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So you are considering your options for your relighting project.  You have learned that both T5 and LED fixtures are available, but are unsure as to which technology is best for your project.   While LED fixtures may be more appealing to the eye, there are several reasons why T5s are likely a better option. Costs of T5 vs. LED The reason most companies purchase T5 (fluorescent) light fixtures instead of LED fixtures is that fluorescent fixtures provide a more cost effective solution.  The upfr …

General Sports and Field Lighting can have a huge impact on your venue.  Aside from making a field, court, or gymnasium more aesthetically pleasing, appropriate lighting helps players and spectators.  If you are in the process of purchasing sports lighting, whether it be indoor (i.e., a gymnasium, arena, etc.), or field lighting (i.e., lighting for a football field, baseball field, lacrosse field,  basketball court, tennis court, etc.), there are several factors that you should consider.  The m …

While replacing existing lighting fixtures with energy efficient fixtures such as T5s and T8s will certainly help reduce your electricity bill, several of Florida’s electric companies offer Florida Lighting Rebates/Incentives.  The Florida Lighting Rebates will help reduce the cost of purchasing new lighting fixtures. Florida Power & Light  (FPL) Lighting Rebates As of May 2012, FPL through its Interior Building program provides between 65 cents to $3 for each linear fluorescent lamp as a …

Many linear fluorescent high bay fixtures are available with a number of different reflector options. This allows the fixture to be configured properly for a broad range of applications. The reflector material in fluorescent high bay fixtures determines how much light is reflected back down towards the work surface. The higher the reflectivity, the more efficient the high bay fixture is at delivering the light that the lamps generate down to the work plane. The typical options are as follows: …

As much as I don't like it, lighting retrofit projects for warehouses and commercial offices have to compete for corporate funds just like all other projects. If it was up to me, lighting retrofits would just be given the green light and prioritized above all other capital requests, and corporations large and small would come flocking to RelightDepot for their energy efficient lighting needs. In the real world, project sponsors have to justify why they want to spend money on new lights if the ex …

Prior to the late 1970's, ballast manufacturers used a group of compounds called polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, to insulate and cool the inner components in certain electrical products. One common application was to cool the internal capacitor of fluorescent lamp ballasts. These components contained a small amount of PCB oil and most of it is typically absorbed by several layers of paper within the device. Since these compounds were found to be health hazards and were linked to the developm …

All commercial and industrial customers of West Penn Power can now apply to the Non-Standard Lighting for Business Program to receive cash incentives for energy efficient lighting projects. Eligible customers include schools, local governments, institutions, not-for-profits, private businesses, industrial firms, or any other non-residential facility in the West Penn Power territory. The Non-Standard-Lighting for Business Program provides cash incentives for energy efficient lighting projects, …

Lessons from New England energy efficiency study (http://bit.ly/g3Zndd can be applied to all states, via @seth_leitman http://bit.ly/gjzjVj # A Plan for 100% Renewable Energy by 2050 (http://bit.ly/fREgnr w/ half coming from energy efficiency is generating a lot of great comments. # LA remains in first place for the third year in EPA's list of cities with the most Energy Star certified buildings http://1.usa.gov/gJaR6r # Siemens to spin out Osram to focus on energy efficient lighting under …

I'm sure you've realized by now that in order to calculate the return on investment for a new lighting system, you're going to have to know how much energy your new fixtures will save you. In order to know that, you're going to have to have an idea of total wattage the existing fixtures you have are consuming. You could dismantle a sample of the fixture and read the specs for the ballast and lamps you have, but that can be tedious and very time consuming. Another option is to use a standardized …

President Obama is proposing new efforts to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings across the country. Last year, commercial buildings consumed roughly 20 percent of all energy in the U.S. economy. Improving energy efficiency in our buildings can create jobs, save money, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and make our air cleaner. The President’s Better Buildings Initiative will make commercial buildings 20 percent more energy efficient over the next decade by catalyzing private se …