LED LAMPS ARE NOT ALL EQUAL

Buying “the Wrong” LED Tube Lamps can be Expensive

Electrical Systems and Services, Inc is always concerned that our customers are well educated on what's new as well as comparing products. Many times when we get asked to bid on a project, we go over and above the demand by offering the customer several different options.One of the more common recent lighting upgrades ESS has done has been the T12 to T8 or T5. With a little more dollars up front, we can usually show the customer how money will be saved in the long haul, using LED's 

When making purchasing decision on energy efficient lighting, it is not uncommon for people to choose LED tubes lights on price alone. With conventional lamps where all things are equal, per-lamp price is a reasonable yardstick. However, with LED T8 lamps all things are everything but equal. Per-lamp price alone is inadequate to reflect the real cost of a retrofit project. Experienced lighting professionals are now considering  these factors when calculating the true cost of a retrofit project:

• ·         Per-lamp price
• ·         Per-lamp installation labor cost (50% labor saving is a lot)
• ·         Per-lamp accessories cost (for new tombstones, wirings, or an external driver)
• ·         Per-lamp rebate (available only for qualified LED products listed with LDL or DCL)
• ·         Per-lamp incentive (for it has strict requirements and expiration date)
• ·         Per-lamp energy difference (18W LED T8 saves 18% more energy comparing to 22W LED T8.)
• ·         Warranty (Rebate lists routinely call for 5-year warranty, thus a 3-year warranty is no longer acceptable.)
• ·         UL label (IFAR 1598C will be the standard in Feb, 2013, and many LED T8’s will lose their listing.)

With this holistic view for your retrofit project, buying a “lesser” LED T8 may be the wrong choice. Saving money by using a single-end lamp that only carries a 3-year warranty won’t get you the rebates. Also, you will need to use non-shunted tombstones, which your fixture may not have. Lastly, change-out time is greater since the fixture will require the electrician more labor time.  Now, how much did you really save with the “lesser” LED tube with that 3-year warranty, additional 4-watt higher on power consumption and without any rebate qualification, no UL1598C classification and requiring 50% more labor time on replacing fixture tombstone? You actually end up paying a lot more on a project basis with this “lesser” LED tube even though its per-lamp cost is cheaper.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND SERVICES HAS JOINED FORCES WITH FOCUS ON ENERGY AS A TRADE ALLY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS & SERVICES HAS BECOME A TRADE ALLY PARTNER WITH FOCUS ON ENERGY

Focus on Energy Trade Allies deliver products, services and knowledge about energy efficiency and renewable technologies directly to customers. A Focus on Energy Trade Ally has the opportunity to work with the many programs that Focus on Energy offers, saving customers energy and money. In addition, Focus on Energy Trade Allies gain access to a wealth of resources and other exclusive benefits.

As a Focus on Energy Trade Ally, Electrical Systems and Services will be working closely

with Focus on Energy representatives. This will give you access to resources, information and training on the latest energy technologies and program opportunities.

Here is an example of a program offered by Focus on Energy

Small business owners understand the importance of the bottom line. The Focus on Energy Small Business

Program helps business customers protect that bottom line by taking advantage of our easy and affordable installation of money-saving energy efficiency upgrades.

Participating small business owners will receive a free energy assessment which shows the building’s

energy use and recommendations for energy efficiency improvements that can reduce operating costs.

After reviewing the energy assessment and recommendations for ways to save with Electrical Systems and Services, the business owner may decide to install a free package of energy savings

measures or pursue a $129 co-pay package of enhanced energy saving measures.

The Small Business Program is available to small businesses of participating utilities with an average

peak monthly electric demand under 100 kW. or around 24,000 kWh per month.

Ways to Benefit

The Focus on Energy Small Business Program offers:

■ FREE energy assessment by Electrical Systems and Services, showing savings opportunities

■ Immediate energy savings from a direct install

■ Information about Focus on Energy incentives

■ Lower monthly energy costs

Small business owners will have the option of having Electrical Systems and Services, Inc. install the following packages:

FREE ENERGY SAVING PACKAGES

1. CFLs (dimmable, non-dimmable, globes)- Unlimited
2. CFL reflectors- Unlimited
3. Cold drink vending machine controllers- Unlimited
4. LED “OPEN” sign (neon sign replacement)- 1 maximum
5. Faucet aerators- Unlimited
6. Water-saving showerheads- Unlimited

$129 Gold Energy Savings Package:

All measures from the FREE Energy Savings Package, plus:

1. 42-watt CFLs- Unlimited
2. LED exit signs- 5 maximum
3. De-lamping of redundant fixtures- Unlimited
4. Occupancy sensors- 5 maximum
5. Interior and exterior hardwired fixtures- 5 maximum of each fixture
6. 4′ T12 to T8 fluorescent lighting retrofits* (maximum applies to 4′ and 8′ T12s)- 80 lamp maximum
7. 1″ and 2″ hot water pipe wrap- 10 foot maximum

*Additional copay applies to 8′ T12s

PLEASE CONTACT ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND SERVICES, INC. TO SCHEDULE YOUR FREE ENERGY ASSESSMENT.