Lighting Retrofits

The average lighting configuration contributes to 37 percent of your utility cost. With some smart changes, you can get that number down by a third. Not only do you save money and reduce your environmental impact, it can also have a big impact on the environment inside. According to the Department of Energy, lighting plays a big part in employee comfort and productivity. Ask Blue Dot for bright ideas on how to:

Decrease Consumption
After 125 years, it's time for the old light bulb to be replaced with something new and improved. There is now a new generation of energy-efficient lights that cost a little more but return their investment in a few months. Today's lighting includes more efficient fluorescent tube lighting, which includes T8 and T5 lamps and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), as well as emerging products and technologies, such as LEDs (light emitting diodes). As we look to the future, laws will be in place that will prevent inefficient technologies, such as incandescent bulbs, from being produced.

Don’t Overdo It
Most spaces are flooded with more light than they need. The additional light makes it uncomfortable on your eyes. In addition, the heat generated by the extra lighting can increase your air-conditioning requirement. Many make the mistake of over-lighting their spaces with the next-generation light bulbs, not realizing these new bulbs tend to be more powerful than the older products. Measuring the quality and quantity of light is the key. Have Blue Dot assess your facility, measure your lighting and recommend the appropriate lighting level for your operation.

Don’t Throw it Away
It is unethical, but more importantly illegal, to throw your fluorescent bulbs in the regular trash. These bulbs contain mercury and when disposed of improperly, they have a terrible impact on the environment and human health. Each year an estimated 600 million fluorescent lamps are disposed of in U.S. landfills, amounting to 30,000 pounds of mercury waste. That is a huge problem when you consider that just one bulb is enough to pollute 6,000 gallons of water. Ask Blue Dot how to comply with EPA standards for recycling and disposing of your fluorescent bulbs.

The Lights Are On, But No One’s Home
Motion sensors are a great way to switch lights on and off automatically, depending on whether someone is occupying the space. Blue Dot can show you options for saving money and energy by reducing unnecessary lighting hours.