Lighting
Lighting is the most visible form of energy use. The commonly used incandescent bulb developed in 1879 by Thomas Edison is basically the same technology in use today. It is the least efficient lamp available with over 90 per cent of the energy being given off as heat and less than 10 per cent as light.Fluorescent Lighting
Fluorescent lighting provides many energy efficient options for a range of workplace lighting. Colour and efficiency are two elements that need to be considered when installing fluorescent lighting. The colour-rendering index (CRI) indicates on a scale of 0 to 100, how accurately the colour of an object will be rendered under that light source. The higher the CRI, the closer objects will appear to their natural colour. The CRI is indicated on most packaging and must be a minimum of 80 to qualify for an Energy Star rating.
For currently over-lit spaces, lighting levels can be reduced by installing fewer lamps resulting in lower lumen output and for under-lit spaces, higher-lumen-output lamps may be a good solution.
There are two main types of fluorescent lighting systems: compact fluorescents and linear systems.
LED Exit Signs
Not many building investments can promise a 90 per cent saving in operating costs and require a fraction of the usual maintenance. Yet that’s the return on converting exit signs to light-emitting diode (LED) units.
Canadian building codes dictate that all commercial buildings have continuous lit exit signs. LEDs, though a higher initial cost, can last up to 25 years, while fluorescent lamps in exit signs must be replaced about every two years and incandescent lamps about every four months.
In deciding whether to replace an existing exit sign or upgrade it with a retrofit kit, building owners and operators need to compare the life-cycle cost, not just the initial cost. This includes the age of the existing fixture; installation, maintenance and energy costs, and the application.
There are two options for changing to LED exit lights: replacing the entire sign or using a retrofit kit. Usually, the less expensive alternative is installing a retrofit kit in place of the existing lamp. Retrofit kits come with the LEDs in bulbs or as a wedge card. These consist of the lamps and wires that connect to the existing power supply. There are also lamps containing LEDs that screw into the existing incandescent sockets and usually take less than 15 minutes per exit sign to install.
