Frequently Asked Questions and Answers 1.  What is retrofitting? When older lighting systems were designed, energy conservation was not the critical issue it is today. Retrofitting means to replace your existing lighting with new lighting technology, preferably to increase the energy efficiency and/or light quality of a lighting system. The term is often used when converting an older metal halide/high pressure sodium fixture or T- 12 fluorescent fixture to the newer T-8 or T-5 fluorescent fixtures. 2.  Why should I consider an energy-efficient lighting retrofit? Energy-efficient lighting upgrades have one of the best returns on investment of any energy-efficient technology today.  They offer paybacks in the 1-5 year range.  Not only do lighting upgrades make energy and financial sense, they also have a wide variety of other benefits… • Extended lamp life • Maintains brightness over time • Better CRI rating, which means increased quality of light. Increased quality of lighting can lead to increased employee productivity and happiness • Instant start without delays for lamps (no warm up/cool down period) • Decreased maintenance costs • Eligibility for utility incentives 3.  Is there a tax Deduction for the cost of energy-efficient material/property installed in a commercial building? Yes, a tax deduction of up to $1.80 per square foot is available for buildings that save at least 50% of the heating and cooling energy of a building that meets ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2001. Partial deductions of up to $.60 per square foot can be taken for measures affecting: the building envelope, lighting, or heating and cooling systems. This act extends the deduction through December 31, 2013. 4.  T12 fluorescent lamps are being phased out of production...What should i prepare for? All BUSINESS will eventually have to replace their T12 lighting.  Manufacturers will be phasing out their production of T12 lamps and ballasts.  Progressively less availability of T12 lamps and ballasts.  Increased cost of T12 lamps and ballasts due to demand vs. limited supply. 5.  Why are T12 fluorescent lamps and magnetic ballasts being phased out? The Department of Energy’s objective is to remove less efficient T12 fluorescent systems from the market, and thus increase lighting efficiency for organizations.  T12 lamps and magnetic ballasts are considered outdated compared to the far more energy efficient T8 and T5 systems now available. 6.  What type of savings can I expect for upgrading? Facility managers can select from several upgrade systems which typically results in savings typically ranging from 30% to 45% or more. 7.  How many times longer does a CFL or LED last vs. an incandescent? An ENERGY STAR-qualified CFL lasts ten times longer than a traditional incandescent bulb that puts out the same amount of light.  An ENERGY STAR-qualified LED bulb will last as much as 25 times longer than a comparable traditional incandescent bulb. 8.  How exactly are these new bulbs better than traditional incandescent bulbs? Traditional incandescent bulbs use a lot of energy to produce light. 90% of the energy is wasted as heat. That lost energy is money we are throwing away.  Newer energy-saving bulbs such as ENERGY STAR-qualified CFLs and LEDs, as well as halogen incandescent technologies, can produce the same amount of light (lumens) as a traditional incandescent bulb while using significantly less energy.  So when you replace your traditional incandescent bulbs with the energy-savers, you will pay less to get the same amount of light. Upgrading 15 inefficient incandescent bulbs in your home with energy-saving bulbs could save you about $50 per year. Many of the newer bulbs also last significantly longer than traditional bulbs, so you won't need to replace them as often, and will keep saving into the future. ENERGY STAR LEDs use about 25% of the energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs they replace. An ENERGY STAR CFL uses about 25% of the energy and lasts 10 times longer than a comparable traditional incandescent bulb. Switching to energy-saving bulbs will reduce the growth of U.S. energy demand and avoid carbon emissions. Nationwide, lighting accounts for about 14% of all building electricity use (about 10% of home electricity). With the EISA standards, U.S. households could save nearly $6 billion dollars in 2015 alone. FAQs 1. What is retrofitting? 2. Why should I consider energy- efficient lighting retrofit? 3. Is there a tax Deduction for the cost of energy-efficient material/property installed in a commercial building? 4. T12 fluorescent lamps are being phased out of production...What should i prepare for? 5.  Why are T12 fluorescent lamps and magnetic ballasts being phased out? 6.  What type of savings can I expect for upgrading? 7.  How many times longer does a CFL or LED last vs. an incandescent? 8.  How exactly are these new bulbs better than traditional incandescent bulbs? 9.  How much heat (or infra-red radiation) is emitted by regular, halogen, and compact fluorescent light bulbs? 10.  Why should people use CFLs? 11.  Do CFLs contain mercury? 12.  What is the recommended proper disposal of CFLs?/What should I do with a CFL when it burns out? 13.  How do CFLs result in less mercury in the environment compared to traditional light bulbs? Optimistic Lighting Maintenance LLC Get a Quote Now! Page 1 2