If you’re the kind of person who installs LEDs and other forms of energy-efficient lighting wherever possible in your home, you may be missing a trick by not doing the same in your commercial building. It’s an easy mistake to make, but it could be costly based on how many more light fixtures you find in the average commercial property.
Let’s dive into the world of energy-efficient lighting in the business world. Hint: LED is king in this field, too!
Why is Energy Efficient Lighting Important in Commercial Buildings?
MIT Research into reducing lost energy in commercial buildings has found that an average of 30% of energy is completely wasted. Since commercial buildings make up around 20% of all US energy consumption and emit a startling 12% of their greenhouse gasses, it’s time to make our business buildings as energy-efficient as possible. That means investing in energy-saving light fixtures and providing the right kind of heating and cooling.
Top Tip: Have you ever considered that the most energy-efficient light source is the sun? We certainly can’t be without artificial light, but large storefront windows will maximize natural sunlight and boost employee mood and productivity.
What Type of Efficient Lighting Can I Get?
Light Emitting Diodes, or LEDs to you and me, are one of the most energy-efficient forms of lighting. They can light up anything from a small workshop to a huge commercial property.
A quick refresher for anybody who doesn’t quite know what LEDs are or how they work. An LED is a semiconductor device that emits light when a current passes through it. The light comes on when electrons combine with the semiconductor material. It’s very different from heated filaments such as incandescent and halogen lamps and frequently confused for gas discharge lamps, such as fluorescent lights.
We think of them as magical materials on a quest to save money and the environment one light bulb at a time.
Pro Product For You: LITELUME’s LED high bay lights are the perfect heavy-duty lighting for open areas such as factories, warehouses, processing plants, and manufacturing facilities.
3 Main Advantages of Energy Efficient Lighting in Commercial Buildings
#1 Save Energy and Money
That’s the big one, isn’t it? When you’re in business, you know it’s all about cutting costs where you can. LEDs have a slight reputation for being expensive, but those days are behind us. As LED technology has become more readily available, prices have dropped significantly. There is a slightly higher initial price point in comparison to less efficient forms of lighting, but since they:
- use an average of 75% less energy than their incandescent counterparts
- last 25 times longer
The initial investment becomes worth it very quickly. Think long-term for long-term commercial success.
#2 Less Hot
Have you ever tried changing a light bulb after it’s been on all day? You probably got your fingertips burned. In our homes, that’s generally not a problem, but there are plenty of environments where an employee could get burned touching a light fixture. Ouch to that potential lawsuit.
Additionally, the hotter the bulbs run, the more cooling needs to happen to keep the temperature in the commercial property ambient. In turn, you lose even more money.
The good news is thatLED light bulbs use most of their energy to generate light and not heat, which means they’re not as hot as other light sources. Some even describe them as being cool to the touch. We still wouldn’t recommend trying to change one after it’s been left on for a few hours, though!
#3 Less Environmental Impact
The two above positives for using energy-efficient lighting have a direct impact on the environment. LEDs have great:
- Source Efficacy: meaning they do what we’d like them to do, produce light efficiently.
- Luminaire Efficacy: the device and lighting fixtures work in tandem to produce necessary lighting.
These two factors mean more people are utilizing LED lighting in their homes and commercial properties. Great news for the environment as the long-lasting power of the LED means less trash in our landfills.
As we know, they also require less power to light up than other forms of conventional lighting systems. No matter how clean your energy source is, using less of it is always great news.
Finally, LEDs are non-toxic and do not require specialist disposal. This is in harsh contrast to the other popular way to light up factories everywhere, fluorescent lighting. These tubes are filled with toxic chemicals that include mercury, and when we dispose of them in landfills, they can contaminate the environment.
Grants for Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings: since saving the planet is on the government’s mind. They offer energy-saving grants to businesses. If the cost of installing LED lighting is more than you can come up with, look into how the US Department of Energy can help.
Some Forms of Energy Efficient Lighting for Commercial Buildings
- LED Hazardous Location Lights: these are perfect for facilities dealing with flammable gasses, vapors, and liquids. Also, check out explosion-proof LEDs.
- LED Panel Lights: perfect for schools, offices, hospitals, and stores as these provide long-life ambient lighting.
- LED Area Lights: for all your outdoor, commercial locations. Safety first!
About: LITELUME
LITELUME is a giant in the LED business. As an American-based manufacturing company, we offer the highest quality commercial and industrial LED light fixtures on the market.
Our diverse product offering is supported by excellent customer service. We are always leading with integrity, honesty, and dedication to ensure our customers can trust us.
Find out the difference 25 years of experience can make in helping you find the perfect energy-efficient lighting for your commercial property.
Contact us today with any questions. Our friendly team of advisors has expert knowledge of our products, warranties, and technology.
