GE prescribes LED lighting solution for medical school

GE Lighting has installed an energy-efficient LED solution at the Davao Medical School Foundation in the Philippines. 

The lighting project, valued at almost US$20,000 ($21,487), entailed the fitting out of about 2000 light points in the school’s current building as well as a new four-storey extension. 

In the existing school classrooms, fluorescent lights and magnetic ballast system were retrofitted with GE Lighting’s LED T8 tubes. LED Eco downlights were then installed for the school’s new extension which houses AV lecture rooms and dental laboratories. The retrofit work was completed in July last year, while the lights at the new building were fully implemented in March this year. 

“Our client is a non-profit organisation approved by the Commission on Higher Education. All expenditures must therefore be considered carefully and each dollar prudently spent,” said Ditas Alipao, Country Product Manager, GE Lighting. 

GE Sales Manager Vincent de Veza delivered intensive presentations to the school, with demonstrations of the proposed products to boost the client’s understanding and confidence in the solution, said Alipao. A cost analysis showed the benefits of using GE’s lights, which offered higher lumens, enhanced product durability and price efficiency in the longer term, Alipao added. The GE team continues to liaise closely with the school to provide support during and post-implementation.

“We used to spend nearly US$49,000 ($52,645) on electricity bills per annum. Compared to the old fluorescent lights, GE Lighting’s new LED solution at the current school building will give us estimated energy savings of about US$31,600 ($33,950). This is a significant benefit for a school like ours. The faculty members and students are also enjoying improved illumination across the school facilities and vastly reduced maintenance downtime,” said Carlos Salazar, Chief of the Engineering Department at Davao Medical School Foundation. 

GE Lighting’s solution comprises: 

• LED T8 19 W (289 pieces) and LED T8 18 W (715 pieces) at the current school building. The lights have a life of up to 40,000 h and efficiency of up to 97 lm/W. This is estimated to generate energy savings of 40% compared to traditional fluorescent lamps. 
• LED Eco downlight 10 W (898 pieces) and LED Eco downlight 15 W (73 pieces) at the new audio visual Building. The downlights offer 85 lm/W and have a colour rendering index of Ra80+. Its integrated aluminium reflector shade with die-casting aluminium radiator structure enables good heat dissipation. The lights have an average life of 25,000 h, leading to reduced replacement and maintenance costs.