RETROFIT TO T5 ENERGY SAVING FLUORESCENT BULB TECHNOLOGY USING OUR EXCLUSIVE
T5 RETROFIT ADAPTERS
CLIPS INTO YOUR EXISTING FIXTURE
THE ADAPTERS FEATURE A BUILT-IN BALLAST WHICH IN INDEPENDENT TESTING SHOWS THEY
BURN A 28W T5 BULB AS LOW AS 18 WATTS
T5 18w adapter/lamp at bottom, then T8 32w bulb, then T12 bulb 34-40w
Q. Why can't I just install a new T8 bulb into an existing T12 fixture?
A. Fluorescent bulbs are driven, or lit up by the ballast that is in the fixture.
A T12 ballast will not match the new T8 bulb and will overdrive the bulb causing
excessive heat and premature T8 lamp failure. A new T8 ballast will have to be installed prior to installation of the new T8 lamp.
Q. Would installing a new T8 ballast and new T8 lamp be easier than installing a T5 self ballast retrofit adapter?
A. You would have to open up the ballast area, remove the existing ballast, dispose of the ballast, and then install the new lamps. With the T5 adapter retrofit you would open up the ballast area, clip the wires going into the existing ballast and bring the hot wires to you side of the lamp holders and the neutral to the other. Then you would clip in the T5 adapter into the existing lamp holders and clip the shorter T5 lamp into the adapter. You are now done and will NEVER have to get into the ballast area again because the adapters have a built in ballast in each one of them. Labor is reduced CONSIDERABLY.
Q. Do I lose any light reflectivity or lumens by going to a T5?
A. The smaller bulb diameters and higher light outputs of T5 lamps increase the light emitted per unit area – or the luminance – of the lamp bulb walls. A T5 or T5 high output (T5 HO) lamp has 60% of the surface area of a T8 lamp. Because, however, a standard T5 lamp has nearly identical light output to a T8 lamp (2,900 lumens versus 2,950 lumens), the surface luminance of a standard T5 lamp is 1.64 times as bright as a T8 lamp.
Q. If I don't need to swap out my light fixture how do I save money?
A. Our new high frequency ballast retrofit does not need a separate ballast. The built-in ballast burns a typical T5 28w bulb as low as 18 watts. Compare to burnings T12’s at 34 watts or 40 watts or T8’s at 32 watts + the wattage in the ballasts. If you de-lamp to 2 bulbs you can save over 70% in energy costs.
Q. What, I don't need a ballast?
A. YES, that is correct. All old style ballasts are replaced with a modern high frequency ballast that is manufactured into each adapter. This greatly reduces maintenance. No need to get up into the ballast area again!
Q. Oh, so I save additional energy because the adapter does not give off as much heat as a T8 lamp or LED product?
A. YES, that is correct. Our calculations will show how much your air conditioning costs can be reduced when changing out to T5’s. Additional savings will be seen If changing out from the much hotter burning T12’s.
Q. How much do I save?
A. Your electrical light savings will be reduced between 40-70% (de-lamping would be 70%+)
Q. What is my return on investment to retrofit my entire 20 story building?
A. The ROI (Return On Investment) averages about 12-24 months based on the U.S.average current kW costs. This will be less if you are able to de-lamp.
Q. Is the T5 Retrofit Adapter UL and CE approved?
A. Yes
Q. Is the T5 Retrofit Adapter Energy Star Rated?
A. At this time, Energy Star does not offer a rating for linear fluorescent products. They are working on adding products and at that time, this truly energy saving product will be included at that time.
Q. Do the Adapter retrofits flicker and hum like our existing fluorescent lights?
A. No. The adapters do not flicker or hum. They are manufactured with the same top of the line Rubycon and Panasonic components normally found only in PHILIPS or OSRAM ballast.
Q. Is it more cost effective for me to change out my old T12 Bulbs and Ballast to new T8 bulbs and a new ballast?
A. The cost on the front end is less, but over the cost of a year and going forward, the energy savings with the T5 retrofit adapters and bulbs is MUCH better. Contact us for a free analysis.
Q. How long is the life of a T5 bulb?
A. On a 3 hour cycle, approx. 36,000 hours
On a 12 hour cycle, approx. 42,000 hours
Q. How long is the manufacturer's warranty?
A. Five Year manufacturer's warrant. This is NOT a contractor warranty like some of our competitors are giving. AEF does, however, fully back this product locally.
Q. What is the rated life of the built in T5 ballast?
A. 60,000 hours. Be sure to ask other distributors what the rated life is
and not the expected life. To our knowledge, all other T5 adapters in the U.S. marketplace are only 20,000 hour ballasts.
Q. Are other T5 adapters in the marketplace less expensive?
A. They can be. However, if they are less expensive they only have a 20,000 ballast. This would then make sense that a ballast that is three times lower than the AEF adapter would be less expensive. AEF can purchase these lower end adapters but have chosen to only sell the top of the line adapters. AEF works with Fortune 50 companies who demand the best that is available.
Q. What is the US Department of Energy mandated phase out schedule for
T12 ballasts?
April 1, 2005: Manufacturing of T12 ballasts prohibited;
July 1, 2005: Sales of T12 ballast for use in new lighting fixtures prohibited
April 1, 2006: Sales of T12 lighting fixtures containing ballasts prohibited
July 1, 2010: Sales of replacement (MRO) T12 ballasts prohibited.
Q. Are Tax Deductions available for Retrofit Lighting?
A. FEDERAL: Under the EPAct business owners are allowed an energy tax
deduction that increases lighting efficiency by at least 25%. This will be based
on a sliding scale; 25%=$.30 sq.ft., over 40%= $.60 sq. ft.
Up to $.35 x project amount including installation.
The T5 adapter calculations continually show savings of at least 40%.
For more information, go to: www.lightingtaxdeduction.org/tax_deduction.html
AEF continues to work these numbers very closly, but please consult with your tax professional.
A. GA STATE TAX CREDIT: In May 2008, Georgia enacted legislation establishing personal and corporate tax credits for renewable energy equipment and certain energy-efficient equipment
installed and placed into service. Tax credits are for a maximum of $100,000 for
lighting retrofit projects. In Georgia the tax credit is equal to 35% of the cost of the
system (including installation), $0.60/square foot for lighting retrofit projects.
See links for other States and for further info: http://www.dsireusa.org/index.cfm
As of 4-25-11 all of the $2.5 mil that was alloted for 2011 has been used, however, applications are still being taken to be used in the 2012 tax year.
A. UTILITY REBATES: Please check with our local utility companies. Many local utility companies are offering energy saving lighting rebates.
http://www.dsireusa.org/index.cfm
Q. Why are we offering New Technology in Green Lighting?
A. We are committed to helping people live better lives and showing our responsibility to the community by using Green friendly products and reducing Greenhouse Gas and Energy consumption. Based on our partners' certification, this new product technology will be available with extended warranty and performance guarantees.
Q. Do you have evidence showing the electric load of the 28 watt
T-5 burning at 18 watts?
A. We have available an independent test result from ITL testing lab in Colorado that shows the 18w adapter is actually burning at only 17.4 watts and the 28w adapter burning at only 26.3 watts.
Q. Where can I buy these T5 adapters?
A. Adapters are commercially available through distributors throughout the US and Canada. Supply houses have not stocked these because of the technical and hands on nature of the sale.
Q. Do you have any evidence of the lumen output of a 28 watt T-5 burning at 18 watts?
A. T5= 1.6 times brighter than T8.
Q. Do you have results of foot candle measurements before and after
a retrofit?
A. St. Pius High School went from (3) T8 bulbs in a fixture down to (2) T5
28watt adapters and bulbs and went from 46 foot candles up to
56 foot candles. Holy Spirit High School tested at (2) T8 28w =
32 foot candles at the desktop. Replaced with (2) T5 18w =39 foot
candles at the desk top. More results are available upon request.
Q. Will the foot candle measurements be comparable after bulbs grow old and lenses are dirty again?
A. A T5 bulb only degrades 5% over the life of the bulb versus a T8 at 40% degradation of its life.
Q. What is the expected life of the equipment (adapters)?
A. Life expectancy is 60,000 hrs. That’s 16 years at 14 hrs. per day,
5 days per week, 52 weeks per year.
Q. Does the adapter (electronics) create transients/harmonics which are
harmful to other equipment?
A. Harmonic distortion less than 10%. Exceeds all recommended specifications
by ANSI etc.
Q. Is the T5 adapter a rapid start ballast?
A. No, the T5 adapter is a programmed start ballast. It slowly (within nanoseconds) turns on which extends the life of the built in ballast.
