The LED Boom is NOT Over
Much of the for-profit market has been converted to LED. But many of our nonprofit clients have been left behind when it comes to energy efficiency within their buildings. Contractors frequently don’t have the patience or discretionary time to adequately help. They quote projects egregiously high because they don’t want the job. Sometimes they come in with the lowest bid and then can’t deliver the services as promised. EnerChange makes sure that doesn’t happen to any organization that we serve.
In 2024 EnerChange conducted our cost-free energy audit for the ICA Food Shelf in Minnetonka and identified a handful of easy energy saving opportunities. First up was lighting. Everyone who’s never opened a fixture housing says lighting is easy. Buildings from the 1970’s often have T12, T8, and T5 fluorescent tubes that run off varying ballasts from decades of replacements. If type A tubes had been installed, they wouldn’t work if the ballast is dead. That’s where the 4′ LED type A/B tube meets the challenge—it works with or without a ballast. If the ballast is burnt out, you would need to rewire the fixture. If the ballast is still working, it will run the type A/B tube until the ballast fails and then the fixture will need to be rewired. Think of these ballasts as a battery with 1-2 more charges left. Further, type A/B tubes can come with color selectable options. This means on the end of each 4′ LED tube there is a switch that allows you to change the color of the tube. In production areas 5000 Kelvin is best. In offices we recommend 4000 Kelvin. The incandescent bulb in your bedside lamp is likely 2700 Kelvin. So having the option to choose whichever color is best based on how the space is being used gives you the opportunity to properly light your space.
Below is a pre- and post-photo of the recently completed LED tube retrofit. Notice the increased visibility on the grocery shelves. Ryan Heglund (ICA Food Shelf Facilities Manager) rented a lift, ordered 388 LED type A/B color selectable tubes, and began replacing the existing fluorescent system. 11 hours later he had a completely relit and revamped space. The rebate from Xcel Energy covered the cost of the tubes. And the show room floor has never looked better.
- Project Cost: $2,800
- Xcel Energy Rebate: $2,328
- Annual Energy Savings: $2758.00
- kWh Savings: 15,536
- Payback: 8 Months
