protocol that we practice can be retro-commissioned into an existing building by ECOterra Energy Consulting, drastically improving the building’s performance, savings, comfort and aesthetics.

Read more about ECOterra Energy Consulting

Read more about ECOterra Energy Consulting:

OUR MISSION

ECOterra Energy Consulting has a mission that springs from the basic premise of EFFICIENCY.

WHAT WE DO

We created ECOterra Energy Consulting to provide building owners peace-of-mind in an ever-changing energy environment.

Our approach is unique in that we represent the building owner. We present, consult and sell energy-saving options.

RENEWABLES

Energy-efficiency and renewable materials are the cornerstone of ECOterra Energy Consulting’s philosophy.

We embrace cutting-edge technologies to better serve clients whether it is providing energy conservation or generation.

CASE STUDIES

Click below to read about how ECOterra Energy Consulting  implemented state-of-the-art energy technologies to maximize energy savings and efficiencies for these New Mexico businesses.

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