NATIONAL REPORT—LEDs (light-emitting diodes) have been making their way into the lodging industry for years now—in exit signs, exterior signage, for downlighting, track lighting, and in other applications. In the guestroom or in other spaces where standard incandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) need to be replaced, however, LEDs have not been practical due to cost. Could that be changing?
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will end the sale of 100-watt incandescent bulbs in the United States by January 1, 2012, 75-watt bulbs by 2013 and 40- and 60-watt bulbs by 2014. As incandescents are phased out, hotel owners will have the option of investing in either fluorescent or LED products. CFLs will likely be a preference for quite some time but they carry hidden costs—they must be disposed of safely because of their mercury content. LED bulbs are free of mercury, fully recyclable, use less energy than CFLs and can last five times longer—50,000 hours in some cases.
Earlier this year, at Lightfair International, Royal Philips Electronics introduced its 12-watt EnduraLED light bulb. It can replace a 60-watt incandescent. It is expected to be available in the last quarter of this year. Also at Lightfair, Osram Sylvania introduced its dimmable ULTRA LED A-line 12-watt bulb. Available this fall, the lamp is designed to serve as an alternative to incandescent, halogen and CFL lamps. Its estimated life is 25,000 hours. According to the company, with its high color rendering index of 90 and a 2700k color temperature that rivals incandescent and halogen light sources, the ULTRA LED A-line 12-watt bulb is an attractive option for wall mounted light fixtures, table lamps and ceiling fixtures. Sylvania said it will release a 75-watt retrofit LED lamp in 2011.
Ready for the guestroom?
As the lighting industry’s big players increase the wattage equivalent of their LED bulbs, many other companies have been selling bulbs to replace 40-watt or lower incandescents for quite some time. With so many LED light bulbs entering the market, who is buying them for the guestroom? Nobody—at least not yet, experts say.
“Nobody that I know of is using them in the guestroom,” says Randy Durst, director of sales and business development for Taft-Durst, Inc. “In the guestroom, the usage is so low, it is difficult to justify putting an expensive lamp in there. The other concern is theft.”
“Our customers are starting with their lobbies and corridors first,” says Michael Eckert, director of marketing for LEDnovation, which currently offers dimmable LED bulbs in 6.5-, 8.1-, and 10-watt sizes.
“We are taking a very cautious route,” adds Mike Connors, CEO of Bulbs.com. “We are very much invested in LEDs but the bulbs have a long way to travel before becoming viable for hotel guestrooms.”
To currently achieve a reasonable return on investment—two years or less—on bulbs that cost from $40 to $60 a piece or more, they must be used in areas where they are on 24 hours a day or in areas that are difficult to reach—high ceilings, for example.
“[To justify the investment], there has to be some other hook besides energy efficiency,” Connors says.
Ask About Rebates
ROI is of course dependent on electricity rates in any particular area. Rebates may lessen the time needed to recover cost. Bulb buyers should be skeptical of light bulbs selling for as low as $20 to $30; it is likely color quality and brightness will be sacrificed.
In regard to brightness, it is most definitely improving. “We are now at the point where lamps are producing enough lumens per watt…80, 90, 100 lumens per watt,” Durst says. Lumen requirements vary by brand and individual hotel. Even as lumen strength has improved, the technology may not yet meet some brand standards.
“Some hotel companies are still requiring light levels that cannot be produced by a single LED,” says Chris Weber, vice president of merchandising for Bulbs.com. “In general, the lumens per watt has to improve by another 30 to 40 percent.”
“A couple of years ago, color was really an issue,” Durst says. “Since then the chips have improved and there are some lamps that have some really nice color.”
LED light bulbs are mostly made outside of the United States—in China, Taiwan, South Korea, etc.—but some are U.S. made. LEDnovation, for example, manufactures its bulbs in the United States.
Before purchasing an LED bulb, make sure it has been approved by a well-respected organization such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), ETL (a mark of Intertek Testing Services), or CSA (Canadian Standards Association). “I would not buy anything with less than a three-year warranty,” Durst says. It may be a challenge for a while to find Energy Star rated bulbs because of the EPA’s requirements for testing; the bulbs are just too new in most cases.
A Panel Approach
While bulb theft may be a concern today, Weber says eventually the entire fixture will change in the guestroom. “There will be an LED panel,” he says. “There won’t be a lamp sitting on a table.”
In regard to what else to consider when shopping for LED light bulbs, Connors says to take the manufacturer into account. “We have already seen several suppliers fall off the map,” he says. “Also be sure to check for a lighting facts label on the bulb. Be sure your supplier is there to help you if you have a problem with a lamp that you purchase.”
The light from LED bulbs can be very directional in nature but advancements have helped change this. One bulb may be better suited for downlighting than for a lobby table lamp. To make sure a particular bulb meets your needs, talk to your supplier and then test the bulb. Three-way bulbs are not yet available but eventually they will be, LEDnovation’s Eckert says.
No matter how long LED light bulbs take to gain a prominent presence in areas such as guestrooms, their overall future is most definitely bright. A new study from Pike Research forecasts that LEDs will account for almost half of a $4.4 billion market for lamps in the commercial, industrial and outdoor stationary sectors by 2020. Twenty percent of the world’s energy is used for lighting. Switching to high brightness LEDs could reduce this to just 2 percent. That is potentially good news for everybody.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
