Q & A

Kevin Smith is a company officer for Green Edison Corp. He’s also the Director of Energy Management. The following are questions from our email bag:

Question: Explain how your company is different from others?

KS: As a rule, most lighting companies are just trying to sell units. The more they sell, the more money they make. A light-for-light replacement plan will certainly save money, but the real energy savings comes from eliminating fixtures. LEDs use less energy to produce more illumination, so it’s a natural fit to take excess fixtures out of the equation. Our luminaires use about 70-75% less energy than traditional lighting, and the eliminated fixtures are a 100% savings. Combining them both is a biggie and results in higher rebates, which is why we have the best NET COST in the industry.

Question: So, why doesn’t every company take that approach?

KS: Because the science of photometry is difficult to learn and applying it takes a lot of work. In short, it’s easier not to do it, and there’s more money in the short run by selling more fixtures. I would guess the thinking would be:  why put more effort in to make less money?

Question: I see a lot of stuff on the internet about LEDs being brighter. Is brighter better?

KS: Not always. It depends on the application. Most of the time there will be a substantial difference in the light output of a room after LEDs are installed, and that’s a good thing. However, I have seen my shares of cases where the wrong LEDs were installed and the result was an overwhelming amount of harsh light. Last time I saw this was a high school in central Illinois. An LED company had outfitted several faculty offices with LEDs that were way too bright. They were so harsh, the employees of those offices elected not to turn their lights on during the day.

Again, that’s were photometrics comes in. It’s absolute. There’s no guess work. You’ll know right away if the light you’ve plugged into the equation is too bright.

Question: Schools and municipalities struggle financially. Do you have programs that can help?

KS: We do. We have several school projects in the works right now and they’re substantial energy savers. As a rule, most schools have very old technology, which results in too many fixtures per room. One of our school projects has several classrooms with 18 existing fixtures, each of which are using 112 watts. We’re able to replace those 18 with nine 2x4 panels that use 40 watts. That room is a great example of what we do here. The NET COST on that project is less than $7,000, and the payback is less than a year.

Lighting can account for up to 40% of an entire municipal budget. In some cases, our streetlights are less money per fixture than metal halide or high-pressure sodium fixtures. And, oh yeah, they use about 75% less energy.  And remember, one of big costs associated with old technology is maintenance. There is no maintenance with LED lighting. No more replacing bulbs or ballasts.

These lights are also major crime deterrents while promoting less auto accidents. Check out are article, which eludes to the statistical data.

Question: I don’t see LED tubes on your product list. Do you sell them.

KS: We try to steer clients away from tubes. Most of them involve using older ballasts, and our goal is to take the ballast out of the equation. A big part of an LED conversion is eliminating maintenance and keeping the ballast in play doesn’t accomplish that. Those new tubes will only be as good as the ballasts driving them. Plus, tubes DO NOT qualify for a lot of rebate programs.

I view tubes has a half-hearted, unnecessary step. Those old ballasts will need replaced. Why not just put up an LED panel light and be done with it? The savings is greater, the payback is lower, and it will last at least 15 years.

Question: Were tubes being used at Bound to Stay Bound?

KS: They were and that’s why they hadn’t switched to LEDs. They had been pitched by several EE companies, all of which posed replacing their T12s and T8s with 8 Ft. LED tubes. It wasn’t a viable solution. We were the first company to suggest a linear high bay for their short ceilings.  The photometrics suggested we could replace every 3.2 fixtures with one of our LHBs. We took 3 samples out there and it worked like a charm.

You’ll see a lot of references to BTSB on our site because it’s a wonderful example of what we do at Green Edison.

Question: I recently went by a major retailer who is now selling linear high bays and panel lights. How are your lights different from their fixtures?

KS: I saw that myself just this past week. The brand they’re selling is known more for traditional lights than LEDs. But I was certainly curious so I investigated the matter. Every model they’re selling is 100 Lumens Per Watt (LPW). That’s obsolete technology. At least 5-6 years old, which is an eternity in the LED world.  Our lights are about 140 LPW. Their linear bay high produces the same amount as our 80W  LHB, however, their light is 120 watts. That’s 33.3% more energy per fixture. That’s a substantial difference.

Question: I’ve heard the rebate applications and fine print can be complicated. Does your company take care of that?

KS: Absolutely. It’s a big part of our service. We offer the design and the rebate application as a service when buying our lights.

Question: Can I use my own electrician?

KS: Yes, but that question just tricky in some states. As of January of 2018, Ameren Illinois requires all electricians doing installs to be certified. If they’re not, then your project may not qualify for incentive funds. It’s an easy fix, in my opinion. If they’re not approved, get them approved. The process is quick and easy. It’s also worth noting that self-installs (done by a company employee) DO NOT require certification.

Question: You guys distribute products from James Industries. Why?

KS: James Industries has developed a lot of the technology on the market today so why go anywhere else? It’s the best technology and it’s affordable. James Lighting is the best of the best. We do sell products from other manufacturers, but James is our go to source. Their products are trusted in the most dangerous of environments – refineries, mines, military operations, and power stations. If they’re good enough for hazardous applications then they’re safe for any commercial application. Safe. Reliable. Efficient. Affordable. That’s why we work in conjunction with them.

Question: Does your company do residential and commercial solar?

KS: Very much like LEDs, we stay away from the residential projects, however, we will gladly put you in touch with someone who will help you out. We work with a consortium of RE professionals on the commercial side of solar.

Question: Does better lighting really help prevent crime?

KS: Common sense would tell you yes, and most studies agree with that, but there are exceptions. First off, and most importantly, studies show a direct correlation between LEDs and a decrease in violent crime. Criminals love the cover of darkness. That said, some believe better light enhances a thief’s chance of vandalism because their targets are better lit. I’ll take the former any day of the week.

Question: And do LED streetlights help prevent accidents?

KS: As long as it’s smart, direction lighting, absolutely. However, remember when we talked about lights being too bright? LEDs, too bright for an application, can actually increase the chance of accidents because of glare. That’s why it’s always important to choose your LED partners wisely.

Question: The price can vary on LEDS. Some are really inexpensive. Why?

KS: Quality. Name a given industry and you can find ultra cheap versions of any product. However, you usually get what you pay for. That almost always holds true. LEDs are only as good as the driver components powering them. Chances are the cheaper versions will malfunction and will certainly deliver less LPW. Both are directly related to the quality of the driver. So, if you bought a cheap light that didn’t last what did you really buy? You’re actually worse off than when you started. We've spent the last decade developing and searching for the perfect cross between quality and affordability. Look no further than this site.

Question: I hear a lot about "made in the USA" products. How does that apply to the LED world?

KS: It depends on what you define as “made in the USA.” LED lights are made up of a lot of components. Some of those are made in the USA, while many are not. A great deal of LED technology comes from our friends in China.  Be leery of LED companies that boast of being “assembled in the USA.” That’s code for being about triple the cost. Some of the best LED products I’ve seen are the combined technology of Mexico, China, and the US. It’s the best of ALL Worlds.

Question: You make a lot about eliminating fixtures and maximizing energy savings. What’s your average customer save?

KS: Great question. First off, we eliminate an average of about 27% of fixtures on our projects so that’s a 27% energy savings without the light to light conversion. By the end of the process, our clients save about 80% on their lighting bill. That’s a lot of money.

Email us or Facebook your questions and we’ll answer and add them to this section.