As the population ages the demand for healthcare grows. How can cash-starved hospitals become more efficient in their operations? Here are 4 reasons a simple switch to LED lighting creates a healthier hospital – fast!

• Reduce downtime

On average, LEDs last 40-50x longer than incandescent bulbs and 2-3x as long as CFLs (CFL lifetimes are also affected by environmental conditions and power cycling, so the difference in hours is potentially much greater). Since hospitals are open 24/7, one can imagine how much time is spent in lighting maintenance. Any downtime jeopardizes patient safety.

Furthermore, expensive medical equipment, such as PET scanners, cost hospitals money when idle. For example, below are PET scanner downtime costs based on two scans per hour:

• One hour — $2,117
• One day — $16,993
• Three days — $50,800

(Source: Siemens)

Note: Siemens offers a Downtime Calculator to calculate your downtime costs.

The U.S. Department of Energy approximates the lifespan of LEDs to be 50,000 hours, or around six years when operated 24/7 (even more so if using dimmers). This compares with a lifespan of about a year for fluorescent lamps and less than a year for incandescent lamps.

By installing LEDs, hospitals can reduce delays and backlog in patient care, and focus on more important aspects of daily operations.

• Reduce energy consumption

Hospitals are notoriously cash strapped. Carrying a massive square footage and operating 24/7, a significant reduction in lighting costs would be extremely beneficial.  In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, lighting accounts for over 10% of a hospital’s energy consumption.

LED bulbs require much less power to achieve an equivalent amount of light to incandescent bulbs. In addition, because LEDs emit very little heat, it does not place any added stress on air conditioning units.

In a hospital environment where hallway lights and patient room night lights are running round-the-clock, a return on investment can be achieved within 6 months.

• Reduce use of mercury

Mercury is a serious workplace hazard, and hospitals that use CFL bulbs are constantly risking patient exposure to the harmful effects of mercury.

In fact, here are a few of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s instructions on what to do if a CFL bulb breaks (just imagine this happening in a hospital where any disruption can cost lives!):

• Have people and pets leave the room.
• Air out the room for 5 to 10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment.
• Shut off the central forced air heating/air-conditioning system, if you have one.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) also includes the recommendation to eliminate light fixtures containing mercury in their Design and Construction of Hospital and Healthcare Facilities guidelines.

LED bulbs do not contain mercury. For a LED/CFL comparison, see 5 Reasons why LED lamps are better than CFLs.

• Improve light quality

Hospitals require a certain standard of lighting to not only provide the best care for their patients, but to provide a comfortable environment for both employees and patients.

Surgeons, for example, require a high quality light, of the right color temperature and output, that doesn’t produce glare or shadows.  Lights that do not generate heat are also important for both the comfort of the surgeon and the safety of the patient (high heat can dry out tissue).

Not only do LEDs meet all these requirements, but the ability to dim is extremely useful in certain applications, such as MRI rooms. Dimming also provides a more soothing environment for patients.

Many hospitals are beginning to invest in LED lighting for all the above benefits and more. Studies show that LED-based lights in a surgical application have a 60% market share in Europe and Millennium Research Group estimates that as early as 2014, the market share will be 100%!

With the reduction in downtime and energy consumption, and the increase in cash flow (savings) and safety, should all hospitals make the switch to LEDs? Should it be mandated? Tell us your thoughts.