High Concrete Group Boosts Efficiency with LED Upgrade
High Concrete Group (HCG) is aiming significant strides toward sustainability by reducing its environmental impact, starting with its lighting system. In 2024, the HCG Denver facility launched an energy-efficient lighting initiative, replacing outdated and damaged fixtures with modern LED lighting solutions.
What is LED Lighting?
LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting is a highly energy-efficient technology that converts electrical energy into light using semiconductors. Although LED technology has been around since the 1960s, it has gained widespread popularity in recent years for both residential and commercial applications due to its cost-saving benefits and environmental advantages.
Why choose LED Lighting?
Switching to LED lighting offers numerous benefits, including:
- Energy Efficiency: LEDs use up to 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.
- Long Lifespan: LED bulbs can last up to 30 times longer, reducing maintenance and replacement costs.
- Improved Light Quality: LEDs provide better color rendering and brightness control.
- Lower Heat Emissions: LEDs generate significantly less heat, enhancing safety and reducing cooling costs.
- Environmental Impact: Reduced energy consumption means smaller carbon footprint.
By transitioning to LED lighting, High Concrete Group is not only cutting operational costs but also reinforcing its commitment to sustainable building practices and environmental responsibility.
High Concrete Group’s LED Lighting Action Plan
As part of its commitment to sustainability, High Concrete Group’s Denver facility implemented a large-scale lighting retrofit. The project focused on replacing nearly 120 outdated exterior fixtures with high-efficiency LED technology.
This initiative included:
- Removing unnecessary lighting such as obsolete wall packs and flood lights.
- Upgrading over 120 fixtures, including:
- Wall-mounted packs
- Floodlights
- Dusk-to-dawn fixtures
These upgrades were carried out across both the architectural and structural manufacturing buildings, significantly improving energy efficiency, safety, and lighting quality throughout the facility.
Financial Impact: Investing in Sustainability
The decision to move forwards with the LED upgrade was driven by a careful evaluation of both initial investment costs and long-term financial returns.
Key Financial Highlights:
- Annual Energy Savings: Upgrading and removing outdated fixtures led to a 71% reduction in energy usage, translating to $20,600 saved annually.
- Utility Rebate: Through a rebate program offered by PP&L (PPL Electric Utilities), HCG received a $25,000 incentive upon project completion. This helped to offset the upfront costs.
- Maintenance Savings: With longer-lasting fixtures, HCG now saves approximately $5,700 per year in maintenance and replacement costs.
When combined, these savings covered an impressive 96.5% of the project’s initial cost, making the LED upgrade not just an environmentally responsible decision, but a financially sound one as well.
High Concrete Group: Leading with Responsibility and Innovation
At High Concrete Group, environmental stewardship is more than a corporate initiative, it’s a core value. As a leader in the precast concrete industry, HCG is committed to reducing its environmental impact through smart, sustainable practices. From energy-efficient upgrades to forward-thinking facility improvements. The recent LED lighting project is a powerful example of this commitment to action. It demonstrates how innovation and long-term vision can help to build a brighter, greener future.