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Supply Chain 101

The Energy Solution Group has built a strong supply chain using the basic principles listed below.  This is a summary of my experiences over time that allow us to best serve our customers and vendor partners.  It sounds simple enough, but very few companies execute it well!

Get the right product to the right customer at the right time:

A supply chain is the process that brings a product from the corresponding manufacturers to the point at which it is available for sale. The supply chain specialist oversees the steps that comprise the supply chain process: logistics and distribution. This process can be owned and managed by one or multiple companies working together to bring a product to its end user. If a company owns its supply chain then it has control over every step in the process. Great effort goes into making sure that the supply chain is effective, on time and cost effective.

Planning

  1. The supply chain specialist directs the process which includes the planning of procurement, inventory control, logistics and distribution. The specialist ensures that every step of the process is functioning effectively to avoid costly delays and lost sales opportunities. The supply chain specialist’s first and most important requirement is planning. Timing is very important in any supply chain. If one component is out of stock or unavailable at the exact point in which it is needed, then you do not have a cost-effective supply chain.

Communication

  1. The next requirement is communication. The supply chain specialist must communicate his needs and objectives to line specialists and key personnel in procurement, development/manufacturing, logistics and distribution. This will help the entire team understand the timing required and individual input necessary to make the process run smoothly. Any miscommunication of expectations could generate costly delays.

Cost Reduction and Process Improvement

  1. Cost reduction and process improvement is an ongoing requirement for the supply chain specialist. If a process can be improved or sped up, then productivity could possibly be increased. This ongoing task is continually being examined within the supply chain itself. Cost reductions and increases in productivity usually equal higher profits for all involved, including the customer.

Customer and Vendor Management

  1. The supply chain specialist must manage the relationships between many different customers (internal and external), vendors and information technology systems. She must keep the material or services flowing smoothly. In order to do this, the specialist must have the cooperation of the company’s vendors. Relationship building is important in maintaining this high level of service and quality. The specialist must take responsibility for the logistics of returns as well.

Team Building

  1. A good supply chain specialist will train, develop, mentor and assist his subordinates in all of the departments that fall within the supply chain process. It is essential that the various components of the team function effectively. Constant process and employee review is needed to ensure that the process stays cost effective.  It is about making the processes of procurement, development, logistics and distribution as cost effective as possible. The chain must be continually evaluated in order to produce better techniques, cheaper materials and faster processes.

 

Written by:

Brian Gould

President and CEO, The Energy Solution Group

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Induction Lighting: Answers to your questions!

Q: What is the induction lamp system and how does induction lighting work?
A: The induction lamp system uses a revolutionary technology of light generation that combines the basic
principles of induction and gas discharge. Void of electrodes this new technology delivers an unprecedented
100,000 hours of high quality white light.
Q: What are the components of the system?
A: The system is comprised of three components; the generator, the power coupler and lamp. The power
coupler transfers energy from the HF generator to the discharge inside the glass bulb using an antenna that
contains the primary induction coil and its ferrite core. The power coupler also has a heat conducting rod with
mounting flange. The mounting flange allows the Induction lamp system to be mechanically attached to the
luminaire.
Q: Why Induction Lighting?
A: Induction lamps offer an amazing 100,000 hours life making it virtually maintenance free. It offers crisp
white light with 80+ CRI and a choice of 3K, 4K, 5K and 6K color temperatures. The high CRI light makes
colors look brighter, more vibrant and more attractive. It produces up to 80 lumens of light for each watt of
energy. This 80 LPW efficacy makes it as energy efficient as high CRI metal halide systems. Induction lamps
offer high reliability and instant on and off. With less heat output.
Q: Do induction lamps need a dedicated fixture?
A: Yes. Due to operating and thermal requirements the system needs to be properly installed in a suitable
fixture.
Q: Can running a lamp interfere with computers or any other electronic device?
A: No. It runs at a low 210KHz and complies with FCC rules with no interference under normal circumstances.
Q: Will the induction lighting system interfere with telecommunication equipment?
A: No. The FCC standards are in place to protect navigation and radio communications. The system will not
interfere with portable or cellular/mobile phones.
Q: Is the light output of an induction lamp affected by low temperatures? High temperatures?
A: The lamp’s amalgam fill technology and the heat conduction rod in the center create stable light output over
a wide range of ambient temperatures, maintaining at least 85% of nominal lumens from -30° F to 130° F (for
an enclosed fixture with heatsink). Induction lamps can start at temperatures as low as -40° F.
Q: Does operating position affect output?
A: No. The universal operating position does not affect the performance of the induction lamp system.
Q: Is the induction lamp system vibration-resistant?
A: Yes. The fact that induction lamps have no electrodes make them more reliable in high-vibration and gusty
applications. The induction lamp system has proven its durability in bridges, tunnels, and signage applications.
Q: What, if any, is the effect of voltage supply fluctuations on the performance of the induction system?
A: Due to the built-in pre-conditioner in the HF generator, which provides a well stabilized internal supply
voltage (a wide operating voltage range of +/- 20V) to the HF generator, the light output, consumed power and
system efficacy (efficiency) of lamp system vary by less than 2% as a result of mains voltage fluctuations.
There is no noticeable effect (visual or measurable) on the color performance (color temperature, color
rendering, etc.) due to supply voltage fluctuation.
Q: At the end of life, must all components be replaced?
A: All three components are separately replaceable, however, induction lights are almost always supplied as a
three-component system, even for relamping. End of life usually means the generator must be replaced, and at
the time, it is usually recommended to replace the bulb, as phosphor degeneration at 100,000 hours lowers
lumen output up to 37%.
Q: Why is induction lighting technology worth more?
A: Induction lighting systems offer five to ten times the life of HID systems for only two to three times the cost
of the HID lamp and ballast. In almost all cases the payback in maintenance savings will more than offset the
additional cost of the initial system.

To learn more, contact us.

(republished by Brian Gould with permission from Mike Hale)

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The Energy Solution Group helps Auto Dealers gain energy savings AND recognition!

NADA’s Energy Stewardship Initiative: 

Meet the ENERGY STAR Challenge 

Why Energy Stewardship? 

Auto dealerships use on average more energy per square foot than a typical office building, but the good news is that significant reductions in lighting, HVAC, and other uses are possible, while maintaining or enhancing lighting quality, safety, and customer comfort. And energy stewardship makes good business sense. In fact, if all dealerships in the U.S. were to reduce their energy consumption by just 10 percent, they would save approximately $193 million in energy costs and eliminate more than 1 million tons of greenhouse gases every year.

NADA’s Commitment to Its Members and to the Environment 

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. NADA joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Challenge in December 2006, and in January 2007 launched the Energy Stewardship Initiative. Through this Initiative, NADA is encouraging dealerships to meet the goals of the ENERGY STAR Challenge, and to reduce their energy consumption by 10 percent or more.

Why Participate? 

Dealerships that participate in the Energy Stewardship Initiative can save money and demonstrate to their employees and customers a commitment to environmental protection through energy efficiency. Participants can take advantage of free resources from NADA and ENERGY STAR, including:

• Technical resource guides and materials.

• Energy tracking tools and training.

• Recognition for your achievements.

 

The Energy Solution Group can help you every step of the way!

Call 855-631-AUTO for more details!

 

NADA’s Energy Stewardship Initiative …4 Easy Steps to Energy Savings 

 

Step 1: Join ENERGY STAR 

Take the first step toward making your dealership more energy efficient by joining ENERGY STAR and a network of other small businesses committed to environmental protection through energy savings.

 

Step 2: Measure Your Energy Use 

Use ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager tool to enter your monthly energy use and to track reductions over time.

 

Step 3: Develop and Implement a Plan 

Use the many technical resources available from ENERGY STAR to learn about energy efficiency opportunities and to formulate and implement an action plan.

Get a copy of NADA’s “A Dealer Guide to ENERGY STAR Putting Energy into Profits”

 

Step 4: Earn Recognition 

Recognition as a leader in reducing energy consumption can send a powerful message to today’s environmentally minded consumer.

Dealerships that document energy reductions of 10 percent or more will be recognized.

Dealerships may also apply for special NADA or ENERGY STAR awards programs.

 

The Energy Solution Group can help you create real savings at your dealership and gain recognition at the same time.  Contact us for more information!

 

Call 855-631-AUTO

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The 30% Guaranteed Audit!

It really is as easy as 1-2-3…

 

30% Guarantee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How it works

1.  We audit your facility

2. We guarantee we can identify at least a 30% reduction in the amount of electricity consumed for the items we audit

3. If we can’t save you 30% on those items, the audit is free!

Call today for more details:

800-580-4432, ext. 501 (ask for Greg!)

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How Induction Lighting Works

The basic technology for induction lamps is not particularly new. Essentially, an induction lamp is an electrodeless fluorescent. Without electrodes, the lamp relies on the fundamental principles of electromagnetic induction and gas discharge to create light. The elimination of filaments and electrodes results in a lamp of unmatched life. Lasting 100,000 hours or 25 years, this system can outlast 100 incandescent, five HID, or five typical fluorescent lamp changes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Based on these well-known principles, light can be generated via a gas discharge through simple magnetism. Electromagnetic transformers, which consist of rings with metal coils, create an electromagnetic field around a glass tube which contains the gas, using a high frequency that is generated by an electronic ballast. The discharge path, induced by the coils, forms a closed loop causing acceleration of free electrons, which collide with mercury atoms and excite the electrons. As the excited electrons from these atoms fall back from this higher energy state to a lower stable level, they emit ultraviolet radiation. The UV radiation created is converted to visible light as it passes through a phosphor coating on the surface of the tube. The unusual shape of an induction lamp maximizes the efficiency of the fields that are generated. Although it is not breakthrough science, until recently, it has not been so commercially viable. New developments have broken down the barriers of costs and technological setbacks, such as EMC interference, lumen depreciation, ability to dim and a useful range of available wattages. Today, it’s obvious benefits make it the clear-cut choice for many lighting applications over traditional light sources.

The electrodeless lamp, or induction light, was first patented in 1891 by Nikola Tesla, the father of AC electricity. In 1929, Tesla wrote, “Surely, my system is more important than the incandescent lamp, which is but one of the known electric illuminating devices and admittedly not the best. Although greatly improved through chemical and metallurgical advances and skill of artisans it is still inefficient, and the glaring filament emits hurtful rays responsible for millions of bald heads and spoiled eyes. In my opinion, it will soon be superseded by the electrodeless vacuum tube which I brought out thirty-eight years ago, a lamp much more economical and yielding a light of indescribable beauty and softness.” Subsequent improvements by General Electric were patented in 1967 and 1968, and recent developments in materials science and electronics have since yielded the modern induction lamp as the new industry standard for many lighting applications. (published with permission from Mike Hale)

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Induction Parking Lot Lighting Saves Cash!

Energy efficient replacement solutions for Parking Lot fixtures (pole lights) were
virtually non existent until recently. Induction lighting has been a great alternative to HID
lighting for years. The popularity of this technology has been slowly growing in the
United States primarily on the west coast, but you still don’t see this technology used
much for outdoor area lighting. Parking lot lighting and Induction lamps are a great fit,
providing quality lighting while cutting energy consumption.
For example, using Induction lamps to illuminate Car Dealerships has wonderful
benefits not only energy savings. The high Color Rendering Index of the Induction lamp
enhances the colors of the products on display. Then you need to consider the long life
(100,00hr) that dramatically reduces maintenance, this is of great value for applications
where buckets trucks are often needed for re-lamping. The life span of one Induction
lamp will replace five HID lamp changes.
Most companies that use outdoor lighting such as pole mounted HID fixtures do not
operate on a 24 hour schedule. So this creates another question. What can we do to
reduce the consumption of these fixtures after business hours when only security lighting
is needed? Back to our Car Dealership example, after business hours cars are no longer
being sold creating a very wasteful and inefficient lighting system no matter what
technology is being utilized. There exists a great solution to this problem. Induction Shoe
Box fixtures are available with duel 150 & 200 watt lamps and ballast. The lamps in this
fixture can be controlled independently making it the most versatile Shoe Box fixture on
the market. When wired through an astronomical time clock, half of this light can be shut
off after business hours when the only lighting needed is for security. During night time
business hours the light would operate at 300 watts, then after business hours the light
can be reduced to 150 watts greatly increasing the energy savings and not compromising
security.
For existing systems where re-wiring to provide a second feed to control each light is
not a possibility, wireless or line voltage relays can be used.. These relays are able to
receive a signal via wireless or existing power feed conductors which will turn off half
the fixture at a predetermined time. The control panel contains an
astronomical time clock which controls the relays and automatically adjusting for day
light savings.
Reducing outdoor lighting consumption will have a huge impact on your bottom line
creating positive cash flow with a quick return on your investment.

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The Energy Solution Group is featured!

 

 

AEP OHIO SOLUTION PROVIDER SPOTLIGHT:

The Energy Solution Group 

Educating Customers Means Reducing Operating Costs 

As its name suggests, The Energy Solution Group is a provider of energy saving solutions. It deals in lighting, day lighting, and Variable Speed Drives (VSD’s) for motors, pumps, fans; supporting all types of systems and technologies that make a customer more energy efficient. The company takes a business-focused approach, treating each solution as a business decision that needs to make sense to the customer’s Operations Team, as well as their CFO.

With 20+ years in business, The Energy Solution Group has seen changes in energy savings trends, an increased interest in all things ‘green,’ and its share of up-and-down economies. They have adapted to these changes to provide the highest quality solution at the best economic advantage for their customers.

The introduction of the AEP Ohio Business Incentives program opened up a new world of opportunities. In February 2010, The Energy Solution Group had a lone sales person. A little over a year later there are over 15 employees with a national reach.

Although headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, they currently have customers in many states, including California, Washington, North Carolina, Iowa, Vermont, Alabama, and many others.

“The fact that utilities are being mandated by the Ohio legislature to enforce energy efficiency programs has legitimized the idea of incentives to our customers. Otherwise, they wouldn’t believe it,” said Andrew Barnett, account manager for The Energy Solution Group. “The AEP Ohio incentives allow us to close deals we would not have closed. Our sales have increased approximately 25 percent because of this program.”

The predominant reason most energy efficiency projects go forward is because customers want to reduce operating costs. The incentives from AEP Ohio are helping push customers to act now, instead of waiting; especially because there is a daily cost associated with waiting. The Energy Solution Group prides itself on identifying this cost reduction opportunity to potential customers.

“The AEP Ohio Business Incentives program has expanded and improved since we began using it,” added Barnett. “That has helped overcome many of the objections we’ve encountered.”

The Energy Solution Group is conservative in its energy savings estimates, so most customers are surprised when they see their electric bills decreasing more than expected. Maintenance savings, better lighting quality, and improved working environments – while sometimes hard to quantify, are a few of the indirect benefit to many projects.

Distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, office buildings, healthcare facilities, retail, parking lots/garages, and schools are prime opportunities for the company.

Future Plans 

The Energy Solution Group has plans for continued growth as more states continue adopting energy efficiency goals. They have mastered the art of discovering customer needs and delivering a solution that meets – or exceeds – those needs. When customers interested in energy efficiency don’t know where to begin, The Energy Solution Group is capable of walking them through the entire process.

The Energy Solution Group looks for customers with multiple locations in areas that offer utility incentive programs for maximizing efficiency and delivering low cost solutions. The primary obstacle to initiating a project is – as expected – capital. Raising the required capital may be difficult, but with incentives to off-set some of the cost and utility bill savings, the payback period can be greatly reduced.  The Energy Solution Group has also partnered to offer financing programs to overcome this burden.

“We are seeing many projects with a payback of less than three years – many better than that. It makes so much financial sense to move forward with these opportunities. The challenge is getting the opportunity to audit a facility, which we do at no cost to our customers, to determine the financial math behind the solution, said Tom Anderson, CEO of the Energy Solution Group. “Many companies know they want to do something ‘green’, but they don’t know how to do it or where to get help. That is what The Energy Solution provides.”

Despite this, there are many who are unaware of the opportunity that The Energy Solution Group brings to its customers. “You would be amazed by how many people still do not know about the (AEP Ohio Business Incentives) program. There are contractors we come across that aren’t utilizing it as part of their business,” added Anderson.

 

Contact Information 

Thomas D. Anderson

Founder/CEO

cell (614) 419-0040

direct (614) 423-6758

office (800) 580-4432 ext. 302

fax (800) 658-1421

937 Burrell Avenue

Columbus, OH 43212

 

Industry 

All Commercial, Industrial and Non-Profit Sectors

Measures practiced 

Lighting

Motors & Pumps

Variable Frequency Drives

Total applications submitted (2011): 

55

Total incentives submitted 

$417,055.00

Total energy savings 

4,819,970 kWh

Program Type 

Custom

Prescriptive

Self-Direct

 

About AEP Ohio’s energy efficiency programs for businesses 

AEP Ohio’s gridSMART® initiative provides incentives to help business customers purchase and install energy efficient equipment. Prescriptive incentives are available for common commercial and industrial measures including lighting, HVAC, motors and drives, refrigeration and food preparation and storage equipment. Custom incentives are available for process improvements and other measures not covered through prescriptive incentives. For more information, visit gridSMARTOhio.com or call 1-877-607-0739. 

Disclaimer: AEP Ohio does not guarantee the energy savings and does not make any warranties associated with the measures eligible for incentives under this program.

gridSMARTOhio.com 

877-607-0739 

 

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New Power from Daylight

Sometimes green equals white.

When looking at the significant concerns today for saving energy consumption and reducing the costs of energy used, which is part of the entire issue of efficient use of environmental resources—a Green approach—a technology that has been used for decades is seeing a new level of interest. Daylight is in the spotlight again when lighting requirements are closely viewed for both effective lighting and ways to reduce costs. The white light of daylight is producing benefits that are clearly Green (saving energy and resources). However, it’s not just the use of what we have known as “skylights” that is making the difference. Natural lighting technology has made some notable strides recently; ones that can’t be ignored for quality and cost standards.

The Daylighting Revolution
So significant are the benefits from the new daylighting technology that their application is, in fact, revolutionary. Before looking at some innovative products let’s see where some of the data and applications surrounding the new interest in the use of daylight, and dispel some of the common, dated misconceptions about its use. Thanks to the efforts and contributed resources of the Daylighting Collaborative, initiated by the University of Wisconsin, we have current research and conclusions on ways to apply daylighting to buildings in new ways—ways that reduce costs and improve the quality of the lighting at the same time. Their vision (“Light every building using the sky”) allows building designers and operators access to the techniques necessary to include daylighting strategies into all buildings with significant daytime lighting loads. With a focused source for solutions for reducing the cost of lighting and HVAC requirements contractors, building owners and operators and tenants can apply what the Daylighting Collaborative refers to as simple “repeated models of success.”

Eliminating Some Misconceptions
Paying more for Green technology may be noble or virtuous but it is nothing more than diminishing returns if the investment doesn’t offer productivity improvements or cost savings. That is one misconception that has, in the past, plagued investments in Green technology, including daylighting. If an integrated design approach is used, daylighting soon produces attractive paybacks. Nor is daylighting complicated, as sometimes thought. It doesn’t require sunny days and is not limited to skylights and clear glass windows. Many of these misconceptions disappear when a technical innovation from the industry is revealed.
Technical Breakthrough
The future is here now if you consider new systems that use a state-of-the-art, solar powered GPS rotation control system that tracks the sun. The accompanying single mirror effectively reflects the sunlight into the building. The light passes through a thermal barrier, through a light well and a bottom light diffuser to effectively spread the light throughout the building. Since this type of system produces up to ten times more light than a passive skylight and distributes it more evenly and over a wider area, users can turn the lights off for an average of ten hours a day. That means no electrical draw from line voltage. Dramatic savings have been realized by customers: one clothing manufacturer’s warehouse found their artificial lighting costs dropped by two-thirds along with a one-third drop in HVAC costs. Other customers have reported similar savings.

One example of this new Advanced Active Daylighting Technology
A study for the Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Program, conducted by TIAX, LLC, concluded that toplighting (skylights with lighting controls) systems produced savings of 35-55% of annual lighting energy,(roughly resulting in $0.11 to $0.32 per square foot savings per year).

There’s More . . .
Cost savings from daylighting are only a part of the benefits the technology offers. Improvements in students’ test scores, increases in retail store sales, and reduced employee absenteeism are related benefits from daylighting. A one percent increase in personnel productivity has been found to match all of a typical company’s lighting costs. A good example is the Wal-Mart store in Lawrence, Kansas, that documented increased sales in sections of the store that were illuminated by daylighting, as reported in the Wall Street Journal.
The productivity gains and payback periods are on top of local, state and federal government incentives for supporting Green energy practices. For some businesses the Green investment in daylighting technology is returned quickly and then continues to save the business on their energy costs every year.
Who Benefits Most
By far, two types of buildings have been shown to benefit most from daylighting: warehouses and “big box” retail facilities. In those types of buildings, the return on investment is so favorable the payback typically only takes three to four years. A slightly longer payback period is usually required for existing office buildings and schools, but it is still very attractive.

The Experts Report
“We are very impressed with the combination of benefits from this type of product; everything from the short payback period to the numerous productivity gains. Installations like the one our company is scheduled to complete at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, in Ohio, show the significant reductions available in energy costs, lamp replacement times, maintenance and cooling loads,” reports Tom Anderson, Founder of The Energy Solution Group (www.theenergysolutiongroup.com), one distributor for this type of technology.
White daylight is now the new Green.

Author notes:
• Brian Gould is a partner and President of the Energy Solution Group, located in Columbus Ohio. 614-610-1398 brian@theenergysolutiongroup.com
• More information can be found at theenergysolutiongroup.com or ciralight.com

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What’s Burning In Your Parking Lot?

Inefficient exterior lighting is causing you to lose thousands of dollars each year due to the high consumption and long operating hours of these fixtures. HID fixtures such as Metal Halides and High Pressure Sodium has been used for years to effectively light outdoor spaces, but are they the most efficient way to get this job done?

Today’s Greener World is beginning to demand much more from its lighting sources. They are expected to be both effective and energy efficient while not compromising security. This can be achieved thanks to advancement in LED & Induction Technologies. Let’s take a brief look at this lighting source.

The basic Technology for Induction lamps in not particularly new. Essentially, an induction lamp is an electrode-less fluorescent. Without electrodes, the lamp relies on the fundamental principles of electromagnetic induction and gas discharge to create light. The elimination of filaments and electrodes result in a lamp of unmatched life. Lasting 100,000 hours or 25 years, this system can outlast 100 incandescent, five HID, or five typical fluorescent lamp changes.

Based on these well known principles light can be generated via gas discharge through simple magnetism. Electromagnetic transformers, which consist of rings with metal coils, create an electromagnetic field around a gas tube which contains gas, using a high frequency that is generated by an electronic ballast. Until recently, it has not been so commercially viable. New developments have broken down the barriers of Technological setbacks, such as EMC interference, lumen depreciation, ability to dim and a useful range of voltages.

The History and Science of Induction Lighting

Induction Lighting Solutions

Induction fixture replacements and retrofits have dramatically increased within the last (2) years. This sharp increase has been attributed to the cost and ineffectiveness of higher wattage LED fixtures. LED’s do work great in some applications but they have yet to effectively replace the higher wattage HID fixtures in large open spaces.

The 400 and 1,000 watt replacement solutions are better left to Induction Technology to get the job done. 400w Induction fixtures are now available that will replace 1,000 watt HID fixtures in parking lots and interior spaces. This solution will reduce your 1,095 (input) watt Parking Lot lighting down to 430 watts! An added bonus is the increased lighting quality delivered at 85 or higher CRI. This makes color more brilliant and defined. Induction lighting is “instant on” needing no re-strike time which enables the use of sensors to immediately deliver light when needed. The long 60,000-100,000hr life will drastically reduce the need for costly bucket truck service to replace lamps outlast and HID by 4 to 5 times.

To buy energy efficient induction lighting for your parking lot, visit our eStore on this site.

(Contributed by Mike Hale-The Energy Solution Group)

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Another Satified Customer!

Check out what Chris Smith, Facilities Director of FST Logistics, has to say about the recently completed energy efficient lighting upgrade we completed. The two facilites that we upgraded total 356,800 square feet and saved them 40-45% on their electricity bill for lighting!

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