Benefits of LED parking
Outdoor LED Lighting fixtures, such as LED Parking lot
lights, provide some excellent benefits for Parking and Area applications
because of how they GENERATE Commercial led lighting
and how they DISTRIBUTE light. Light Emitting Diodes generate light via a
semi-conductor, as opposed to the consumption of a “fuel source” like in HID
lamps. In regards to “distributing” light, LED fixtures commonly utilize
“Multi-Point” sources, meaning the fixtures have multiple diodes with
individual optics. When you compare this to the way most HID fixtures
distribute light (with a single bulb and reflectors within the fixture), the
result is light that is more evenly “distributed’ across a surface.
The three most common benefits of LED parking lot lights:
Energy Savings
Common wattages for Commercial led lighting
can range from 40 Watts to 600 Watts, often resulting in a 40%-60% reduction in
energy consumption. This is a result of how the light is generated (see above).
What this means for your facility is savings of up $300 per fixture, per year,
in electricity costs.
Maintenance Cost Reduction
Again, due to the way LED’s generate light, the way they
progress through their functional life is much different. Instead of ceasing to
function properly once a fuel source is significantly reduced, LED generated
light output degrades very slowly over time. As a result, the functional life
(often in excess of 100,000 hours) of an Commercial led lighting
can be significantly longer than that of an HID Lamp...which in turn
drastically reduces the costs for maintaining a Parking and Area fixture over a
longer period of time.
Lighting Performance
Moving on to the way LED fixtures “DISTRIBUTE” light: as a
result of the multi point design, LED outdoor lighting fixtures for Parking and
Area Lighting applications often provide a very evenly distributed light
pattern. What this means is that light levels across a given surface will vary
less as the distance from the pole or fixture changes. Commercial led lighting
often produce a “bright spot” directly underneath the fixture with light levels
decreasing drastically as the distance from the pole increases. LEDs mitigate
this problem through even distribution. The result, in regards to LED vs HID,
is a more even foot candle distribution from the LED conversion. In addition to
the even distribution of light, LEDs are available in a range of color
temperatures, and as a result provide a range of options to increase the visual
perception of “brightness.”
LED Parking Lot Lights
Commercial LED Lighting
How do I determine what the next step is to improve my
outdoor lighting for Parking and Area Lighting applications?
The first step is to speak with a Commercial led lighting
solutions provider that is manufacturer neutral. Why this approach as opposed
to the company you may have used for the past several years? Unless that company
has a focus on providing LED solutions, it is unlikely that they will have the
performance focused mentality that is required to obtain the desired results of
an Exterior Commercial led lightingLighting
conversion. A crucial step in any LED project is understanding that LED
technology is NOT a commodity. Prior decades consisted of building facility
managers and owners evaluating product options purely on cost, assuming that
all of the options in consideration were equal in quality. This is not case
with Commercial led lighting.
A solution focused supplier should ask you about your
project objectives. Are there budget constraints, energy reduction targets,
lighting performance requirements, etc? The appropriate partner will want to get an understanding of
your desired OUTCOME, not just what specific products they can sell you. Not
all Commercial led lighting
are created equal. There are different levels of value from different
manufacturers for different applications, and by working with a company that
has the product expertise to recommend a solution that meets your project
priorities, you will ultimately achieve the best results.
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