Utility costs are on the rise in many areas. Fuel, oil, natural gas, and other fossil fuels cost more to use than they did 10 years ago.
But the number one utility expense at most facilities is the electricity bill. Almost everything done, from the factory floor to the boardroom, is powered by electricity. Processes, computing, and even upkeep require it.
And of course … lighting.
Lighting is often the biggest component of a company’s electrical utility bill. Whether it’s indoor ceiling lighting in production and office areas, or outdoor pole lighting for safety and security, lights are on 24/7.
Even so, upgrading your lighting may be one of the easiest ways to save money on the utility bill. Recent innovations in LED lighting technologies provide the same or even better quality lighting at a fraction of the cost.
Interior upgrades are relatively simple. For example, replacing 20 fluorescent 2x4 ceiling troffers can be done easily over a weekend. This saves more than $3,000 in energy costs over 10 years, according to one manufacturer’s calculator.
But what about exterior pole fixtures?
Metal halide, high pressure sodium, or mercury vapor fixtures generate high wattages, and therefore, high operating costs.
You can experience similar savings on your utility bill by switching them to LED fixtures. There is one major difference in upgrading pole lights as opposed to interior lighting.
Changing the fixtures can be costly and time-consuming. Getting the worker up to the fixture entails the use of scaffolding or elevated work platforms (EWPs). This adds expenses to the project that make it difficult to justify the upgrade.
The time and personnel needed to set up scaffolding is expensive. And upgrading several fixtures means that the scaffold needs taken down, moved, and rebuilt many times over.
EWPs add to the cost of upgrade through fuel expenses, increased personnel for operating the platform and safety control.
So, time worked + number of workers + needed equipment equals high upgrade costs.
There must be a better way, right?
Saving money at installation and in future maintenance tasks
Most of the cost in upgrading comes from getting the worker up to the fixture. And on top of the expense, the workers’ safety is also put at risk.
What if you could lower the fixture to the worker instead?
You can do that by installing a pole lowering joint at the same time you’re upgrading your fixtures to LEDs.
You can actually save on installation costs when doing this. Using a pole conversion kit, the joint is installed without the need for expensive scaffolding, EWPs, or a large contingent of workers.
In most cases, the pole can be easily converted to a lowering pole with just two workers involved. The conversion tool is attached, and the pole is cut where the joint will be installed. The light fixture is lowered to platform or ground level, to a safe and comfortable level.
Once the fixture is lowered, one worker will start the fixture replacement while the other is installing the pole lowering joint. Once finished, the light fixture is raised back into the upright position’
The entire procedure could take less time than building the scaffolding or getting the EWP moved into place. See how it is done in this video.
But the savings continues far beyond the reduced LED installation costs. It decreases the cost of maintenance and upkeep. Without a lowering pole joint, any repairs or upkeep (like changing out a failed photo eye sensor), would cost as much as replacing the upgraded fixture.
But with a lowering pole joint — like the Maxis™ joint — the fixture is easily lowered to the worker’s level and repairs and maintenance are possible using only one worker.
How much could you save on your maintenance budget?
It could be in the millions of dollars over the course of 25 years. To find out how much saving it could be for your specific project, click here to use our Cost Comparison Calculator.
Are you ready to save money, both in utility fees and ongoing maintenance costs?
Turn pole lighting upgrades into an asset instead of an expense.
Find out what LED lighting and the Maxis™ lowering pole solution can do for your electricity bill and maintenance budget.
The Swivelpole™ lowering pole solution is recognised globally for providing simple, fast and affordable access to light fixtures and equipment. The innovative access solutions eliminate the risk of working at heights, through the controlled lowering of light fixtures and equipment to a safe and comfortable working position.
Maxis™ is the next generation lowering pole solution for safely accessing light fixtures and equipment.