Don’t Get Caught In The Dark: Five Steps To Prepare For A Fluorescent Free Future

How you can prepare for Minnesota’s Clean Lighting bill, which bans the sale of CFLs in 2025 and linear fluorescent tubes in 2026.

Minnesota’s Clean Lighting Bill is banning the sale of screw-or-bayonet-base compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in 2025 and pin-base CFLs and linear fluorescent tubes in 2026. What do you do if you’re still using fluorescent lamps? How do you transition from fluorescent lamps to LEDs without interrupting business? Don’t get caught in the dark on these changes. Follow these steps to prepare for a fluorescent free future.

1. LEARN HOW LED COMPARES TO FLUORESCENT LIGHTING

What do you do when you can no longer purchase fluorescent lamps? Embrace the advantages of LED lighting. If you’re still on the fence, check out these advantages of LED lighting vs. fluorescent lighting.

• LED bulbs are mercury free and 95% recyclable.
• LED lighting is up to 44% more efficient than four-foot fluorescent tubes.
• LED bulbs last 3-5 times longer than a CFL.
• LED lighting systems can reduce energy consumption by up to 80%.
• LEDs are often color selectable and have more efficient optical control.

2. REPLACE YOUR LUMENS, NOT YOUR WATTS

As you transition from fluorescent lighting to LED lighting, trying to convert fluorescent watts to LED watts is a surefire way to overspend on lighting and over-illuminate your area. With LED chips becoming more efficient, light fixtures don’t need as much power to produce the same amount of light.

Instead of trying to convert to a certain number of watts, calculate the number of lumens you need to reach the appropriate amount of footcandles based on Illuminating Engineering Society guidelines. You will save money on fixture and energy costs while avoiding excess light pollution.

3. DISCOVER HOW TO FIND LED LIGHTING REBATES FROM YOUR UTILITY

If you are worried about the cost of upgrading to LED, there are programs to make it more affordable to upgrade from fluorescent lighting to LED lighting – and not just in Minnesota. Utilities like Xcel Energy, Alliant Energy and MidAmerican Energy offer lighting rebates to incentivize LED lighting because it is more energy efficient.

The amount of rebate depends on the type of LED lighting equipment and its specifications. If you’re not sure which LED replacement will be the most cost-effective solution, you can call your utility or work with a distributor like Van Meter to discover the most efficient lighting layout and complete necessary paperwork to receive your rebate.

4. TAKE A PHASED APPROACH TO UPGRADING FROM FLUORESCENT TO LED

What do you do if you already have inventory of fluorescent lamps and tubes? The Minnesota Clean Lighting Bill doesn’t mean you have to replace all your fluorescent lighting at once. You just won’t be able to purchase fluorescent replacements. You can take a phased approach to utilize the rest of your fluorescent lamp inventory in some areas while beginning to implement LED fixtures in other areas.

5. LEARN HOW TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF YOUR FLUORESCENT LAMPS

One of the major reasons the Minnesota Clean Lighting Bill is going into effect is that fluorescent lights contain mercury, which is toxic for the environment and harmful to humans. That means they can’t be thrown away in landfills. Do you know how to dispose of fluorescent lamps when you upgrade to LED lighting?

The law requires chain of custody documentation to prove hazardous waste has been disposed of properly. Commercial and industrial facilities should work with a thoroughly vetted disposal and recycling vendor that has proof of its capabilities, is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and can provide the necessary documentation.

GET HELP UPGRADING FROM FLUORESCENT LIGHTING TO LED LIGHTING

You don’t have to make this transition alone. If you have questions about the Minnesota Clean Lighting Bill or want to discuss how Van Meter can help you upgrade from fluorescent lighting to LED lighting, please contact your Van Meter account manager or call 1-800-247-1410 and ask to speak with a lighting specialist.