Elizabeth-
A few additional pros and cons re: LED conversion:
Pros:
+ Lighting is one of the biggest energy users in a museum. Going to LED can mean a reduction in electric bills of up to 30%.
+ An LED conversion is a substantial commitment to green practices, and can be used to help launch a museum's formal environmental stewardship effort.
+ An LED conversion can be an attractive project for a donor, and a relatively easy sell for your development office.
+ "Going green" in such a visible way can provide some great press.
Cons:
- Taking into account research, consultants, testing, bidding and the actual physical retrofit, the cost and effort for a full LED conversion is enormous. It may well take you five years to see a break-even from the capital investment.
- At least some of the equipment, fixtures or lamps you plan for will be obsolete by the time you install them. [Inherent in any technical enterprise, but a con nonetheless.]
- LED color temperatures and beam spreads are all over the map. A solution to replace your preferred PAR lamp can be found, but it will mean some arduous research and testing.
We did such a conversion at my former museum shortly before I retired. It was the single most impactful improvement to the physical plant - and the fiscal bottom line - that I'd ever proposed in 17 years of heading operations.
-John
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John Wharton
Docent
Revs Institute
Naples FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-19-2021 10:54 AM
From: Elizabeth Schexnyder
Subject: from incandescent to LED
thank you Keri Smith, that was what I was looking for, real world feedback.
I will digest the list and test the LED bulbs and then might come back with more specific questions.
this is a solid start.
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth Schexnyder MLS
Curator
National Hansen's Disease Museum
Baton Rouge LA
Original Message:
Sent: 07-19-2021 10:02 AM
From: Keri Smith
Subject: from incandescent to LED
Good morning!
Two years ago our museum made the complete switchover from halogen to LED bulbs in all of our galleries. I'll list the pros and cons below:
Pros:
Bulbs are cooler and much easier to handle
They last significantly longer (we used to to lightbulb checks/replacements every morning before the museum opened and now we don't have to)
The LED bulbs produce significantly less UV so there is less worry regarding exposure to artwork, particularly WOP
The LED bulbs are available in the same socket types as the incandescents so they fit in the same housings/units
You can buy magnetic beam adjusters that snap onto the bulbs which is super handy and much preferable to the glass ones used for incandescents
Cons:
The individual bulbs are significantly more expensive per unit than traditional incandescents
We have noticed after two years that the color temperature can change on the bulbs over time (often going from cool white to a warmer yellow)
Ultimately the cost and reinstallation are going to be the biggest hurdles to overcome, but I can personally attest that they save so much time and effort in long run. We replaced all of our halogen incandescents with Soraa MR16 LED's. (https://www.soraa.com)
Please reach out if you would like any more information about this!
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Keri Smith
Associate Preparator
Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art - University of Oklahoma
Norman OK
Original Message:
Sent: 07-16-2021 12:32 PM
From: Elizabeth Schexnyder
Subject: from incandescent to LED
Our museum is exploring updates to exhibit lighting; I am looking for pros/cons, and other comments, regarding your experience (in a museum) of going from incandescent to LED bulbs.
Thank you
Elizabeth Schexnyder, MLIS, Curator
225-642-1950
National Hansen's Disease Museum
Carville, LA 70721
www.hrsa.gov/hansens-disease/museum