Capitol to switch to LED lights

THE Capitol is also adopting the use of LED (light emitting diodes) bulbs in all its offices to save on energy costs.

Provincial Engineer Eulogio Pelayre said that the Capitol was aiming to replace all ceiling lights with energy efficient lights.

However, Pelayre said they had yet to find the best quality producer of LED lights.

“The investment cost is high. The purchase price is also high, P200 for flourescent compared to the P800 for the LED lights but the difference is, you could save up 80 percent in your electric consumption),” he said in Cebuano.

The plan is to install LED lights before Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s term ends in 2013.

“We are scouting for the best product available since this is a new product. We have to be careful in purchasing them,” he said in Cebuano.

The lighted Capitol building from the outside formerly uses sodium lamp.

Now, it uses LED bulbs, which will allow the Capitol to save 70 percent in its power bills.

Pelayre said there would be no maintenance or replacement of the bulbs needed in the next 15 years at least.

This is because of the program of the Capitol together with Philips Lighting, which provided the bulbs and would maintain them./Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus