Lighting specialists at Access Fixtures often encounter variations of an inquiry:

  • How much will the luminaire cost to operate?
  • How much money will I save by switching from x to y?
  • How long will it take for this project to pay for itself?

Rather than providing a direct response, the answer takes the form of a different question:

What’s a watt worth?

The significance of a watt becomes evident when examining specific details.

For example, if you are billed $0.15 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and operate a luminaire for 12 hours a day, seven days a week, each watt converts to a cost of $0.66.

This understanding of the value of a watt becomes even more apparent when referencing the chart below.

 

Cost-Per-Watt-Chart

 

The operation of a 400-watt metal halide wall pack including the ballast, would consume a total of 458 watts.

This results in an annual operating cost of $302.28 when rated at $0.66 per watt.

This calculation pertains to a single 400w wall pack, highlighting the significance of understanding the value of a watt.

Determining what a watt is worth involves referencing the chart below, where the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) is on the left, and hours and days of operation are listed across the top.

The intersection of the rows and columns reveals the value of a watt.

Access Fixtures lighting specialists are committed to offering detailed insights, emphasizing the crucial role of wattage in assessing operational costs and potential savings for diverse lighting solutions.