Pharmaceutical giant goes green with LED lighting

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO - A Welland-based manufacturer of energy efficient lights has filled a tall order.

CRS Electronics has refitted the Mississauga office of GlaxoSmithKline Inc. (GSK), one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical, vaccine and healthcare companies, with light-emitting diodes (LED). LED lights use significantly less energy than incandescent, halogen or fluorescent tube lighting. They also provide increased brightness and require less maintenance.

The average LED lighting fixture will pay for itself within 2 years of being installed.

"Our previous light fixtures used 26 watts per hour. The LEDs use 9 watts," said Terrence DeWolfe of GSK. "That's a savings of 18 watts per hour, over ten hours a day, five days a week. Financially, that means $46,000 saved each year."

LED lights are also much cooler than incandescents or CFLs, which helps to maintain a comfortable room temperature.

"Not only do you save on electricity," DeWolfe added, "you save on cooling costs as well. These LEDs also have a much longer life expectancy than our old units, so we'll reduce labour and change out costs. It's good for business and good for the environment."

Technological developments have made LEDs available for a wide variety of applications, and they've become increasingly popular as more and more organizations recognize their economic and ecological benefits.

"We're very pleased with our investment," concluded DeWolfe. "We benefit from reduced consumption, with no change in lighting quality. LEDs are a great way to integrate good financial sense with good corporate citizenship."