Lighting_calculator

Calculating True Cost of Lighting

The cost of a lighting fixture or bulb is often the deciding factor in the decision to select one type of light over another. When reviewing cost do not simply consider the purchase price alone as that does not include potential operating cost.

A complete evaluation includes all costs over the lifetime of the product.  This includes purchase price, installation cost, maintenance cost, and operating costs. Many energy efficient products will pay back the initial costs over time by saving money during operation. This is why purchase price alone is not the best indicator.

Let’s look at LED lighting as an example.

Initial Cost – this is the purchase cost of the LED light bulb or fixture and any installation cost required. To simply replace one light bulb for another may not require installation services from a professional but installing a new fixture or retrofitting an existing fixture to work with LED bulbs will. An electrical contractor should be able to provide estimate on installation cost.

Incentives and Rebates – the government and utility companies may offer an incentive or rebate when selecting a lighting system that reduces energy consumption or is more environmentally friendly. The incentive or rebate has a net effect of reducing your cost and should be included in your evaluation.

Energy Cost – this is the electricity cost to provide power to operate the light. Power is measured as wattage, more precisely, per kilowatts (1000 watts). The electric company charges by the kilowatt-hour (Kwh), for example $.12 Kwh (12 cents for one kilowatt used for one hour of time). One (1) 100 watt incandescent light bulb can operate for 10 hours using 1 Kwh of energy.  This seems cheap but adds up quickly over time if used daily and with several light bulbs.

Maintenance Cost – this is the cost associated to keep the lighting system operating. Common maintenance items are repairing failed components, replacing light bulbs, or replacing bulbs to maintain a minimum light level[1].  The rated operating hours of the light bulb is a good indicator of how often the bulbs will need replaced.

Cost Calculation

Let’s compare replacing fluorescent bulbs with LED bulbs in troffer light fixture.

Fluorescent linear bulbs
(4 – T8 32 watt Soft White)1

LED linear bulb
(4 – T8 14.5 watt Soft White)1

Total Wattage

128 W

58 W

Purchase cost1

$ 12

$ 96

Installation cost

$ 20

$ 20

Rebate2

$ 0

$ -28

Total Initial Cost

$ 32

$ 88

System life

10 years

10 years

Energy Cost3

$ 460

$ 200

Lamp Life1

6.67 years

13.34 years

Maintenance Cost4

$ 32

$ 0

Total Operating Cost

$ 492

$ 201

Total Lifetime Cost

$ 524

$ 289

  1. Philips 4ft T8 32-watt soft white fluorescent bulb, Model 409433, $29.97 per 10-pack, 2950 lumens, 20,000 hour life.
    Philips 4ft T8 14.5-watt (32-watt equivalent) InstantFit direct replacement LED linear bulb, Model 433060, $237.22 per 10-pack, 1600 lumens, 40,000 hour life.
    Pricing and product data from Home Depot website.
  2. Alliant Energy offers rebate to businesses for replacing fluorescent lights with LED lights at 40 cents per watt saved.
  3. Assumes 3000 hours per year (equal to ~8 hours per day/7 days per week or ~11.5 hours per day/5 days per week) x electrical rate $.12 kwh x wattage (kw) x 10 years system life.
  4. Maintenance cost includes replacement bulb cost and labor. Fluorescent system requires all lamps to be replacement one (1) time to reach 10 year system life.

Payback Period

What is your ROI, or when does the savings pay for the upfront costs?

First determine the yearly operating savings ($492 – $201 = $291) and then divide by the number of years (10).  In this example the yearly savings is $29. The payback period (ROI) is determined by dividing the Initial cost by the Yearly Savings ($88/$29 = 4).

The ROI for above LED linear bulbs is 4 years.

 

If you have lighting questions or would like to schedule a technician to perform lighting maintenance, please contact McGill’s Repair and Construction at 641-437-1086.

Thank You,

David McGill
James McGill

Article written by Tim McGill, editor@Tree Branch Publishing.

 


[1] Many light bulbs will produce less light over time as the light bulb reaches its end of life. LED light bulbs may continue to operate for many 1000’s of hours beyond the useful life.

Be bright image_300x200

Where to buy discounted LED light bulbs in Southern Iowa

In the past a discount on energy efficient light bulbs was provided by the utility company in the form of a rebate. In 2014 Alliant Energy discontinued it’s rebate program for light bulbs and instead is co-sponsoring the Be Bright program.

The Be Bright program allows you to purchase certain light bulbs at a discounted price directly from the retail store. Look for the Be Bright label on the shelf near the price sticker. The benefit is that the discount is applied at the point of sale and no rebate forms are required.

The catch?

  • Only certain stores are participating in the program.
  • Only certain light bulbs are selected.
  • You must be utility customer of Alliant Energy or MidAmerican Energy.
  • No rebates are available other than through the Be Bright program. If the store doesn’t participate or carry the brand/style of light bulbs you prefer then you are out of luck.

 Participating stores and locations:

LED Retailers_ Iowa Change a Light

If your favorite store is not listed above then I encourage you to discuss with the store manager about participating. More information on the Be Bright program can be found at http://www.iowachangealight.com/.

 

If you have lighting questions or would like to schedule a technician to perform lighting maintenance, please contact McGill’s Repair and Construction at 641-437-1086.

Thank You,

David McGill
James McGill

Article written by Tim McGill, editor@Tree Branch Publishing.

save energy note

Online tips for saving energy in your home for Southern Iowa

There are many resources available on the Internet to suggest ways to save money by reducing your energy usage. However, not all online information is correct or relevant for your region. That is why I like to find information from a trusted source and one that is local.  Here are some links to resources in Iowa that are worth a look.

Iowa Energy Center

The Iowa Energy Center was created by the Iowa General Assembly and signed into law in 1990, and is administered through Iowa State University. The Energy Center’s goal is to serve Iowans through reliable, objective tools, and information. – See more at: http://www.iowaenergycenter.org/about/#sthash.szBxR1RP.dpuf

Recommended links:

website – iowaenergycenter.org

Interactive Home Energy Tour

Home Series booklets

 

Your Utility Company

Your utility company is often an excellent resource for energy savings tips. They also have information on rebates that may be available.

Alliant Energy (Interstate Power and Light Company)

website – alliantenergy.com/

Energy Savings Calculators for residential, small business, commerical/industrial, and farm.

Rebates

Charitan Valley Electric Cooperative

Newsletters – Living with Energy in Iowa

Rebate application

MidAmerican Energy

website – midamericanenergy.com

Energy saving tips

Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative

website – sie.coop/

Rebates

 

Your Local Contractor

Your local electrical or heating/cooling contractor is a good resource for energy savings tips. For the Centerville, Iowa area, contact McGill Repair and Construction at 641-437-1086 to discuss energy savings options for your home or business.

 

Thank You,

David McGill
James McGill

Article written by Tim McGill, editor@Tree Branch Publishing.