Access Fixtures lighting specialists know the benefits of LEDs, but if you are still unsure about making the switch from traditional light sources to LED, don’t take our word for it. Read what the Department of the Navy has to say about LED lighting, and how it brings value to their operations.
As part of a strategy created to increase ships’ time on station, decrease time spent on maintenance, and prevent shipboard injuries, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus requested that LED lamps be installed in U.S. Navy ships under construction. Mabus chose LEDs because they are brighter, longer-lasting, and more energy-efficient.
The Naval Sea Systems Command Business Case Analysis stated that LEDs use approximately 50 percent less energy and last up to five times longer than conventional fluorescent lights. Conventional fluorescent bulbs require more energy, which drains the ship’s electrical load. According to Mabus, LEDs will save between two and three percent of the total fuel used. While this may not seem like a huge percentage, it quickly adds up in a fleet of 300 ships. Upgrading to LED will extend the amount of time between refueling for each ship, thereby increasing the amount of time they spend on the station.
The longevity of LED lamps translates to 80 percent less time spent on ladders and lifts to change burnt-out bulbs. The Navy Safety Office predicts this will decrease common shipboard injuries from slips, trips, and falls. It will also reduce the number of replacement bulbs a ship needs to carry onboard, thereby freeing the storage space to be allocated for other operational uses.
A study conducted by the Department of the Navy found that when compared to high-pressure sodium, LED systems can decrease energy consumption between 50 and 60 percent, lower maintenance costs up to 80 percent, reduce glare, and increase small target visibility by 50 percent. An LED with a 50,000-hour lamp life would not have to be replaced for 11 years.
“Upgrading to LEDs on our ships will increase our ability to provide the global presence that is vital to America’s national security and economic well-being,” said Mabus.
LEDs have already been installed on more than 170 Navy ships. Program managers and executive officers plan to install LEDs on new construction ships through a streamlined process.
To learn more about LED lighting, contact an Access Fixtures lighting specialist.