Flip the switch

Energy-efficient fluorescent lighting can improve profitability and productivity

by Stephen Heins

A dirty truth about commercial buildings — especially those used for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution — is that they are poorly lit.

There are several reasons for this, but it’s safe to say that most commercially available lighting fixtures are traditional high-intensity discharge (HID) formats. Included in this category are three fixtures: high-pressure sodium (HPS), metal halide (MH) and mercury vapor (MV). Overall, metal halide is the most prevalent.

Many manufacturers accept the conventional wisdom that HID fixtures represent the best option in energy-efficient lighting. However, HID fixtures may be better sources of heat than light. Most of these fixtures burn at over 1,000 degrees F. Another major problem with this technology is the fixtures lose 30 to 40 percent of their efficacy in the first year of usage.

See the light
There is a better, more energy-efficient option: a fluorescent T8-driven light fixture with a reflector system designed to harvest 100 percent of the light produced by the 360 degrees of the bulb, instead of the conventional 180 degrees. The latest generation of fluorescent T8 lamp and electronic ballast products delivers 50 percent energy savings. The best reflector design delivers 50 to 100 percent more light than that found in conventionally lit facilities.

Two other important facts favor fluorescent lighting. First, the T8 fluorescent bulb keeps 93 percent of its efficacy over its five-year life. Second, the light produced is “full spectrum,” the equivalent of sunlight at high noon. With 50 percent energy savings, 50 percent more light and 50 percent return on investment, this is practical environmentalism.

The latest fluorescent T8 lamp, electronic ballast and reflector system delivers additional benefits, such as:

• Cooler workplace temperatures in the summer due to the bulbs burning at 110 degrees, not 1,000 degrees.

• Improved morale and productivity. “Our employees don’t feel like they are working in a dungeon,” says JoAnne Carlton, line supervisor for Bay Towel of Green Bay, Wis.

• Improved quality. “We can see our (finished product) so much better that complaints have dropped significantly,” says Carlton.

Norbert Licht, chairman of the union committee at Simplicity Manufacturing of Port Washington, Wis., adds, “They allow us to do our jobs better because we’re working in optimum light conditions.”

• Improved plant appearance. “It looked cleaner (after switching from HID),” says John Penzedstadler, human resources coordinator for Bay Towel. “It spruced up the place and made it more attractive. I feel better about giving tours to prospective employees and customers.”

Take a look at your plant
If you review your energy and lighting practices for productivity, safety or cost-containment reasons, here are some tips:

1) Measure the quantity of light throughout your facility, with the proper level of light varying with tasks performed.

2) Measure the quality of light to determine if proper color rendering characteristics are present.

3) Review existing energy usage with a focus on how much electricity is used for lighting.

4) Do a side-by-side comparison of existing HID fixtures and new high-performance fluorescent fixtures within your facility. It is often easy to compare an exact group of old lights against new ones because lighting has its own electrical circuit.

Stephen Heins is the vice president of corporate communication for Orion Energy Systems. To learn more about this topic, visit www.oriones.com or e-mail .

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