General Contractors’ & Architects’ Dirty Little Secret

There is a dirty little secret that builders, general contractors, and architects won’t tell you.

They specify the cheapest lighting system available that meets your minimum standards when constructing your new building. Why? Because they don’t have to pay to maintain the system or pay the electric bills for the building.

This doesn’t make them bad people. They are simply doing their job. After all, if no one is asking them to specify more efficient systems, they have no motivation to do so. For if they did specify a more efficient system when it wasn’t asked for, they would make less money on the project.

This is truly a buyer beware situation. If you are hiring the general contractor or architect to construct a new building, you need to pay attention to the efficiency of your lighting system.

The truth is that if a builder had to pay the first five years of electric bills on the building they construct, they would definitely build it differently.

Think about this: according to the US Department of Energy, 30% of the energy used in commercial buildings in the United States is used inefficiently or unnecessarily. Thirty percent!

The same report indicates that lighting accounts for as much as 42% of the overall electricity consumed in commercial buildings.

What Do You Do with This Information?
 

1. Pay attention to the lighting system specified for your new building. It makes a big difference in the ongoing operational costs. If you specify the right system on the front end, you can shave as much as 30% or more off of your electricity budget every single year you are in that building.
2. Choose a builder/general contractor/architect who is committed to efficiency. Building an efficient building doesn’t have to break the bank. There a simple, cost-effective ways to build an efficient building. Choose the right partner.
3. Consider partnering with a lighting company who can spec the right lighting system. If you take the time to partner with a lighting company who can specify an efficient system, you may not have to replace bulbs and/or ballasts for as long as ten years. In addition, the right system could cost you less to operate over time, saving you money.