What is LED Lighting?
LED or low energy lighting provides a more efficient method of producing light than traditional bulbs. This energy efficiency is due to the fact that LED’s produce light via through the movement of electrons, in comparison to traditional bulbs produce light by passing electric current through a thin wire, halogen bulbs which produce light via the chemical reaction created by a combination of halogen gas and the tungsten filament; and finally fluorescent bulbs which use electricity to excite mercury vapour, thus producing visible light.

This difference in light generation, which LED’s possess due to their ‘solid state’, results in a much higher efficiency solution which uses up to 90% less energy than traditional bulbs; with less waste of energy on excess heat and movement of particles.

LED lighting has long been considered under-developed and therefore not widely taken up by home or business owners, but thanks to the rapid technology developments in the past few years; LED lighting can now provide you with a bright, low cost and low carbon alternative to your traditional lighting methods.

 

How Can LED Lighting Benefit Your Building?
LED is a great way to enhance many business environments, from a highlighting specified products or areas in a retail facility, to providing constant bright lighting level in offices throughout the day and even providing lighting in the hospitality industry, particularly in hallways or reception areas which require illumination 24 hours a day. LED lighting helps to reduce the cost of lighting these areas, alongside providing a constant bright light source which is more reliable than traditional bulbs.

Whilst the obvious benefit of LED lighting is reduced electricity costs, it is also important to recognise that LED lighting can provide you with instant, bright and clear light. LED lights are even available in warm and cool white shades, to provide you with flexible lighting options. LED lighting  lasts for up to 30,000 hours; meaning that in an average office environment, requiring 8 hours of constant light daily during the week, an LED light fixture will last approximately 14 and a half years. Even in a building where light is required 24 hours a day, an LED bulb will last just over 6 years!

LED lighting can provide your building with significant cost-savings of between 50-90%, as well as delivering an environmentally friendly option which produces less waste than traditional lighting; due to the infrequency of bulb changes. LED lighting also contains no harmful mercury, which fluorescent bulbs rely upon to function, making them safer in all locations.

The Costs and Return of LED Lighting

Whilst LED lighting is often ignored due to its higher upfront cost when considering changing your lighting solutions, it is important to consider the fact that LED lighting pays back in a few years and provides a more efficient alternative to halogen and florescent bulbs.

In simple terms, the average contribution of lighting options available can be seen here:

Lighting Option       Expected Hours of Use       Average Lifespan*
      Halogen                         1,250                            8 months

         LED                             30,000                 14 years and 6 months

*When illuminated for 8 hours per day, five days a week

The average cost of using different lighting options also varies significantly in terms of cost, halogen bulbs which are often used in commercial buildings cost approximately £204 more to run than LEDs over twenty years. Even fluorescent lighting will cost you approximately £166.40 more to run than LEDs over twenty years.

These facts and figures highlight the effectiveness of LED lighting, in terms of cost saving, energy saving and waste savings. Green issues may not be your motivator for installing energy efficient changes, but with carbon tax introductions and industry pressures to reduce your carbon footprint, it is more important than ever to consider ways to become more energy efficient; LED lighting can provide a fast and simple option to achieve this goal.

 

The Technical Things
LED lighting provides a simple solution to reduce your costs and energy usage instantly.  The lighting options can be easily retro-fitted to any non-domestic property, by qualified electricians, often using the existing fittings.

The primary difference between LED tubes and fluorescent tubes, such as T8s, is that ballast is not required with LED lighting. This difference does not cause any difficulty when changing spotlights such as GU10’s, which can be replaced like-for-like, but is applicable to any current lighting solutions in your building which may use ballast

Current light fittings which contain magnetic ballast will require a change in starter on the light fixture, whereas electronic ballast lights will need to be adapted to allow the electricity flow to bypass this ballast. Both of these actions can be completed quickly and easily by a trained electrician.


If you are looking for a way to meet your environmental targets or reduce your energy costs, LED installation provides a quick and easy solution for all types of buildings.


Food for Thought…
Just think, adopting LED lighting could reduce the current power needs of the UK by an impressive 75% or more; a saving which will help you to meet industry carbon targets, reduce your carbon impact and save you money!

To find out how LED lighting can help you, call one of our dedicated advisors on 01562 745 265 or email enquiries@eco2-energy.co.uk