“In a typical cold store, lighting directly accounts for 10–12% of the total electricity consumption. Conventional globes make light by heat and this heat, which is 100% of the light’s rated energy consumption, has to be removed by the refrigeration plant”

LED lighting technology has leapt forward in recent years, and has become the system of choice in most modern commercial, domestic, and automotive applications – but perceived relative high costs have largely precluded their usage industrially. However with constant advances in production methods and volumes, prices have been decreasing rapidly to the level where they offer a serious alternative for warehouses and cold stores.

The first major advantage of LEDs is their huge energy saving – typically an LED unit will consume only approximately 25% of the electricity required for the same amount of light as traditional systems.

They also have the quality of producing hardly any heat – a big bonus in cold environments – and provide increasingly acceptable light quality. Last, but by no means least, is their almost indefinite life-span (regardless of how often they are switched on and off) so will hardly ever need replacing.

It may not be common knowledge, but for those users deeply motivated by energy savings, it is apparently now possible to replace the bulbs in HID fittings with LED bulbs without any other modifications.

“Modern LED fixtures and smart lighting design can drastically improve lighting quality, increase safety and improve working conditions, all while drastically reducing energy and cooling costs.”

“Cold Storage, Warehouses and industrial facilities have expansive lighting needs, spanning more than 17,000 square feet on average and often featuring loading docks designed to handle delivery trucks 24/7,” “Cree designs high-quality and cost-effective LED solutions that make it compelling to convert every warehouse space to LED.”

Cold storage lighting needs to be able to keep out moisture and work in low temperatures. LED is the perfect fit for this as they can operate in very cold temperatures and still maintain proper light output and lifespan. In addition, they save energy and produce a higher quality appearance, improving safety.

Energy-saving solid-state LED lights

In a typical cold store, lighting directly accounts for 10–12% of the total electricity consumption. Conventional globes make light by heat and this heat, which is 100% of the light’s rated energy consumption, has to be removed by the refrigeration plant.

Energy efficiency in temperatuture-controlled warehouses will not only be good for the environment but will result in substantial monetary savings.

Some of the things facility operators can do are:

•        Audit energy-saving opportunities

•        Build in efficiency in every part of the building

•        Establish best-practice maintenance systems

•        Install metering to measure and verify energy savings

•        Lighting accounts for 10% of electricity use​

– Replace high-energy-use discharge lamps with solid-state lighting – LEDs

 While a 5-foot fluorescent lamp will use 60 watts of energy, a 5-foot LED fixture typically uses 12-20 watts. Shoppers also prefer LED lighting in the cold cases. It is now difficult to buy new refrigeration or freezer equipment that does not come equipped with LED lighting,. The LED lights themselves save money because they work better in cold temperatures.

“Historically, fluorescent lighting doesn’t like very cold temperatures,” Although the wattage may be similar to traditional fluorescent light sources, the lighting efficiency of LEDs is better, and they generate less heat. “For every three watts of lighting you save, you save one watt of power on air conditioning. It starts to add up.” It also saves on maintenance, as they do not need to be replaced as often.

“When LED lighting is properly installed, it requires less maintenance. There’s less time that they have a dark case because, in theory, they should have a longer lamp life, so they don’t have to lose sales. More importantly, they don’t have to call out the repair man to continually replace light bulbs,”

TIME FOR A CLOSE UP

LEDs work best, and offer the greatest energy advantage to fluorescent, when they are located close to the merchandise. Although the bulb itself operates at about the same heat, there is no heat in the light beam, so a lower wattage bulb can be used. “They become a little more efficient just because they put all of the light where you need it,”

“The benefits of LEDs is they offer a longer lamp life. They are smaller so you hide them in more places, which is really beneficial. And the performance and color rendition just keeps getting better and better. So it is mostly good things, but they are also can glare, so if you see the light source, you are probably not applying it correctly,” Like anything else, the design and installation have to be done properly. “That’s where the mockups help. Get it tested, and make sure you are happy with it, and that’s the best way to do it,”.

LED lighting is a matter of good economics, good sustainability and good merchandising. “Now is the time to use them, but do it cautiously and correctly, Cold Storages need every advantage they can get”