The $30-billion lighting industry hasn’t changed much since Thomas Edison invented the incandescent bulb in 1879. While fluorescents made their mark in recent decades, most people were turned off by their pale glow and had concerns over quality.
Enter Joseph Dobosz, president of Lexicon Technologies International in Shelby Township, who has developed a series of LED bulbs that are as much as 95 percent more energy-efficient than other light sources. Combine federal and utility incentives with a product manufactured in the U.S. — Lexicon will move some of its production from Tampa to Shelby Township in the coming months — and you have what Dobosz calls “explosive growth.”
“Energy-efficiency is the low-hanging fruit for controlling costs, improving energy independence, and reducing the environmental impact of incumbent light sources,” Dobosz says. The company, with 45 employees, got its start in 2009 after it was spun off from a plastic resin business Dobosz also operates in Shelby Township — Advanced Resources Inc.
While prices vary and generally cost more than traditional bulbs, a Lexicon LED bulb can run for 50,000 hours or more compared to a halogen bulb, which lasts around 2,000 hours. “Our bulbs pay for themselves in six months to a year,” Dobosz says.
Recently, Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace, with locations in Clinton Township, St. Clair Shores, and Troy, replaced nearly all of its halogen and incandescent bulbs with Lexicon’s LED lamps. The switch was complemented by upfront cash incentives from DTE Energy.
“In addition to reducing the heat directed at our products, we’ve had the added benefit of decreasing our air conditioning and refrigeration costs,” says Kirk Taylor, Nino’s president. “Even more important for the future of our environment, these lights have no toxic mercury. It was a major win for us.” db — R.J. King
