In recent years, many business owners have found that LED retrofits save them time, resources and money. LED stands for light-emitting diode, and while their initial price is slightly more expensive than incandescent bulbs, they save businesses money in the long run in two major ways:
- They have low energy use, so your energy bill will be lower.
- They last much longer, so you’ll buy less over time and spend less on maintenance.
This blog takes a closer look at both of these points, as well as several other benefits of choosing LED lighting for businesses.
Energy Saving LED Lighting for Businesses
The cost of electricity naturally depends on the size of a commercial building; however, most businesses report that the largest source of energy consumption comes from heating, cooling, and lighting. These three services are often more than half a business’ electric bill.
According to energy.org, LEDs can use up to 90% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs.
Switching from incandescent to LEDs can potentially cut your energy bill by a quarter or even half. But there are even more savings to consider. The low energy consumption paired with the low heat production and resistance to shock and vibration means that LED lights are less of a fire risk than other lighting options, which can lower your insurance costs.
On top of the savings on your business’ energy bill, installing LED lighting can help you earn rebates through Wisconsin's Focus on Energy program. Learn more about Focus on Energy rebates here.
What Types of Businesses Have The Highest Electric Bills?
Electric Choice, an energy management company, reports that retail and service buildings use the most energy compared to other commercial buildings. Other businesses listed in descending order include office buildings, education buildings, healthcare buildings, then lodging, such as hotels.
If you find your type of business on this list, consider your indoor and outdoor lighting and determine if there are any opportunities to save money with LEDs. Consider the following options:
- LED Signage
- LED Street Lights
- Parking Garage LED Lighting
- LED Walkway Lighting
- LED Display Case Lighting
- Wall Mounted LED Lighting
- Outdoor LED Flood Lights
- LED Warehouse Lighting
- LED Recessed Lighting
Long Lasting LED Retrofits
According to that same article from energy.org, LED lights last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Typically, the standard LED light can last up to 50,000 hours, which is conservatively estimated to equal 11 years of nighttime use. For business owners, this means lower maintenance costs on top of buying fewer light bulbs.
In the case of outdoor LED sign lighting, your business will be saving money because you will no longer be required to hire a specialist to change out lighting on roofing, free standing signs, or other digital signage. What’s more, you can even save money by simply retrofitting your existing signs with LEDs rather than buying completely new signage.
Case Study: Upgraded Exterior Lighting Helps Ernst & Young Get Noticed
By changing out the old lighting source from neon to LED, the letters of the Ernst & Young illuminated sign were brightened and now more visible to passing traffic. Additionally, the cost of updating the sign was minimal, considering the cost of replacing it entirely. Maintenance costs were reduced to zero dollars and Ernst & Young will see a return on their investment in less than 4 years.
What to be inspired by other LED lighting projects? Check out the ones below!
- Windrush Subdivision Signage (Outdoor LED Signage) - An award-winning sign design commissioned for a newly developed subdivision in Hartland, Wisconsin.
- Wacker Neuson (Indoor Lighting) – Lemberg’s electrical service team completed a retrofit project to upgrade production line lighting with new LED lighting, providing employees with a brighter and safer workspace.
- Milwaukee Admirals Locker Room (Indoor LED Signage) - When the Milwaukee Admirals remodeled its locker room, they hired Lemberg to help them create a fun atmosphere filled with team pride.
Want to learn more about custom design options for illuminated signage and LED applications? Download our Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Maintaining a Business Sign.
LED Lights Do More Than Save Money
LED lighting is extremely popular because of the ability to save money on energy, maintenance, insurance, and rebates, but they are also popular because they look great!
Outdoor LED Sign Lighting Produces A Crisp Image
One of the most common uses for LED lights in outdoor signage is in digital display boards. These boards use LED lights to display text, images and even video clearly.
LED display boards come in a wide variety of resolutions and designs so that you can clearly deliver your message to people at various distances. When choosing digital LED signage, you will want to consider the following:
- Interaction
- Resolution
- Location and zoning
- Size and shape
- Content type
- Budget
- Existing signage
You can take a closer look at each of these considerations in our article, How to Choose and Use Digital LED (EMC) Signage.
Interested in getting new business signage, but would like to know more of what to expect from the process? This helpful downloadable guide walks you through the steps of design, manufacturing, and installation of new business signage.
LED Lights Come In Many Options
The exterior and signage LED lighting market has grown to include an array of choices. An abundance of possibilities offers business owners precise solutions for their LED needs.
Business signs and logos come in all shapes and sizes. LED lighting can offer a strong visual enhancement to meet the unique marketing needs of your business. An often overlooked component of LED lighting is color temperature.
Lighting temperature is measured in Kelvins (K) and specifies how warm or cool the color of the LED light appears. Color temperature can be subjective, but in a signage application, it can play a significant role in the mood of your brand.
As the image below shows, the color temperature of an LED light can change to match your preferences and help your business create the right atmosphere.
LEDs Perform Better Than Other Lighting in Extremely Cold Temperatures
Wisconsin can get pretty cold, and one of the last things you want as a business owner is for your outdoor signage and lighting to dim or go out completely.
In the winter months, when it gets dark earlier and stays dark longer, a blown-out sign can spell disaster for the visibility of your business. Worse, unlit parking lots or walkways can result in accidents and unsafe environments for your visitors and employees alike.
LEDs are not affected by cold weather. In fact, according to the Lighting Research Centre, cooler environments actually increase an LED’s output. That means bright, beautiful lights and safe conditions for all.
The Electrical Service and LED Signage Experts at Lemberg Are Here to Help
Depending on the number of lights in your facility and on your property, the transition from incandescent light bulbs to LED may seem like a large undertaking at first, but our Electrical Service and Signs Teams pride themselves on providing an excellent experience for customers. Our professional project managers take care to keep you informed and your project on time.
Our design team will work with you to determine the best LED lighting application for your brand and budget. Request a quote today or contact us, and we’ll happily answer any questions you may have.
