We all bought into the hype that Fluorescent Lamps are more energy efficient, last longer and pay for themselves. But a growing number of people are complaining that those energy savings are offset by the high cost of the lamps, and the reality that they can fail long before they are supposed to. It’s the dirty little secret of fluorescent lamps.

Manufacturers claim fluorescent lamps will last 15,000-30,000 hours and have a lifespan 10 times that of a traditional lighting. But many manufacturers admit the lamps life is much shorter, if the lamps are not used for 12 plus hours a day. Then you are wasting money on electricity.The U.S. department of energy now suggest not using fluorescent lamps if they are not going to be for at least 15 minutes.

So what can businesses do? Consider switching LED Lighting. LED lights are far more efficient than  fluorescent lamps. I am sure I know what you are saying, LED’s are too expensive. The ROI is not their. If we compared fluorescents and LED’s side-by-side, from a technical stand point, it would make complete sense. If you compare foot-candle ratio, a 25 watt super T8 at 2400 lumens and a 18 watt LED T8 at 1750 lumens mounted at the same height, the foot-candle of the 25 watt T8 is 36.1fc and the foot-candle of a 18 watt LED is 35fc. A difference of 1fc, which is unnoticeable to the naked eye. So technically, a 18 watt LED T8 is 28% more efficient than a high efficiency 25 watt fluorescent and produces the same amount of light over a given surface.

Now onto what really counts, the payback. Smart Energy Technologies recently retrofitted the corporate center of an international business process management company. The CEO of the company gave Smart Energy strict measurements of success. The main requirement for the entire project, ROI less than 2.5 years.

Their corporate center had 264 3-lamp fluorescent fixtures, equaling 792 32 watt fluorescent lamps. After carefully understanding their use of lighting, level of light required and expected energy savings, Smart Energy designed a LED lighting solution that exceeded their expectation. Smart Energy reduced the total number of fixtures to 200 and implemented 600 15 watt LED T8’s. The company’s energy costs for just their fluorescent T8’s was $11,400 per year. After we retrofitted to LED, the company is spending $3,300 per year. With a total savings of $8,100 and $19,200 to retrofit to LED, Smart Energy’s lighting solution provided a ROI less than 30 months and a 5 year warranty.

This is one of several projects we have successfully completed and exceeded the company’s measurements of success. Fluorescent lamps are a waste of money when when you look at cost to re-lamp due to burning out, heat generated raises A/C costs and light waste over the work plane. Switching to LED tubes comes down to education. And the fact is, the price of LED tubes is coming down and the effectiveness of the LED is improving. In today’s market, any company can make the switch to LED T8’s and meet and or exceed their expectations.