|
Do you have an under-performing asset in your building? Try looking at your
ceiling. The lighting systems you currently have are probably outdated and using
too much energy. If you havent upgraded to an energy-efficient lighting system,
youre losing money! In the past decade, a virtual revolution in lighting
technology and environmentally improved products has given thousands of
organizations a new way to enhance their bottom line. The revolution has
resulted in:
- Reduced operating costs through energy-saving technologies
- Productivity gains through better lighting quality
These
organizations discovered that simply by upgrading their lighting systems they
could significantly cut utility bills while providing a return on their
investments of 40 to 50 percent. If youre not reaping similar gains, your
current lighting system is an under-performing asset.
|
|
Maintaining your lighting system can be very costly. The cost of light is broken
down into three components:
  
Many organizations spend most of their time trying to impact the 4% portion of their
lighting dollar. They have enormous purchasing departments whose sole purpose is
to negotiate a better price of the product. Individuals may even get bonuses for
saving their company money on supplies. In fact, the purchase of lamps and
ballasts represents only a fraction of the overall cost of light. Energy cost is
by far the biggest expense. Thats why it pays to invest in the most
energy-efficient lighting equipment.
|
|
Other financial vehicles do not offer the return on investment (ROI) that a
simple lighting upgrade can provide. A look at some ROIs on other investments:
| 1992 1996 S&P - 12.50% |
Mutual Fund - 14.00% |
30-Year T-Bill - 6.05% |
| 5-Year CD - 4.89% |
Prime Rate - 8.50% |
|
Lighting retrofit projects present no risk;
improve working conditions; increase productivity; help the environment; and is
a capital improvement to the facility.
|
|
The Federal Government established the Green Lights program sanctioned to
recruit top fortune 1000 corporations to upgrade their existing lighting systems
to that of energy-efficient lighting in order to help the environment. The
government also passed the 1992 EPACT law, which slowly delists old, inefficient
lighting products. The impetus for these laws and programs lies in the fact that
many commercial space buildings are lighted by outdated, inefficient, and
environmentally unfriendly systems. Of the 4.8 million commercial buildings (68
billion square feet) in the U.S., 90% were constructed prior to 1986 which means
that the majority are likely to carry outmoded lighting systems.
| Since the start of Green Lights in 1991 and now with the inception of the
recently formed Energy Star Buildings Program, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) have demonstrated how voluntary
participation from all size businesses can help to protect the environment
while at the same time making their businesses more competitive and more
profitable. |
 |
 |
|
|