Building owners are
always looking for an efficient way to reduce costs in their facilities come
budget time. The following strategy is a great way to get the cost savings they
are looking for while also modernizing the lighting system in their respective
building.
De-lamping, or the replacement of two
fluorescent tubes with one LED tube, is gaining popularity among business
owners because it greatly diminishes the operating cost for owners and, in many
cases, reduces the payback period for an LED retrofit to as little as one year.
My friends at
Independence LED Lighting offer up an example of de-lamping-converting a 2’x4’
office troffer containing four, 32 watt 4’, T8 fluorescent tubes to an LED
Retrofit Kit consisting of two, 4’, 22 watt tubes powered by one external
driver. This reduces the total fixture wattage from 128 watts to 44 watts,
resulting in a 66% lighting savings. LED
retrofit products that are DLC listed and qualify for rebates with major energy
providers, can also reduce the payback period and increase ROI.
GET, LLC, through our
friends at Independence LED has installed "American-Made" retrofit
kits in the commercial and industrial, warehousing, educational, parking
garages, hospitality and multi-family residential markets. Independence LED CEO
Charles Szoradi says that the key an LED De-Lamping strategy is based on our
ability to use one high output tube to replace two existing fluorescent tubes
or a pair of imported tubes.
"Since our tube
systems are modular, coming in a selection of wattages and lengths, we can
de-lamp just about any fixture configuration," said Szoradi. "Our
deep fin aluminium heart sinks and external driver technology enables one of
our LED tubes to do the work of two alternative options.”
When performing an
LED retrofit, it is important to evaluate the fixture retrofit cost, and not
just the tube cost. Four $35 imported Chinese tubes to replace four 32 watt
fluorescent tubes may seem to be a less expensive solution than $68 US Made LED
tubes. However, buyers have to take the
cost per unit off the table and look at the fixture retrofit cost. 4 x $35 =
$140 while 2 x $68 = $136. The value is
in the FIXTURE retrofit cost and not the tube cost. Plus the US made tubes,
including those by Independence LED, consume less electricity and have a 10
year warranty versus the imported tubes that often cap out at five years.
De-lamping’s ability
to reduce the overall fixture retrofit cost, lower lighting electricity costs,
and achieve greater performance has made it increasingly popular among business
owners in the private and public sector.
To learn more about
the lighting products that GET, LLC provides, including the LED lines of our
partners, Independence LED Lighting and Deco Lighting Inc., please check out
our website at www.get-guam.com or call us to discuss solutions for your
important energy efficient lighting needs-All Made in America!!!