Laundromat Lighting Change
After 5 years it was time to make some decisions about the lights in the Laundromat. I have been looking at LED lights and fixtures for a while but I was not ready to make the change in this store.
Check out the video below for some before and after shots.
I understand there is an energy saving with the LED’s and the lifespan is a lot longer but there is also the consideration of the cost to upgrade.
Looking at some rough numbers:
Cost of running 84 – T8 41K lights, 24 hours a day for one year is about $2,200. The cost of materials to replace the tubes only was $150.
I did find an issue with one of the fixtures. One of the terminals for the tube needed to be replaced.
There are a variety of LED options including complete fixture changes, ballast, and wiring changes only and also a LED tube that works with the existing fixture and ballast.
Building new I would definitely go with an LED light. I am currently working with another owner and we are looking at LED strip lights as an option to provide a more constant light across the entire Laundromat.
I bought my first LED bulbs sometime around 2007. They were expensive and had a very short lifespan at that time but I knew the technology was the way to go. They did have that “flicker” that the CFL bulbs originally had so using them exclusively had a strange effect.
So in this store based on a number of decisions, including initial cost, I decided to just replace the existing tubes with the same type and color.
Below is a picture taken halfway through the change.
There is also the other factors with the detergent that I explain in my book “Feeling Dirty. Life As A Laundromat Owner”.
If you have any comments or questions please let me know.
Ken
