It is a no brainer for me to think of installing energy saving lights as part of an overall sustainability plan. In this era where companies have been forced to reduce their workforces to meet the demands of a lagging economy, it is always good news to hear how one Ohio company has looked to energy savings as a way to make ends meet.
The Limited operates five distribution centers in Columbus. Using newer technology from GE, the company was able to increase the light output in these centers, while cutting back on energy usage. According to an article in Chain Store Age, the Limited installed a combination of T-5 and T-8 bulbs and ballasts in about 3.5 million square feet of space. The lighting changes have produced a brighter work space ( 4 times brighter in some areas) that employees claim makes bar coding easier to read. This should boost productivity at its locations, in addition to the savings from energy and maintenance. In addition to the improved bulbs and fixtures, they installed motion sensors. Why spend more to light areas that aren’t even occupied? And we aren’t talking nickels and dimes here. The company expects to see an annualized savings of over $750,000 in costs. How many salaries could that save, I don’t know, but it just shows that if all of our Ohio based companies were to invest in energy reduction, then perhaps employment would improve. How about your office or place of business? By being proactive and finding creative ways to help your employer save on energy savings, you could just save your own job….
