Orvis saves big with LED lighting

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.timesargus.com/article/20090209/NEWS/902090299/1003/NEWS02

Article published Feb 9, 2009

Orvis saves big with LED lighting

By PATRICK McARDLE RUTLAND HERALD STAFF
MANCHESTER - The Orvis Outlet Store has become a showcase for one of Efficiency Vermont's latest energy-conservation experiments: Light-emitting diode lamps for retail stores.

…

"Everyone said, 'Put (compact fluorescent) bulbs in your stores.' Every time we did that, our retail design people said, 'No, the colors aren't right anymore. The color of the product inside isn't the same as the color of the product outside.' ... What we found with LEDs is the coloring is much more true to natural light," he said.

…

Smith said the LED lamps last an estimated 40,000 hours so they shouldn't need replacement for nine to 10 years. Fluorescent bulbs lasted about 10 months in the outlet store.

The LED lamps were purchased from Maine-based Eco-Story. Most of the company's LED bulbs sell for between $45 and $85.

…

[ixion]

1. LEDs rock... I'm using them for some of my lighting...and

will eventually convert all to LED.

[Kolesar]

6. I am looking for an "aimable" led spotlight to mount on the (bookcase) headboard

...of the bed. I saw such a product on an existing bed in the furniture store. It was incandescent, though. No point in that. Can you recommend something? I would much prefer AC power and not to have to change batteries.

[ixion]

8. The LED's I'm using now are battery or USB powered

but I did find some on Amazon.com. Search for "AC LED".

Incidentally, batteries last years in LED lights, so you could possibly consider those as well.

Also, I checked the lighting dept at home depot, and they have little led rack mount spots as well.

Hope this helps.

[Kolesar]

9. RiteLight

http://www.amazon.com/RiteLite-LPL623W-Pivot-Swivel-3-Pack/dp/B000ETQLY6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1234205084&sr=8-4

Battery powered lights have the advantage that they do not need a wall transformer: wall transformers tend to be inefficient, heat producing devices.

Amazon was on the list of these vendors of the Konceptech desk light.
http://www.konceptech.com/resellers.html

thanks for the advice.

[satya]

14. Something from IKEA that might work:

They're designed to fit some of IKEA's shelving, so may not be the right size for you, but worth checking out. 2 pack for $29.99 available in 5 different colors

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90126665

(I don't have any association with IKEA other than as a owner of several of their products; saw these last weekend and was considering buying them myself).

[Kolesar]

15. That looks great. thank you!

Aimable too!!

edit: not available online. I will have to see if a store will mail it to me. I am 100 miles away!

[Hissyspit]

13. LEDs. Here's the interior of my house:

Heh. Actually it's one of Ervin Redl's LED installations.

[pleah]

2. I have a few in my home and am happy, so far, with the change.

I have fluorescent bulbs in the rest.

[sellitman]

3. I'm waiting for their cost to come down a bit.

Just like compact fluorescents as they gain manufacturing economies of scale their costs should come down.

[skids]

12. Neat LED product I just bought a bunch of...

...These are basically only bright enough to find a few things in the closet or light the hallway when you walk by at night. But throw some eneloops in instead of alkalines and they last a good long while -- the motion detectors don't draw hardly any current at all. It's sort of like living on a star-trek set with all the lights coming on wherever you go :-)

...and now I don't have to go find the breaker that goes to the broken light switch in my bedroom closet :-)


http://www.depoteco.com/SPD/led-wireless-motion-sensor-light---2-pack---800001E6-1228029045.jsp

[NOW tense]

4. I find it odd.

that when you read things like this.

Orvis personnel replaced about 300 lamps in the outlet store last summer. According to the company, the store has used 8,400 fewer kilowatt hours a month, which has saved almost $900 a month in electricity.

That the RW cares if green energy is for Global Warming. It is a new economy that creates wealth with new products and saves other industries money for their bottom line. By my calcs. with the average price of $65 for LED bulbs they will pay them off in 22 months, and have 8 more years of savings.

[OKIsItJustMe]

5. The key to understanding is that conservatism = resistance to change

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conservatism

… the tendency to prefer an existing or traditional situation to change

It really doesn't matter what the change is. There is a hesitancy to accept it. "We've been doing it this way for years. Why should we change?"

When conservatives are pressed to accept change, they're prone to see ulterior motives.

[heliozoan]

7. LED string lights

We use 4 linked strands of these LEDs in our living room in combination with a couple of CFLs:

http://www.oogalights.com/Flexchange-Led-String-Light-Strand-50-Lights-White-Cord-Warm-White.aspx#Details

[AlecBGreen]

10. hi heliozoan

welcome to DU! :hi: :toast: :party:

[heliozoan]

11. Thanks!

I've been reading DU for a couple years, decided it was time to start posting!

[Shanti Mama]

16. Question re 110 and 220

I live in Asia (220) but often have things I need brought over by friends who live in the US. Can I use LED "bulbs" bought in the US in my lights here?

[skids]

17. Probably both yes and no...

...depending on the exact model. Some manufacturers build in adaptive power converters. Some people do not. Given they use active electronics, I would not try to run two in series (or even on 50HZ for that matter) you might end up with some freaky resonance.

If it is just one of the cheaper series strings of LED lights that has nothing but a rectifier in it two in series might work because those will have just a ballast resistor. Still probably best not to push your luck.

By the way, for less esoteric product questions this site rules. Use it for shopping for stuff when the online sites and sales brochures aren't giving you the details you need:

http://safemanuals.com/

[Shanti Mama]

18. Thanks.

I understood about 1/4 of what you wrote, but that's ok.

I'll check on the safemanuals site. I really appreciate the recommendation.