Is LED Lighting Right For Your Business?
LED lighting is basically the “wild west of the lighting industry”. There are too many manufacturers to count and they all promise the best products at the lowest price. Yes, it is an extremely clichéd statement, however it is what we are working with. That said, every time I hear those words or come across a salesperson making that statement, it takes me straight back to when I started my career and was once told by a veteran … “Everybody wants the Cadillac for the price of a Kia. You can walk into any Kia dealership and hear them preach quality, but if you want Cadillac quality, you don’t buy a Kia; you put the extra money for the Cadillac. ” The same principles apply to the LED industry. Now, let’s see why this is so.
There are many products in the world of LED lighting and understanding what you are buying is critical to making a good purchase for your business. When you start diving into LED products, you will begin to notice that the ones that are made to last and have the best warranty always have the highest price. The main reason behind this is that once you buy, let’s say a High Bay for your warehouse; you will never have to buy another light for at least 10 years. Therefore, the price of these lights must be worth the time of manufacture. Jumping to the other end of the LED product offerings are LED fluorescent tube replacements and LED replacements for incandescent bulbs. These are generally cheaper and have a 3-5 year warranty, but are still considerably more expensive than older bulbs.
Identify a good company:
When shopping for LED lighting, you need to understand that certain products and offers come from the Asian world. This is not necessarily because “greedy” Americans send abroad; it is simply that the Asian and European markets are ahead of us in the LED game. That being said, there are some pretty terrible products that come from that part of the world and it is imperative to identify them. This is where the veterans saying comes into play from the beginning of this article. If they are the cheapest, they are generally not the best. If you are going to make the investment and upgrade to LED lighting, then spending a few extra dollars up front with a reputable company, which you will recoup in savings, is the best way to go. Regardless of which company you decide to go with, make sure of the following before purchasing LEDs
– The products have a long shelf life.
– There is a good guarantee.
– The company is fast and efficient in complying with the guarantee.
– Get an analysis that shows the initial cost vs. ROI
– Have the company show you what your kilowatt reduction will be
– Make sure the company you are buying from can work with your local power company to get the rebates that are offered.
Once you’ve done your research and the company has provided you with all the statistics and information, you should be ready to invest in an LED lighting upgrade. It will surely save your business a ton of money in the long run and greatly reduce ongoing maintenance.
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