Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lights are slowly gaining wider acceptance among industry owners as it cuts electricity consumption by a minimum of 50 per cent.
A number of outlets sell imported LED lights, the cost ranging between Rs. 150 and Rs. 250 per watt. There are also local factories that assemble LED clusters. The cost of these lights has come down dramatically in the past year.
R. Muralikrishnan, CMO, Concept 4E, said with the active cooperation of the Tea Board of India they have installed LEDs in several tea factories in south India and electricity consumption had considerably reduced. He said these tea factories were consuming 250 million units per year. He cited the success of the 100 per cent LED-illuminated BBTC Dunsdale Factory and Office, in which electricity consumption has been brought down by an average of 75 per cent.
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Mr. Muralikrishnan, who promotes green technology solutions, said LEDs score above all other kinds of electric lights, including Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs). Though CFLs are known to consume lesser energy, they pose greater environmental risk than even incandescent bulbs.
While the only drawback with installing LEDs would be the initial capital cost, Mr. Muralikrishnan said the investment could be recovered within three years compared to retro-fit lights, in which it would take 4 to 5 years.
Mr. Muralikrishnan also recommends LEDs for serial lights used by commercial shops. The serial lights, included under ‘lavish lighting’ of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, carry a tariff of Rs. 10.50 per unit.
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T.V. Swaminathan, director of Connexions showrooms, has been so satisfied with the performance of the LEDs installed in five new showrooms that he has gone in for retro-fitting older showrooms with LEDs.
“Opting for LEDs may cost 2.5 times more than the conventional lights, but the benefits reaped are immense. There is reduced power consumption, quick returns and faster cooling because of less heat emission from lights,” he said.