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TLaaS® with LEDs – Your Tower’s Eco-Friendly Lighting Solution
Megan Stockton • Dec 17, 2017
LEDs on your tower are the long-term “green solution”, easier on your wallet and easier on Mother Earth.
A Green Opportunity
If you are still operating your tower’s obstruction lighting system with incandescent or xenon technology, you are missing out on a unique opportunity to not only reduce costs and eliminate the hassle of lighting system repairs, bulb changes and maintenance, but also to select a solution that is good for our environment. Tower Lighting as a Service℠ (TLaaS℠) presents an unprecedented opportunity to move to eco-friendly LED with No Upfront Costs and realize these benefits. Let’s walk through the details.
Some Facts About LED’s
An LED lamp is an electric light used in lighting fixtures that produces light using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). LED lamps have an electrical efficiency and lifespan which are much greater than incandescent lamps and other legacy lighting technologies.
A typical household lightbulb provides a great example of the benefits of this technology. Here is a comparison between two lights that put off the same amount of light – one incandescent and the other an LED.
(Source: Wikipedia)
A traditional 60W household incandescent lamp will provide 800 lumens of light and last about 800 hours. The equivalent LED lamp will produce the same 800 lumens of light but only use 8.5W of power and last 31 times longer. Tower lighting LEDs exhibit similar benefits and result in a major leap forward in efficiency and longevity. The benefit is further multiplied since tower obstruction lights are often hundreds or thousands of feet above ground level meaning replacement has large labor costs and safety considerations.
Summary of Environmental Benefits
Electricity
– The most obvious eco-friendly benefit is reduced electricity consumption. Tower LED systems use ~90% less electricity than outdated legacy incandescent systems. For every type of FAA Tower Style
this is a significant environmental benefit over the life of the system.
Cost of light bulb replacement:
The FCC requires that lit structures remain lit, but depending upon the type of lighting system and bulb, the life of that bulb will vary. If a light bulb goes out, that light bulb must be changed. Since LED’s are in a whole different class with lifespan estimates 10-25 times greater than the older technology, bulb changes are very infrequent. There are tremendous environmental savings that result from this:
- Fuel and energy for tower crew labor to replace bulb.
- Elimination of energy to manufacture, transport and store the old technology replacement.
- Eliminate all the energy consumed in the project management, safety protocols, site visits for inspection and other labor associated with bulb replacements.
Disposal Considerations
– More frequent replacement means more materials being disposed of. The disposal of these many bulbs in landfills is another environmental cost of the legacy technology that LEDs minimize.
Light Pollution
– In some cases the new LED technology utilizes a technique to beam the light directly out and up from the lighting fixture. This is difference from the traditional method which is more omni directional. The resulting difference is less light pollution to the people on the ground. The newer technology provides less pollution to communities on the ground while still alerting aircraft in the sky of the presence of an obstruction.
Avian Considerations
– The FAA has released new standards for obstruction lighting to minimize impacts on migratory birds (see What You Need to Know About Avian Lighting Regulations). In some cases, this new standard eliminates certain non-flashing lights altogether, and in other cases, it stipulates conversion from steady burning to flashing obstruction lights. Studies show that these changes minimize the impact on migratory fowl. Moving your towers’ lighting system from legacy technology to the new LED technology provides an opportunity to upgrade your system and ensure compliance with these new standards designed to help our avian friends.
TLaaS℠ - A New Option to Upgrade to LEDs
A unique option to install environmentally friendly LEDs is TLaaS℠, a proprietary solution offered by LumenServe℠. TLaaS℠ includes:
- Installation of New LED Lighting System - Certified installation of the best LED obstruction lighting systems available pursuant to manufacturer's specifications to ensure full warranty compliance.
- Draft FAA Required Paperwork for Lighting Change - Draft all the required FAA form filings, from documentation through submission, including. process approval, new installations, advanced notifications, and compliance.
- Decommission of Old Lighting System - Decommission and remove the old lighting system, including old lighting fixtures, electronics, and cabling. All decommissioned equipment and materials are properly disposed of.
- Installation Close Out Package Documentation - Photo documentation of the entire system is provided to tower owners in a professional close out package.
- Assurance Warranty - It includes an Assurance Warranty which provides for all parts and labor to ensure the system is functioning properly.
- FAA Compliance Services - Compliance and monitoring and FAA required Tower Inspection Services.
LumenServe℠
can help you analyze the costs and benefits of all your options. Also, don’t forget, as the nation’s first Tower Lighting as a Service℠ company, LumenServe™ can provide qualified customers with a lighting solution that requires no upfront costs.
Let us look at your situation and see if we can help you “Go Green” with your tower lighting.
For more information, please contact LumenServe℠ at:
Tower owners with FAA Style A marking, which includes painted towers with red obstruction lighting at night, should be aware that there are cost-saving options to consider when it comes to periodic painting required for compliance. Here at LumenServe ℠ , our Never Paint Your Tower A gain program eliminates the need to repaint your tower for obstruction lighting purposes. First, let us clarify some background information. Painting of the structure: FAA Style A towers are painted to ensure visibility for air navigation, with specific requirements for painting the structure. The most important requirement is that the paint must meet the FAA's Aviation Orange color standard, which is Federal Standard 595 color #17875 for white and color #12197 for aviation orange. Additionally, the number of bands required on the tower depends on its height. You can visit our website for helpful information on each FAA Tower Style. Cost of painting of the structure: When evaluating the cost of painting a structure, there are five primary cost drivers: Material cost of paint – Paint costs approximately $70 per gallon with each gallon covering roughly 400 sq. ft. Tower type – There are three primary tower types - Guyed, Self-Supported, or Monopole. Each tower type is unique and requires a different amount of labor to complete depending on total surface area and other factors. Height of tower – As one would expect, the height of the tower is directly proportional to the amount of labor required to do the painting. Tower location – Tower crews charge to mobilize to the site. The more difficult it is to get to the location, the more the tower crew will charge to get there. Tower crew labor cost – The labor cost to paint your tower is typically based on the hours of work required for the project. Typically, labor will range from $25 per tower foot to $80 per tower foot depending on tower type, height, and location. Annual paint test:
In the world of tower maintenance, costs can soar to new heights, especially when it comes to climbs. Picture this: a typical climb on a 325’ tower can set you back a staggering $2,500 each time – a price that quickly accumulates with multiple climbs over the life of your lighting system. Now, what if we told you that there's a smarter, more cost-effective way to safeguard your tower's lighting without breaking the bank? Enter our fully comprehensive Assurance Warranty Service , an unbeatable solution that not only saves you money but offers peace of mind like never before. With an annual cost that is less than ½ of the cost a single tower climb referenced above, you'll receive not only all the tower climbs necessary to support your lighting system, but a level of support that covers everything from diagnostics to repairs, equipment replacements, mobilization and more. Our Assurance Warranty Service is only available with newly purchased and installed systems through LumenServe or through our Tower Lighting as a Service ® solution. Our Assurance Warranty Service is designed to be a game-changer in tower lighting maintenance. It covers the full array of services need to keep your system operational and in full compliance including: Problem diagnosis Remote troubleshooting Equipment replacement Site mobilization and expenses Repair labor on the ground Tower climb labor Shipping and transport RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) Firmware upgrades All associated expenses In essence, it's your one-stop solution for ensuring the proper operation of your tower lighting system. Here are some more details on our Assurance Warranty Service . The math is simple: when you opt for the LumenServe℠ solutions that includes our Assurance Warranty, you're not just saving money; you're investing in long-term reliability and peace of mind. Say goodbye to the anxiety of unpredictable costs associated with tower climbs and embrace a more cost-effective and comprehensive approach to tower lighting maintenance. Join us on a journey where you can "Scale Heights, Not Costs," and let your tower shine brighter than ever before. For more information, please contact LumenServe℠ today!
Attention all tower owners! Keeping up with the Federally required lighting compliance regulations for your towers is a vital responsibility, but it doesn't have to be a burden. At LumenServe℠, we offer a comprehensive program to take the hassle of compliance and monitoring off your plate.
Virtually all lighting system original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) provide a warranty on their product, but what are you really getting with that warranty? With the Tower Lighting as a Service® approach from LumenServe℠ you get an Assurance Warranty that covers more than the average product warranty – we provide an end-to-end solution with no hidden costs. This ensures you stay on budget while not having to worry about your tower lighting. Let’s look at what you are getting (or not getting) with your current lighting system OEM warranty and compare it to what LumenServe offers in our bumper-to-bumper solution. The LumenServe℠ Assurance Warranty LumenServe℠ offers Assurance Warranty solutions as part of our full range of services that ensure that there are no unexpected costs with repairing and maintaining your system. Our approach is all inclusive: on ground, above ground, equipment and materials, labor and mobilization. You get flat pricing for up to five years so there are no budget surprises! How Does Your Current Lighting System Warranty Compare?
Get 2019 pricing for the next five years. Really.
Let Us Help You Ensure FAA Compliance Keeping up with your towers’ federally mandated compliance and monitoring requirements is an expensive and time-consuming responsibility. Compliance is a must and requires you to constantly ensure that your towers adhere to the proper regulations with proper procedures and documentation. How would you like to never worry about this again… for zero upfront cost? LumenServe℠ is a full-service tower lighting company which means we take the burden of compliance and monitoring activities off your plate. Included with our unique Tower Lighting as a Service® program, is a full range of compliance services including: FAA Compliance & Reporting ● FAA NOTAM Reporting ● NOTAM Tracking and Resolution ● Lighting Circular Validation ● Notification of FAA Rule Updates such as: ○ 7/8 Inch Rule ○ IR LEDs ○ Aviation Lighting Regulations Monitoring ● Active Monitoring of Lighting ● 24/7/365 Monitoring ● Remote Diagnostics ● Daily Logs (2+ Years Storage) ● NOTAM Reporting to Customer ● Compliance Events On-site Tower Lighting Inspections ● Quarterly Lighting Inspections ● Biennial Lens Inspections ● Annual Paint Inspections at the top portion of the tower (Style A towers only) The new requirements related to Infrared Lighting (IR) are also an area we can help you with. Another option to learn more about is our Never Paint Your Tower Again where we assist you in changing your tower type from painted to dual mode. With Tower Lighting as a Service® . We will help you to update the FAA paperwork to make the change to dual mode, buy you a new lighting system, take care of it with our Assurance Warranty Service, and take care of the necessary compliance and monitoring. With our 24/7/365 Network Operations Centers and customer portal we can keep you informed of your tower’s overall system health status, alerts and alarm status maintenance and repair history. Your time is better spent on your core business and not on tower lighting. Let us use our size, scale, and expertise to free up your time to tend to your business and save you money too. To learn more about us and our services please contact LumenServe℠: (512) 580-4600 info@LumenServe.com
Not all warranties are the same…
FAA Required Biennial Lens Inspection
Keeping up with your towers’ federally mandated compliance and monitoring requirements is an expensive and time-consuming responsibility. Compliance is a must and requires you to constantly ensure that your towers adhere to the proper regulations with proper procedures and documentation. How would you like to never worry about this again… for zero upfront cost? LumenServe℠ is a full-service tower lighting company which means we take the burden of compliance and monitoring activities off your plate. Included with our unique Tower Lighting as a Service® program, is a full range of compliance services including: FAA Compliance & Reporting ● FAA NOTAM Reporting ● NOTAM Tracking and Resolution ● Lighting Circular Validation ● Notification of FAA Rule Updates such as: ○ 7/8 Inch Rule ○ IR LEDs ○ Aviation Lighting Regulations Monitoring ● Active Monitoring of Lighting - Polling Every 5 Minutes ● 24/7/365 Monitoring ● Remote Diagnostics ● Daily Logs (2+ Years Storage) ● NOTAM Reporting to Customer ● Compliance Events On-site Tower Lighting Inspections ● Quarterly Lighting Inspections ● Biennial Lens Inspections ● Annual Paint Inspections at the top portion of the tower (Style A towers only) We can also help you to Never Paint Your Tower Again by assisting you in changing your tower type from painted to dual mode. With Tower Lighting as a Service® . We will help you to update the FAA paperwork to make the change to dual mode, buy you a new lighting system, take care of it with our Assurance Warranty Service, and take care of the necessary compliance and monitoring. With our 24/7/365 Network Operations Centers and customer portal we can keep you informed of your tower’s overall system health status, alerts and alarm status maintenance and repair history. Your time is better spent on your core business and not on tower lighting. Let us use our size, scale, and expertise to free up your time to tend to your business and save you money too. To learn more about us and our services please contact LumenServe℠: (512) 580-4600 info@LumenServe.com
The Federal Aviation Administration has released a new Advisory Circular, AC 70/7460-1M , effective November 16, 2020, which details new rules and regulations for obstruction marking and tower lighting. Consequently, AC 70/7460-1L Change 2 was cancelled with the release of the new circular. Compared to Circular L-Change 2, most changes were minor and do not impact most tower owners, with the bulk of the changes involving new obstruction lighting rules for temporary structures like cranes. However, one change was implemented that does directly affect tower owners: the addition of new infrared specifications for red LED-based obstruction lights, which are now required for new LED lighting system installations. These new infrared specifications help ensure the safety of pilots operating with night vision goggles. Night vision goggles (NVGs) are increasingly being used by pilots to amplify visible light and ensure safety, and many NVGs have filters (notably a Class B filter) designed to reduce the adverse effects of cockpit lighting. These filters can make red LED obstruction lights completely invisible which presents a risk to pilot’s safety. Circular 1M requires that all new LED lighting system installations must feature LED lighting that is compliant with these requirements. Tower owners under older circulars are grandfathered in and do not need to meet these new specifications and can continue to use non-infrared LED lights. However, because there is a risk of a pilot misinterpreting a tower’s height, if a legacy (non-IR) specification, intermediate-level LED light is replaced with one that meets the new IR specifications, then the top-level light or lights must meet the new IR specification. This applies to all towers, even those governed under previous circulars. More information about the IR specifications can be found in our previous blog post . LumenServe℠ can help with your new build, lighting system upgrade or conversion, as our Tower Lighting as a Service® fully conforms to the new FAA standards (AC 70/7460-1M, AC 150/5345-43J and EB 98). Our OEM partner, Dialight, launched its first IR enabled LED product in 2011, almost a decade before FAA regulation cited above became mandatory.
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