How Energy-Efficient Commercial LED Lighting Can Help [city]

In the last decade, LED lighting technology has been making commercial and industrial businesses around the world more energy efficient. This has led to the shrinking of utility bills as well as a significant reduction in carbon footprint for these businesses.

And yet, despite these remarkable advantages, various industry estimated suggest that nearly 90% of the industrial lighting units installed across the United States have not gotten the message. This large majority of operators continues to utilize High Energy Discharge (HID) lighting sources. More specifically, the metal halide or high-pressure sodium lights that we know are bad for the environment.

In the spirit of a brighter, greener world (and a brighter, greener [city]) we’re offering a simple reminder of the various ways that commercial LED lighting systems are better for the environment.

LED Lights Use Significantly Less Electricity

As Americans we tend to take for granted the abundant resources around us. It is easy for businesses and individuals alike to think of electricity only in terms of what it costs … but rarely in terms of where it comes from.

As humans, nearly 50% of our total carbon footprint comes from the production of electricity from coal, gas, or nuclear sources. That means that excessive electricity use is akin to leaving your motor running, albeit with a difference in severity.

LED light bulbs are more than 80% more efficient than fluorescent or metal halide lights. If even a small fraction of American businesses upgraded to LED lighting systems, the resulting reduction in our collective carbon footprint would be significant. That’s because less electricity equates to a decreased demand on coal and gas power plants.

The “Instant On” Of LED Lights is a Big Deal

When you hit the switch for an LED lighting fixture, it turns on right away. This is even true of overhead LED warehouse lighting. There is no “warm-up” required like there is with HID lighting. This allows for the lights to be turned off when they are not in use.

Believe it or not, the large majority of HID-lit warehouses in the world keep their lights on 24/7 so they don’t have to deal with this inconvenient warming period. That method is not only expensive, but it places undue burden on our environment for minimal gain.

Commercial LEDs Don’t Contain Mercury

From start to finish, the luminaires within LED light bulbs are non-toxic to the environment and generally are 100% recyclable. Compare this to fluorescent and mercury vapor lights, both of which contain mercury and require special handling in order to dispose properly.

We’ll admit, mercury is very good at enabling white light. It also happens to be extremely toxic to human beings. When released into the environment as a vapor, it will eventually make its way to the ground and then into the water supply, posing a threat to people and wildlife alike.

Making Clean Commercial Energy the Norm in [city]

If the cost-saving potential of a commercia LED lighting system is not enough to sway local businesses, then the only other route is to appeal to their environmental duty. LED bulbs are clean, efficient, and safe technology that can and should replace the wasteful HID lighting technologies of yesteryear.