They
are an often overlooked but integral part of our island community's
landscapes. There is no question that
parking lots influence how we live, work, and play. They also require a substantial
amount of energy and money to operate. A trend is growing across the globe and
one that is seeing some traction in Guam-business owners are recognizing the
potential of light-emitting diode (LED) technology in parking lot lighting.
The
reasons are simple: to save energy, reduce maintenance costs, and improve
environmental sustainability.
LEDs
have been shown to save energy in limited applications, but are they ready for
wide-scale adoption in parking lots?
The
U.S. Department of Energy continues to ask this question as well as property
owners and entrepreneurs alike.
Researchers
and trade organizations have joined forces to develop a set of criteria
retailers could follow to implement LED parking lot lighting and realize energy
savings and reliability. Whether it is a parking lot in Atlanta or Agana, a LED
Site Lighting Specification developed in cooperation with the U.S Department
of Energy provides information about both luminaire, or light fixture,
performance and how the site should be lighted. For instance, the Specification
outlines how lighting needs vary across the different parts of the parking lot.
The Specification optimizes the performance of sites, satisfying more than pure
lighting needs. Business concerns such as site aesthetics, branding, and
customer safety also come into play.
Additionally,
the Specification recognizes the potential risks businesses face in adopting
new technologies, including reliability and maintenance costs. To address
these, the Specification requires that manufacturers guarantee product
performance with a five-year minimum warranty for LED luminaires.
The
LED Site Lighting Performance Specification provides requirements for lighting
the site as well as the luminaires. Here are a few key details of the
specification:
- Both power density and illuminance requirements are by lighting zone (LZ); different amounts of light (illuminance) are needed for different parts of the parking lot, and different environments need more or less light (and thus use power differently).
- Luminaires should follow the backlight, uplight, and glare (BUG) rating requirements in IESNA TM-15.
- Luminaires should carry at least a five-year warranty covering the luminaire, finish, and power supply.
- Testing requirements are identified on manufacturers cut sheets or specification sheets.
LED
technology has advanced into new categories of “white light” applications,
including parking lot lighting, where early indications suggest a high-quality
light and long life. At present, however, tested products are available from a
limited number of suppliers, performance in the later years of the product’s
life-time can only be estimated, and LED luminaires are relatively expensive on
a first-cost basis. Nonetheless, there are many benefits for LED lighting in
parking lots.
Need
an LED parking lot light solution for your facility? Check out our website at
www.get-guam.com or give GET, LLC a call at 671-797-0789. We are a provider of Independence LED
Lighting and Deco Lighting Inc. products-Made in America!!!