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Businesses are always looking for ways to save money. To this end, they negotiate deals with suppliers, seek out favorable lease agreements, and perform regular audits to look for areas of waste. Whether a business is small and local or it’s a multi-national corporation, the bottom line is always a priority.

One way in which many modern businesses are looking to save is by focusing on sustainable products and practices in the workplace. Some companies install solar panels, wind turbines, or geothermal heating on their property. Others purchase products like computer equipment and electronics that require less energy or offer power-saving modes.

These initiatives have additional benefits, as well. Companies striving to reduce energy usage can not only cut their utility bills, but also their carbon footprint, which can make them more attractive to a certain segment of consumers and talent for hire.

In short, there are plenty of reasons to pay attention to energy efficiency. One great way to get started is by ousting old incandescent bulbs in your business and replacing them with LED lighting. Here are just a few of the major benefits you’ll enjoy when you opt to upgrade light fixtures.

1. Less Energy Draw

One of the most noticeable results of swapping out incandescent bulbs for LED products is the reduction in energy use. Many businesses already know that compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) use about a third of the energy needed to power incandescent bulbs.

LEDs require even less – only about a tenth of the energy of incandescent bulbs. This can equate to a huge savings in utility bills over time, especially for businesses that use a lot of light bulbs. It’s true that LED bulbs cost more than incandescent bulbs, but the prices continue to drop. Plus, the savings will help you to quickly recoup costs, and then some.

In addition, switching to LEDs no longer requires new fixtures. Innovations in LED light bulbs have led to the creation of products that will fit in standard fixtures. While you might spend more up front, costs are definitely decreasing. The long-term savings more than compensate for the initial expense of updating commercial lighting.

2. Long-lasting Products

The average incandescent bulb delivers roughly 1,000 hours of illumination. CFLs offer about eight times the longevity. However, LEDs blow them both out of the water with a conservative estimate of 25,000 hours of lighting capability, and in some cases, as much as 50,000 hours, depending on manufacturer and product.

3. Convenience

In addition to cost savings, LEDs are also a lot more convenient. In the time you would replace 25-50 incandescent bulbs, you’ll replace just a single LED light. Whether you run a retail store, an office building, or a lighting company, this is all good news.

4. Quality of Light

When both CFLs and LEDs first entered the market as viable alternatives to traditional incandescent lighting, there were some gripes about the quality of light. LEDs were ahead on one score – they provided immediate light whereas CFLs had to “warm up”, taking several minutes to reach full brightness.

What really concerned customers, however, was the fact that these lighting alternatives had few options for wattage (or the equivalent level of brightness) and that they didn’t compare to incandescent bulbs in terms of color temperature and color rendering. Luckily, LEDs have improved significantly in both areas, providing a range of products that offer a spectrum of illumination ranging from cool to warm, as well as color rendering that is much closer to natural light (sunlight).

In addition, LEDs offer dimming options not available in other products. They also provide focused lighting capability that is perfect for everything from task to showroom lighting. They are also more compatible with computer and other electronic monitors – unlike some other lighting options, they won’t trigger migraines.

5. No Heat, Noise, or Emissions

Incandescent bulbs can definitely get hot, fluorescent bulbs buzz annoyingly, and certain types of lighting produce UV emissions. None of these features are ideal for business operations. LEDs are superior on every score.

6. Recycling Options

For businesses concerned with their carbon footprint, LEDs are a major boon thanks to incredible energy efficiency. However, the eco-friendly aspects don’t end when the bulb finally burns out. Unlike incandescent bulbs that contain toxic mercury, LEDs can be recycled when they reach the end of their usable life.


Article Source: cbmcinc.com