We are proud to specify our “new partnership” with Value Energy Solutions and the clock for the T12 Phase Out is still ticking. Are you ready?! Our team has been helping commercial business’ stay ahead of the supply chain, by providing innovative solutions that deliver significant energy savings while improving light quality. Join Us Today… “We Bring Satisfaction To Light!” -HBR

HB Retrofit Announces New Partnership and T12 Phase Out

HB Retrofit Lighting Services

An LED lamp is a solid-state lamp that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the source of light. The term LED lightbulb is also colloquially used. LED lamp may in general refer to conventional semiconductor light-emitting diodes, to organic LEDs (OLED), or polymer light-emitting diodes (PLED) devices, although OLED and PLED technologies are not commercially available in 2010.

Since the light output of individual light-emitting diodes is small compared to incandescent and compact fluorescent lamps, multiple diodes are often used together. In recent years, as diode technology has improved, high power light-emitting diodes with higher lumen output are making it possible to replace other lamps with LED lamps. One high power LED chip used in some commercial LED lights can emit 7,527 lumens while using only 100 watts. LED lamps can be made interchangeable with other types of lamps.

Diodes use direct current (DC) electrical power, so LED lamps must also include internal circuits to operate from standard AC voltage. LEDs are damaged by being run at higher temperatures, so LED lamps typically include heat management elements such as heat sinks and cooling fins. LED lamps offer long service life and high energy efficiency, but initial costs are higher than those of fluorescent lamps.

Each diode is about 1/4 inch in diameter and uses about ten milliamps to operate at about a tenth of a watt. LEDs are small in size, but can be grouped together for higher intensity applications. LED fixtures require a driver which is analogous to the ballast in fluorescent fixtures. The drivers are typically built into the fixture (like fluorescent ballasts) or they are a plug transformer for portable (plug-in) fixtures. The plug-in transformers allow the fixture to run on standard 120 volt alternating current (AC), with a modest (about 15 to 20 percent) power loss.

The efficacy of a typical residential application LED is approximately 20 lumens per watt (LPW), though efficacies of up to 100 LPW have been created in laboratory settings. Incandescent bulbs have an efficacy of about 15 LPW and ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescents are about 60 LPW, depending on the wattage and lamp type. Some manufacturers claim efficacies much higher than 20 LPW; make sure to examine system efficacy, which accounts for the power use of all components. In December 2006, the U.S. Department of Energy studied the efficacy of four luminaries. All four fell short of the manufacturers’ claims; the study implies that manufacturers are relying on measurements of how much light an isolated LED produces, rather than how much light an LED luminaire actually delivers.

LEDs are better at placing light in a single direction than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. Because of their directional output, they have unique design features that can be exploited by clever designs. LED strip lights can be installed under counters, in hallways, and in staircases; concentrated arrays can be used for room lighting. Waterproof, outdoor fixtures are also available. Some manufacturers consider applications such as gardens, walkways, and decorative fixtures outside garage doors to be the most cost-efficient.

LED lights are more rugged and damage-resistant than compact fluorescents and incandescent bulbs. LED lights don’t flicker. They are very heat sensitive; excessive heat or inappropriate applications dramatically reduce both light output and lifetime. Uses include:

• Task and reading lamps
• Linear strip lighting (under kitchen cabinets)
• Recessed lighting/ceiling cans
• Porch/outdoor/landscaping lighting
• Art lighting
• Night lights
• Stair and walkway lighting
• Pendants and overhead
• Retrofit bulbs for lamps

Each diode is about 1/4 inch in diameter and uses about ten milliamps to operate at about a tenth of a watt. LEDs are small in size, but can be grouped together for higher intensity applications. LED fixtures require a driver which is analogous to the ballast in fluorescent fixtures. The drivers are typically built into the fixture (like fluorescent ballasts) or they are a plug transformer for portable (plug-in) fixtures. The plug-in transformers allow the fixture to run on standard 120 volt alternating current (AC), with a modest (about 15 to 20 percent) power loss.

The efficacy of a typical residential application LED is approximately 20 lumens per watt (LPW), though efficacies of up to 100 LPW have been created in laboratory settings. Incandescent bulbs have an efficacy of about 15 LPW and ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescents are about 60 LPW, depending on the wattage and lamp type. Some manufacturers claim efficacies much higher than 20 LPW; make sure to examine system efficacy, which accounts for the power use of all components. In December 2006, the U.S. Department of Energy studied the efficacy of four luminaries. All four fell short of the manufacturers’ claims; the study implies that manufacturers are relying on measurements of how much light an isolated LED produces, rather than how much light an LED luminaire actually delivers.

LEDs are better at placing light in a single direction than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs. Because of their directional output, they have unique design features that can be exploited by clever designs. LED strip lights can be installed under counters, in hallways, and in staircases; concentrated arrays can be used for room lighting. Waterproof, outdoor fixtures are also available. Some manufacturers consider applications such as gardens, walkways, and decorative fixtures outside garage doors to be the most cost-efficient.

LED lights are more rugged and damage-resistant than compact fluorescents and incandescent bulbs. LED lights don’t flicker. They are very heat sensitive; excessive heat or inappropriate applications dramatically reduce both light output and lifetime. Uses include:

* Task and reading lamps
* Linear strip lighting (under kitchen cabinets)
* Recessed lighting/ceiling cans
* Porch/outdoor/landscaping lighting
* Art lighting
* Night lights
* Stair and walkway lighting
* Pendants and overhead
* Retrofit bulbs for lamps

There are many Benefits of using LED Lighting products.  Environmental Benefits of using LED Lighting products. LED lights provide energy efficiency and cost savings for every user.  Although it is initially expensive, consider the savings use of fossil fuels and lower utility bills over the life of the bulbs. Unlike compact fluorescent bulbs, LED’s contain no mercury. They are extremely durable, they last a very long time, and they fade when nearing the end of their usefulness instead of suddenly burning out and leaving you in the dark.

For those hard to reach places, this is a great boon. Instead of replacing the bulb after 1000 hours (incandescent) or 10,000 hours (fluorescent), you won’t have to replace LED lights before 50,000 hours of use. Some bulbs may last as much as 100,000 hours. And, instead of instantly perishing, the LED bulb will gradually fade when its useful life is ending, giving you time to replace the bulb before darkness descends altogether.

LED bulbs are solid and resistant to heat, cold and shock. The bulbs will not easily break, so there is no worry about glass fragments under your feet. Today’s LED bulbs are composed of up to 180 clustered lights, encased in diffuser lenses that spread the light.

Electric lighting uses about 25% of the residential power budget. While incandescent bulbs waste 98% of their energy producing heat, LED bulbs pour all of their energy into light. They remain cool to the touch and do not generate heat into the house. So they don’t require more energy from the air conditioning unit. And they use about 75% less electricity.

SPRINGFIELD – The State Energy Office at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is announcing a special lighting sale for public sector buildings through its Illinois Energy Now program.

The federal government has mandated that T12 lamps be phased out of production in 2012. Approximately 30 percent of all fluorescent lamps sold in the U.S. are still T12 technology. As a result of the T12 phase out, 70 percent of all T12 fluorescent lamps sold in the U.S. will be phased out by July 2012. This means all public facilities will eventually have to upgrade all of their T12 lighting. To help the public sector and public schools, the State’s Illinois Energy Now program is offering its best incentives to upgrade to high-efficiency T8 or T5 lamps.

“The incentive amount for lighting will never be better than through this special sale,” said Warren Ribley, Director of DCEO. “The Illinois Energy Now program allows the State of Illinois to assist communities in funding energy efficiency projects and provides DCEO with the necessary resources to meet the State’s green goals by reducing the demand for electricity, conserving tax dollars and creating green sector jobs.”

DCEO’s Illinois Energy Now special sale is open to municipalities, park districts, fire districts, public k-12 schools, public universities, community colleges and state and federal facilities within ComEd and Ameren electric service areas.

The Illinois Energy Now special sale will be available from December 13, 2010 to April 15, 2011. Applicants seeking the Illinois Energy Now Special must submit an addendum along with the standard application and follow the Public Sector Electric Efficiency Program Guidelines and specifications posted at www.IllinoisEnergy.org (follow the Illinois Energy Now link). Incentives cannot exceed 100 percent of project cost.

The Illinois Energy Now program offers a portfolio of electric efficiency programs to achieve targeted annual energy savings goals. The Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard was signed in to law August 2007, giving Illinois among the most ambitious energy efficiency standards in the nation. This initiative required Illinois utilities to reduce overall electric usage by 0.2 percent of demand in 2008, escalating to 2.0 percent by 2015. This portfolio creates a substantial budget for programs and incentives to reduce electric energy usage and demand for customers of ComEd and Ameren.

DCEO’s Illinois Energy Now program provides incentives for the Public facilities, Low Income Affordable Housing New Construction and Gut Rehab, as well as Training and Education opportunities