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Want to cut lighting energy consumption by up to 90 percent? Invest in energy efficient lighting. According to Energy Star, LED lighting lasts longer than traditional incandescent lighting and can use up to 90 percent less energy. LEDs also emit less heat, reducing air conditioning needs.
McCurley Subaru’s all-LED building was completed in 2016. Facility Manager Steve Tinsley says only one light fixture has failed since that time. At McCurley’s other four dealerships, “we are upgrading old fluorescent fixtures to LEDs as they burn out,” Tinsley explains.
“McCurley’s varied approach to LED adoption is consistent with other retailers we work with,” said Chuck Golden, Green Dealer Support CEO. “With new construction or complete remodels, dealers often install LED lighting in most or all of the facility. For others, fixtures are upgraded to LEDs as existing lighting fails, or in specific areas, such as the lot or service department.”
“The cost of a replacement ballast for a fluorescent light is just a few dollars less than the upgrade to LED,” Tinsley says. “The gain in energy efficiency, low maintenance, and lighting gain is a no-brainer.”
Tinsley isn’t alone in reporting LED benefits beyond utility cost reduction. Service technicians at other dealerships appreciate the cleaner light output, and maintenance staff spend less time changing bulbs.
For retailers with LED lot lighting, the longer life of fixtures reduces the frequency of needing electricians with bucket trucks to replace bulbs.
Although little maintenance is needed for LED fixtures, routinely cleaning LED lenses allows for maximum lighting.
To learn more about the benefits of an LED upgrade, read Building Operating Management’s series on energy efficient lighting.
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