Boosting Sustainability With Led Lighting for Strata Properties

Introducing sustainability measures to Strata properties is not something that is limited only to individual units. Sustainability measures can also be introduced to the property as a whole, and within common areas, through initiatives such as: 

• Lighting, through switching to the use of LED lighting throughout all common areas, including corridors, foyers, car parks, and stairwells.
• Introducing solar energy, either for energy required in common areas, or a larger upgrade for the entire Strata complex.
• Rainwater collection and wastewater recycling systems, along with measures to ensure leaks are detected and fixed quickly, and that watering in common areas happens at night to reduce evaporation.
• Introduce measures and systems that encourage all residents to recycle and compost where possible.

As long as your Strata Company is not prohibited from exploring improvements to common property – with the relevant approval and consent – there is no better time than now to do so, particularly for improvements that will introduce or boost sustainability measures.

How LEDs Are Better Than Other Lighting Sources

The reason many businesses, households, and – more recently – Strata properties have started to switch to using LEDs wherever possible is because of the many benefits they offer, over and above contributing to a sustainability.

Much Longer Life

High-quality LED lights can last up to 50,000 hours, and the only other lighting source with operating hours close to that offered by LEDs is fluorescent lighting, which can be up to 36,000 hours. This is far superior to that of incandescent, halogen, or CFL lighting which have lifespans of between 2,000 and 20,000 operating hours. Also worth noting is that LED lights don't suddenly burn out the way other bulbs and lighting sources do. Instead they experience lumen depreciation, with the amount of light being produced gradually decreasing.

Better Energy Efficiency

The wattage on many LED lights is 10 watts or less, while for other lighting sources you would commonly see 40 watts and higher, for a similar light output. This is because LEDs use less energy to produce the same amount of light as other types of globes, bulbs, or tubes. And less energy used to produce the same amount of light as you’re used to, translates directly into lower energy costs.

High Level of Brightness

While wattage is a good indicator of the amount of energy used by each LED light, it is – unlike with other forms of lighting – not a useful indicator of how bright each light is. This is why most forms of lighting now mention the lumen output, and if you compare the lumen outputs on lights of the same wattage, you will note that LEDs is always higher. A 40-watt CFL bulb usually has an output of 2,400 lumens, compared to 4,000 lumens from a 40-watt LED light. So, in addition to reducing your energy costs through the energy efficiency of LED lights, you could possibly reduce the costs further by having to use fewer lights to achieve the required level of illumination.

Less Radiated Heat & UV Emissions

All other lighting sources radiate significantly more heat than LEDs; you would notice this either by bringing your hand close to the light source, or by touching any surfaces close to the light source. So, other lighting sources pose a greater safety risk not only in terms of when accidentally touched, but also if placed too close to heat or UV sensitive objects and surfaces. At best they might cause some fading or discoloration, and at worst pose a fire hazard.

Ecologically Better

There are no toxic compounds used in LED lights, unlike other lights which typically contain mercury. This means that LEDs are recyclable and don’t require any special process to be followed when disposing of them.

Able to Operate on Very Low Voltages 

Most LED lights can still operate even at very low voltages, making them great for outdoor use where lower voltage might be a safety requirement, but also for use with solar power systems.

How Could LED Lighting Benefit Your Strata Property?

Upgrading the lighting in your Strata property’s common areas to LEDs does require an initial capital outlay, but the cost reductions benefit is realised almost immediately, resulting in a much faster return on investment. Two of the most significant cost reductions are:

• Reduction in energy costs. As noted earlier, each LED bulb or globe uses less energy to generate as much, if not more, light than other lighting sources. That can translate into an immediate cost saving, even if when switching to LEDs you still use the same number of lights. However, since LEDs are able to generate a higher level of brightness, you could also end up having to install fewer lights overall to still achieve the required rate of illumination.
• Reduction in maintenance costs. LED lights are incredibly durable and long-lasting, so you won’t be spending as much time replacing bulbs, globes, or tubes. In addition to not having to buy new lights as frequently as before, if you have a full-time maintenance team working on the Strata property, they will be able to spend more time on other projects too.

Common Area LED Lighting Retrofits

Working with Arc Renewables to complete the LED lighting retrofit of the common areas of your Strata property will see you remaining free to continue with all the other aspects of managing the Strata property. We will:

• Carry out a full site inspection and analysis, before advising you of the next steps.
• Advise you of available Australian Government rebates and incentives your project might qualify for.
• Source the best LED lighting technology for your needs.
• Project manage the system installation and the completion of any rebate paperwork.
• Verify energy savings and work with lighting auditors to certify that the new system meets all national requirements, including appropriate LUX levels.

As Arc Renewables we have already completed hundreds of energy efficiency upgrades – including LED lighting retrofits – for Strata properties throughout Sydney and NSW. Contact us today to discuss what we can do for your Strata property.