Independence LED-"More Efficient" say DOE

When the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) talks about energy efficiency, America listens.  Our friends at Independence LED Lighting have won accolades recently from DOE and continue to outclass the Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Tube Lighting marketplace.

According to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) report data, Independence LED tubes are 15% more efficient in lumens per watt than the average from the field of over 30 LED manufacturers, including tubes from major competitors Philips, Cree, and Osram Sylvania.

In the report, the DOE found that LEDs are more efficient than ever. The CALiPER Summary Report 21: Linear (T8) LED Lamps concludes: “Compared to previous CALiPER testing of the same product type, there have been notable performance gains. With the efficacy (lumens/watt) of many lamps now equivalent to or exceeding that of fluorescent lamps.” 

Independence LED has stayed well ahead of the curve. As the below chart indicates, the U.S.-made Independence LED tube is 15 lumens per watt more efficient than the average of the tested field (15.95%) and over 10% more efficient than global lighting companies like Philips, Osram Sylvania, and Cree.

“We could not be more proud of how our American-manufactured LED lights squared up in the 2014 Department of Energy CALiPER Report," said Independence LED Lighting CEO Charlie Szoradi. "Independence LED tubes are substantially more efficient than competitors, yielding extraordinary energy savings, particularly when retrofitting existing light fixtures. Safety is a paramount concern, and Independence LED’s external-driver system ensures that switching the lights won’t be shocking anything but your electric bill. And because we manufacture right here in America, Independence LED tubes and fixtures are supremely reliable, allowing us to offer an industry-leading 10 year warranty.“

Also, the 2014 report indicates that, based on their design, Independence LED tubes are potentially safer than competitor products. Typical fluorescent fixtures bring line voltage into the fixture via Alternating Current (AC), and then convert it through the ballast to lower-voltage Direct Current (DC). Internal driver LED tubes – like most of Independence LED’s competitors -- override the ballast, creating a potential safety issue. 

Additionally, the Report did elaborate on how the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) approved clamp system for Independence LED provides safety and the ultimate flexibility to either use, or not use, the existing fixture sockets. This flexibility is important for de-lamping to center new tubes in two to one retrofits.

What does this all mean?  

The cost and performance of an individual LED tube is only a subset of the fixture performance, so end users should look at the LED efficacy, warranty, and cost to determine the technology and manufacturer that is most appropriate for their facility.

Keep up the great work Independence LED Lighting!  

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 at 671-483-0789 to discuss solutions for your important lighting needs-All Made in America!!!

Delamping with LED Lighting-A Strategy to Save Energy Costs

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!!!

Independence LED Lighting CEO Busts Myths of LED Tubes

The July/August 2013 issue of LEDs Magazine featured a good friend of GET, LLC.  Independence LED Lighting CEO Charlie Szoradi contributed to the recent issue of the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based industry publication and wrote that  it's only a question of when the time is right to install LED tubes in place of fluorescents and not if it's the right retrofit path. The article is spot on:

"Fluorescent tubes have dominated commercial illumination in American ceilings for more than 50 years — more than 2.3 billion tubes are installed, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE). That huge potential retrofit market has drawn the interest of many in the solid-state lighting (SSL) space and resulted in a lot of myths related to LED tube technology. Let's bust some of those myths, considering that LED tubes save 50% or more energy over fluorescent tubes.

To date, the hurdles for adoption of LED tube technology fall into three categories: trust, technology, and cost. Let's explore them, in that order.

Many believe that the LED tube industry has not matured to a trustworthy level, but manufacturers have improved thermal management, and installations now range from Fortune 100 companies to leading health care institutions to leading higher-education institutions. Organizations such as the DesignLights Consortium have qualified LED tubes, and warranties have increased to as long as 10 years on some LED tubes

Meanwhile, some worry that imported LED tubes lack UL or CE marks or other trusted output testing. Simply ask for source documentation and third-party testing data, and look into LED tubes that are made domestically or that meet the International Class A-10 LED Tube Standards.

And then there are those concerned that new LED manufacturers won't be around to support the warranty. An easy way to protect your business is to look for performance-based programs such as savings shares, lighting service contracts, or LED rental center opportunities. This way you don't fully pay for the technology and aren't chasing the seller if failure occurs.

Let's turn to technology, and the worry that a typical LED tube doesn't give off as much light as its fluorescent counterparts. Fluorescent tubes may have more lumens, but 35% percent of the output is often wasted going up into the fixture. Make sure to look at fixture output side-by-side in foot-candles after a sample LED tube retrofit.

Others worry that an LED tube does not have the same color consistency as a fluorescent tube. Yet the thermal management of many LED tubes has improved to protect the phosphor coating that dictates color temperature. Still others question the quality assurance for LED tubes. The answer is to look for LED tube manufacturers that are ISO 9001:2008 certified.

Then there are those who say LED tubes with external drivers are more difficult to install than internal driver LED tubes. Not so: Installers need to open the cover to the fluorescent ballast in order to install either type of driver system, so the time is roughly identical.

Finally, some contend that the diodes get so hot that they burn out the LED tubes. To combat this, seek out LED tubes with deep-fin, aircraft-grade thermal management and external drivers.

Now let's turn to cost where some argue that specifiers wait to invest in LEDs because of dramatically falling prices. But the cost of waiting, in terms of energy and maintenance, is most likely higher than the price drop, particularly for 24/7 illumination areas. At the least, consider a rolling retrofit where you replace fluorescent tubes and ballasts as they fail with new LED tube technology.

There are other cost-related issues that are top of mind for some specifiers. Those who replaced T12 fluorescent tubes with the better T8 tubes and don't want to upgrade again should still calculate ROI, especially for 24/7 areas. Payback is three to five years, and some worry about warranties in that same range; however, as we mentioned, longer warranties are becoming commonplace.

American-made products are more expensive than imports. Property owners and managers should not focus on the race to the bottom of pricing but instead consider the race to the top of performance. All tubes are not created equal, so look at the equipment and operating cost of a total fixture versus a tube.

It can't be stressed enough that specifiers should find a qualified LED manufacturer and start changing out old fluorescent tube technology in 24/7 areas as soon as possible. Switch to LEDs as fluorescent tubes fail and make a three-year plan to purge your outdated "glass and gas" tubes for toxic-free SSL."

Charlie has the Last Word in this issue. Our last word- to learn more about the Independence LED Lighting products and other related electrical products that GET, LLC provides, please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or call us to discuss solutions for your important lighting needs.

Independence LED Tubes APPROVED by DLC

The long awaited DesignLights Consortium Listing has approved the Independence LED Lighting LED Tubes.

The DesignLightsConsortium®(DLC) Qualified Products List (QPL) Members, who are utilities and energy-efficiency programs throughout the United States, have been asked by customers and suppliers to provide incentives for solid-state lighting (SSL) fixtures, most of which are NOT ENERGY STAR labeled. These Members are interested in providing incentives for high-performing LED products which meet individual sponsor criteria, since 2009.

According to the DLC Website," The qualified products list is a resource for program administrators, to help them decide which solid state lighting products to include in their energy efficiency promotions. Their primary reference tool for SSLs is ENERGY STAR, however the regional list fills in gaps in categories which ENERGY STAR does not include. DOE’s ENERGY STAR team is working in cooperation with DLC to develop the Qualified Products List (QPL) and procedures. The Members expect the products from their QPL will eventually be incorporated into the ENERGY STAR list once corresponding categories are added."

The US Company's first submission included all three color temperatures for their NEW 4' 12 Watt LED tubes, to retrofit fluorescent tubes in 2' x 4' troffers that are such common fixtures across the US and around the world. This retrofit configuration is based on a set of four tubes (R4).

All three colors are now on the DLC Qualified Products List:

R4-41235K-85-Cby-V2 (3500 Kelvin)

R4-41240K-85-Cby-V2 (4000 Kelvin)

R4-41250K-85-Cby-V2 (5000 Kelvin)

Also, Independence LED Lighting has also since submitted additional fixture configurations with more to come, so GET, LLC and other Independence LED Lighting partners expect a rolling set of new  listings over and above these core base line tubes.

CEO Charlie Szoradi and the team at Independence LED say that one of the reasons that they started with their 4' 12 Watt LED Tube is that it provides the most flexibility for different applications. Utility companies typically cross check the product numbers and often accept that if the LED tube is listed that it deserves a rebate in other applications. Remember that the utility company is the decision maker on the rebates, and uses DLC as a guide.  

Unfortunately for Guam, such is not applicable with the Guam Power Authority-that doesn't mean there can be other opportunities to assist your respective facility.

For our friends outside of the Western Pacific, since certain utility companies offer major incentives for DLC Listed products, this is NOTICE to you that some utilities pay 50% of the combined LED and installation costs, so the lower net cost yields paybacks with very favorable ROI.

Give GET, LLC a call or drop us an email to reserve product, given the high level of demand that we have seen in anticipation of this news.

Independence LED Lighting Sponsors ACR Prize

GET, LLC commends Independence LED Lighting on the recent announcement that they will be a  major sponsor of the American Campus Efficiency Prize (ACE Prize).  On the heels of the recent securing of a U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule, our friends in Pennsylvania are taking another leadership role in the whole "Green Jobs" effort to move the U.S. Economy forward. 

The ACE Prize is dedicated to educate a new generation of students that will play an integral role in the new Global Energy Economy, and to reward them with scholarships when they succeed at helping their schools reduce energy consumption.  Independence LED have committed up to $10 Million in Scholarships for the A.C.E. Prize initiative. The amount of money is less core to this green job creation path than the innovation of the joint academic and business initiative to provide “Learn and Earn” benefits.

“Independence LED has already seen the value come in several ways," said Independence LED Lighting Chairman Charlie Szoradi. "We have recently identified two of the students in the program that exhibited particularly high potential, and they are now trained in lighting energy auditing and on Return on Investment (ROI) Savings Report software."

Independence LED believes that the next generation of their green job employees are the students that are currently enrolled in college and about to graduate. The LED tube company has started to mentor students to create what they call a “career launch pad” with practical business experience as a compliment to the students’ academic work. Independence LED then provides the scholarships as retrofit projects unfold on the students’ own campuses.

Kudos to Charlie and the team at Independence LED Lighting.  If you are a college student and interested in participating, please email your resume to holloway.155@buckeyemail.osu.edu and li.1178@buckeyemail.osu.edu. 

Undergraduate or Graduate Students are invited to participate with the majority of interest to date has come from students with a focus on engineering, environmental science, and/or business. The Learn and Earn Scholarship program is ideal for students that are highly motivated since the scholarships are performance based. 

You can give GET, LLC a call or drop us a line and we can assist you with participating in this important program.