Devman Company Saves Energy And Reduces Costs Of Lighting Medical Buildings
The Phoenix-based is a full-service real estate brokerage firm that specializes in providing property management, development, sales and leasing services to owners of medical care facilities. They manage more than 400,000 square feet of medical office space and have found that changing lighting fixtures can reduce operational costs and save energy.
By replacing incandescent light fixtures with fluorescent fixtures and fluorescent retrofit kits, the DevMan Company has been able to significantly reduce the operational costs of lighting and cooling the buildings it manages. A fluorescent flood light fixture, for example, has a much longer life span -lasting up to five times longer than incandescent flood lights. This not only saves the cost of replacement lamps, it also saves the labor and maintenance costs of replacing them. In areas where light fixtures are hard to reach, such as exterior lighting on second and third floors, maintenance costs can be high if a scissor lift or other equipment must be rented to change the bulbs.
Fluorescent lamps also use less energy, yet generate the same amount of light. In addition, they burn cooler, thus reducing inside air conditioning needs which are significant in medical facilities where more lighting usually is required, or in warm climates where air conditioning is a must.
Upgrading existing fluorescent fixtures with new technology, such as electronic ballasts, also can reduce energy usage. The electronic ballasts generate less heat which gives them a longer life span and also lowers air conditioning costs. Fluorescent flood lamps for exterior and interior lighting are available as a complete individual system containing an aluminized glass reflector, a ballast adapter and a fluorescent lamp. These preassembled units simply screw into any standard incandescent socket, making installation easy.
In addition to general office lighting, the DevMan Company is in the process of retrofitting all indoor “exit” signs to fluorescent bulbs to achieve additional savings. Since these signs stay on 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the savings are expected to be significant.
“In our experience, we have generally recaptured our investment in the new, more expensive lighting fixtures in the first year. Savings in future years are expected to be significant. A recent retrofit of an 1,800 square foot medical suite which had an inordinate amount of incandescent flood lights, for example, will yield savings of about $1,500 per year,” said William E. Molloy, DevMan partner.
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Mr. Molloy is correct that changing from incandescent lamps to more efficient and longer lasting fluorescent lamps in all general purpose lighting pays for itself. He no doubt has also investigated the use of LED task lighting where appropriate.
I would like to suggest that Mr. Malloy might realize additional savings in maintenance and energy costs by using code compliant photoluminescent exit signs where there is sufficient ambient lighting. Photoluminescent exit signs are a non-electrical alternative to electrical exit signs; they are routinely used as replacements and as supplements to traditional signs. It is common to see floor level exit signs using photoluminescent technology.
Electrical emergency lighting is required where there is not sufficient normal lighting to properly charge photoluminescent exit signs. Increasingly, model fire, building and life safety codes include language to guide local building owners and code officials on the proper use of photoluminescent exit signs. Local codes also allow the use of non-electric signs because they recognize there is no compromise to occupant safety when exits are properly marked with code compliant photoluminescent exit signs and markings.
EverGlow manufactures aluminum photoluminescent exit signs that are tested to the same performance standard as electrical signs. We use no toxic, radioactive or vinyl (PVC) components in the construction of our signs. EverGlow signs and markings are sustainable- contain a high percentage of recycled aluminum, can be 100% recycled just like a soda can and lasts for decades with no maintenance and consume no electricity.
For more information, please visit our website, http://www.everglow.de/ussites or call toll free: 866-744-4706.