Fluorescent lights have been a staple in buildings for decades. Passing high voltage across a noble gas, this bridge generates a bright arc useful for indoor lighting. However, as does most all technology, lights have evolved. LEDs: more powerful than fluorescents, more energy efficient than fluorescents, and much quieter than fluorescents.

BRHS has these fluorescent tubes because they’re reliable and have been around for some time, their popularity exploding around World War II and continuing to this day. LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes, are small semiconductors (the same technology that drives computer chips) that turn electricity directly into light, without needing high voltage to generate light. They’re commonly used in homes around Maine in an effort to move away from traditional incandescent light bulbs.

Numerous people have complained about the fluorescent lights in the school. For instance, Chase Mansfield, a class of 2025 junior, has commented that “My eyes hurt when I am in the school building, more so than outdoors.” He isn’t the only one who wants a change, either. During an interview, a BRHS teacher said, “I would prefer them [LEDs], I feel they are a good investment. Cool in temp, last longer and don't flicker.”

Not everyone is in favor of the transition. Out of 41 responses, 17.1% of the school occupants surveyed said "no" to a change in lighting, with some comments pointing out valid concerns. For example, one anonymous commenter pointed out that “So much [sic] other things need fixing that the lights are the least of our problems!” This is a valid point. The high school is in a worse-for-wear condition, with asbestos material, aging classroom infrastructure, and mechanical concerns pertaining to the school itself. 

Realistically, the broad concern is the building itself. For the time being, a refit of the high school should be expected at some point in the future (considering the failed vote for a new school last year), and with that, improved lighting. In an Email, Facilities Director David Benner stated that “If and when we get a new High School, or renovate the current HS, lighting will definitely be completed.”

Why change them, though? Well, for starters, fluorescent lights contain Mercury, and require special disposal after they burn out (LEDs do not require such disposal). This disposal takes place far more often too, with the average lifespan of these tubes hovering around 15-20,000 hours, compared to that of the Light Emitting Diodes, which can have a lifespan of around 50,000 hours. Additionally, these fluorescent tubes are hungry for electricity compared to the much improved efficiency of the LED lights. In the same Email referenced before, Mr. Benner stated that the move to LED lights would potentially “...recover [the] expenses in 3-5 years,” the expense for the school in 2022 listed as being $817,210.00 dollars.

Another benefit is that, with proper light selection and upgrade to the school, electronic dimmers could be installed to dim the lights, a better choice between full blast lighting and dysfunctional darkness in a room. This could serve to improve student experience with eyestrain, as properly equipped LEDs won’t flicker and will provide a cleaner bandwidth of light. Also, a small benefit would be a reduction in audible humming from fluorescent ballasts in the ceiling, which can be quite distracting for students sensitive to sounds in a quiet environment, such as in study halls or in academy period.

So, in conclusion, should the town decide to retrofit the school and repair a number of issues, LEDs could be a welcome addition to that package. In terms of the long run, just about anyone you can ask likes to save cash, and with the potential to provide much higher quality light to the students, it seems like a straightforward solution to aesthetic and health concerns to make this school a better place to teach in, and learn in.

Sources

Anez, Gabriela. “How to Replace Fluorescent With LED Bulbs: 6 Conversion Options.” Blog, 9 August 2023, https://blog.feslighting.com/replace-fluorescent-with-led. Accessed 10 June 2024.

“Lamp - Fluorescent, Halogen, LED.” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/technology/lamp/Electric-discharge-lamps. Accessed 10 June 2024.

“The Lifespan of an LED Bulb.” Green Lighting, https://greenlighting.co.uk/the-lifespan-of-an-led-bulb/. Accessed 10 June 2024.

Rohm Semiconductors. “Light Emitting Diode ＜What are LEDs and How Do They Work?＞ | Electronics Basics | ROHM.” ROHM Semiconductor, https://www.rohm.com/electronics-basics/leds/what-are-leds. Accessed 10 June 2024.

Wikimedia. “LED lamp.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED_lamp#. Accessed 10 June 2024.