Buying gas in inevitable if you own a vehicle. There are so many factors that people take into account before deciding which gas station to stop at when they need to fill up. Is the price reasonable? Can I pay at the pump? Is it clean-looking? Is there a crowd of people there? At night, it’s a different story, with the main question being ‘does the gas station look safe?’ High intensity discharge lighting cannot give the feeling of cleanliness and safety that LEDs can. LED lighting provide a much brighter, whiter light. They also help combat the problem of light pollution. Approximately 30% of light is directed into the sky because traditional lighting is omni-directional, and LED lighting is more focused and directional, said Kevin Orth, one of the authors of LEDS Magazine.

In spring 2008, the Better Day BP in Racine, Wisconsin was the first gas station to have an all-LED exterior. Since then, many gas stations have gone the same route, but it’s important to acknowledge the first! Tom Tousis, owner of the gas station, wanted to save money on energy costs, but wanted an attractive station, so he chose to install 56 LED fixtures. He also noted that the new lighting gave the station a more contemporary look, and the canopy lighting alone is consuming 62% less energy. Though the station is independently owned, Tousis decided on its lighting in conjunction with BP’s international green approach, which is to eliminate one million tons of greenhouse emissions each year. The BP in Racine has reduced its greenhouse emissions output by 30%.

Gas stations are getting very slim profits these days, so when considering where to cut costs and increase customer traffic, consider installing LED lighting!