Gas Stations and LED Lighting

In a recent study of why people pick one gas station over another, besides fuel prices, cleanliness and safety topped the list. It is estimated that there are over 120,000 gas stations in the United States with approximately 110,000 also having convenience stores.

With so many choices for consumers and fuel prices relatively the same at most stations, owners are looking for new ways to create curb appeal at their locations. Smooth day-to-day operation and maintaining brand image and awareness is imperative, however owners must create a welcoming experience for their customers on all fronts and this includes the proper lighting of their stores.

Most gas stations in the U.S. utilize Metal Halide (MH) fixtures to light their canopies. While it does provide an adequate source of light, MH is not only costly to operate but maintenance costs to change out failing fixtures can be quite costly for today’s gas station operators. The average MH fixture utilizes 400 Watts of energy and may only last an average of 12,000 hours. As the bulb ages and nears the end of its life, it begins to “cycle” and requires more voltage than available. This creates increasing internal temperatures and thus the fixture fails. After a brief cooling off period, the lamp will restart however this “cycling” will continue to repeat itself until the lamp no longer operates.

LED lamps do not experience any of the same issues as MH. Operating at a mere 60 Watts, the average lifespan of an LED lamp is 50,000 hours, but that does not mean the lamp will fail after it has reached the number of operational hours. Actually many lamps continue beyond 100,000 hours but experience a decreased luminous output.

LED lamps also generate significantly less heat when compared to a MH fixture and dissipate heat back into the mounting fixture and not into the surrounding areas from the front of the lamp.

LED lamps also provide better overall illumination through the usage of a narrow beam angle directed to intended areas. They also create a safe environment because the lamps are instant-on and do not require a warm-up period. Metal Halide fixtures tend to take an average of 5 minutes to reach optimal performance and waste huge amounts of light through the top and sides of the lens. This results in a lower efficiency and can contribute to light pollution.

The right lighting can have a tremendous impact on the bottom line for gas station owners. In an industry where competition is fierce, energy-efficient LED lighting can now be used for all applications. LED lighting not only reduces both energy and maintenance costs, but it meets the needs of today’s gas station operators and consumers alike.