LED Prison - Correctional Lighting

Interior Light Retrofit Solutions for Vandal Proof Fixtures

LED Prison Lights – Correctional Lighting

Over the last four decades, the incarceration rates in the U.S have hit the 500% growth mark. The strain on correctional institutions' resources is increasing by the day. There's a need for cost cutting by facilities, which puts a spotlight on efficiency.

Currently, the budget allocation for running correctional institutions is at $80 billion. The federal government pays a paltry 10% of these costs. Over 57% of these costs are paid for by state governments, while local governments foot 33% of the bill.

Correctional institutions have a collective utility bill of over $1.7 billion. Let that sink in – $1.7 billion!

The most significant contributor to this high bill is energy. The costs of heating, cooling and lighting up facilities in use 24 hours a day, are massive.

The pressure and costs of operating and maintaining prisons are tremendous. But here lies an opportunity to save on expenditure. The colossal scale of such operations can provide excellent opportunities to find solutions.

Any small step toward sustainability can help state and local governments to save a lot of money. Sustainability practices cushion and protect the environment surrounding these correctional centers.

The Unique Lighting Challenges Posed By Correctional Institutions

The archaic prisons of old known for horrible standards of living are long gone. Today, prisoners’ civil liberties have to be upheld. Correctional institutions today focus not only on protection, but on deterrence and repatriation.

Unlike with buildings where security keep people out, correctional institutions keep people in. The individuals inside these facilities are there against their will. Add this to the fact that these facilities never shut down for holidays, weekends, or winter. Plus, it's a high-maintenance environment.

Incarcerating and protecting them from each other – while preventing them from getting out – is a challenge. The budgetary constraints and overcrowding make it even harder to ensure efficiency. Proper surveillance and well-designed infrastructure can help you to overcome these challenges.

Good Lighting Practices Are Key To Energy Efficiency

High-quality lighting is the foundation on which surveillance runs. Good lighting fixtures go a long way towards ensuring operational efficiency and safety. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, lighting accounts for 33 percent of electricity used in jails and penitentiaries.

This is a huge expenditure for these non-profit making entities. Older correctional facilities are energy-intensive and built with little regard for efficient cooling, heating, and lighting. Most states are passing laws to reduce negative impacts on the environment and cut down expenses.

Correctional institutions must balance efficiency and intelligent design to keep up with the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA). The act discourages inefficient lighting systems and recommends greener, energy-efficient, and long-lasting light bulbs.

Prison lights operate for over 18 hours a day. In this high-abuse environment, the lights may only be switched off for six hours each day, on average. If you decide to use energy efficient bulbs in a small section, you can reduce the utility bill by more than 10%. If you adopt energy-efficient lighting in the whole facility, the savings can be tremendous.