Opportunity
The pandemic put disinfection on everybody’s mind, leading to increased demand (and a flood of new products) for lighting that mitigates viruses and/or bacteria.
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, or UVGI, uses ultraviolet UV-C radiation to kill viral, bacterial, and fungal organisms. LEDs Magazine reported that “market analysts, even prior to COVID-19, predicted a UV LED market exceeding $1 billion in a few years.”
In the early days of the pandemic, there was a huge jump in interest in UV-C LED lights among organizations looking for viral and bacterial mitigation. This was especially true when it was widely thought the virus could be transmitted through contact with infected surfaces.
Challenge
While interest in UV-C LED technology for COVID mitigation is high right now, that interest may wane as the pandemic (eventually) does. In the meantime, lighting and HVAC manufacturers are in a space race to see whose solution will come to dominate the market. But because some of this technology is still nascent, rebates are thin on the ground, making this type of lighting a strain for many clients’ budgets.
Recommendation
In this situation, the best approach is to stay on top of things. Be aware of how this technology works and why it can benefit customers, but also keep an eye out for any new rebates or lowering in prices…once this technology becomes more affordable, it may become a more viable option, even post-COVID.
