Designing any commercial or industrial building means you’re in charge of a lot of different design elements. It’s up to you to consider the functionality of the space throughout the entire design plan. From the materials you use to the lighting fixtures installed, every detail is critical.
To truly optimize an industrial facility, warehouse, or other commercial building, you’ll need LED lights. There are so many benefits that come with modern LED lighting that you don’t want to miss out on. Plus, the LED lighting controls available these days offer more automation, functionality, and overall energy savings.
Perhaps that’s why the LED lighting industry has continued to grow in its success over the years. As of 2021, the global market had a net worth of over $55 billion overall. That’s a lot of money for a single kind of lighting option.
Make sure your building designs stand up to modern lighting expectations. If you’re not sure where to get started when it comes to optimizing LED lighting fixtures and controls, don’t worry. Read on for your complete guide to making the most of your industrial project’s lighting.
The Importance of Using LED Lighting in Your Industrial Building
Perhaps the most significant benefit to using LED lighting controls is their financial value. It’s true that you’ll have to invest some money into installing these lighting systems. Still, remember that energy efficiency will save you money on your utility bill over time.
In addition, modern LED lighting networks offer building managers a ton of flexibility. After all, it’s hard to exactly predict how each space in a brand new building is going to be used. So, use a strategic lighting design to meet visibility needs as they come up without spending too much extra energy in the meantime.
It’s also worth noting that using LED lighting provides valuable community benefits. This effort in energy efficiency aids the local power grid in meeting the needs of the rest of the people in the area. On a pig picture scale, your LED lighting design supports the sustainability of community resources throughout the future.
All Commercial Projects Have Different LED Lighting Needs
Demands for proper lighting will change throughout the day no matter what kind of operation is going on inside the building. It’s up to you to ensure that each commercial building you’re in charge of has the right lighting layout to optimize functionality.
For manufacturing or distribution companies that close shop in the evenings, proper LED lighting has another benefit. Studies show that intentionally placed LED lighting can even prevent crime.
Many distribution centers do operate after dark, though. Since these operations typically involve the loading and unloading of goods onto trucks that are parked outside, high-visibility outdoor lighting will be essential here. Outdoor lighting, of course, needs to be durable enough to withstand any kind of weather and/or potential vandalism.
Consider medical facilities as another example. It’s true that workers throughout the building will need top-quality, reliable lighting as they work with patients.
Sometimes, though, an area of a healthcare facility or hospital might be underused at certain times of the day. This is when automated LED lighting controls can be of such value. They’ll save energy and money by staying turned off until those spaces are occupied again.
Synchronizing With Local Time to Save Energy
Thanks to the Internet connectivity of today’s LED networks, it’s possible for them to automate the local area’s date and time. This can provide building managers with multiple benefits.
For one thing, outdoor lighting fixtures with this data can adjust to the sunrise and sunset of the area. That way, the lights aren’t on whenever the sun is up, which would be an obvious waste of energy. Combining this internal calendar with sunlight sensors, the energy efficiency will be completely accurate.
In addition, indoor lighting controls can use this synchronization to maintain the right dimming levels. Operators of the system will simply pre-program specific times of the day to lower the lighting levels throughout the commercial property. When a warehouse is closed up for the night, for instance, the building won’t need full visibility, right?
This can be of particular value in spaces where there’s a need for the area to be well-lit for safety purposes. If no one is in the room but it’s still required to be lit, why not dim the lighting and save at least a little bit of energy? There are tons of ways to save energy costs with LED lighting controls like this.
Occupancy Sensors Are Great for Mid-Level Traffic Areas
Another great way to maintain energy efficiency is with motion sensors throughout the industrial property. Motion sensors can ensure that spaces aren’t being lit without a good cause. In other words, don’t waste lighting in an empty room when you don’t have to.
There are both indoor and outdoor uses for this lighting control feature. You can have these motion sensors in bathrooms or conference rooms, as well as in surrounding parking lots or sitting areas outside.
Consider LED Lighting When Trying to Meet Building Compliance Codes
Building compliance codes are important regulations to protect energy consumption throughout the United States. Depending on what state you’re in, they may vary. For instance, California’s building energy efficiency standards are known to be a bit strict compared to other states.
You should be familiar with all of the ins and outs of your local building compliance codes. Well, when you make use of LED lighting fixtures and controls, compliance becomes a little bit easier. This is yet another beneficial strategy of using LED throughout your design.
Networked LED Lighting Controls All Work Together
When you install an overarching LED lighting design layout, they should all be integrated. Each unit will have connectivity to this integrated system management.
Imagine the kind of control you’ll have. You’ll be able to operate the entire building’s lighting system with an easy-to-use software program.
This connectivity can’t be understated. It provides you with long-term flexibility in the entire lighting layout. Perhaps as the building functions change, you can update the lighting accordingly.
In addition, the network will continue to generate data about its operation over time. This means you can use the analytic data to keep an even closer eye on the energy efficiency of your LED lighting. You can then make changes and improvements to ensure every lighting fixture is working in the most optimal way to save energy and money.
Demand Response Controls Can Optimize Your Use of Utilities
Speaking of this integrated connectivity, there’s another feature to note. Your LED lighting will have the capability of working with a Demand Response Control. This will automatically adjust the levels of your building lighting levels based on a few different things.
It could be set to dim the lights during peak usage hours. When everyone else in the local community tends to draw power from the utility grid, your building won’t put too much of a drain on that energy source.
On top of that, Demand Response can ensure that the lighting in your building lessens when electricity prices surge. This is yet another key way a well-developed LED lighting layout design can save money in the long run.
Use Daylight Harvesting for Rooms with a Lot of Windows
All buildings, no matter their intention, should make the most of natural light whenever it’s available. (Of course, some kinds of industrial buildings are limited to the number of windows they can have in the first place.)
For properties that do have nice, wide windows in use, don’t waste any of that valuable sunlight throughout the day. With LED lighting controls, you can set a room’s lighting fixtures to adjust to the level of sunlight as it appears in the morning. When the sun starts to go down, the controls will bring the lights back up smoothly to ensure visibility doesn’t go down.
Again, daylight harvesting is really only an ideal function in rooms and areas where there are plenty of windows. The windows will have to provide the necessary amounts of natural light for optimal visibility. Still, consider where you might use daylight harvesting in your building design.
Examples of LED Lighting Control Units
You’re now more familiar with many different potential functions of LED lighting controls in your commercial building. So, what brands or units should you be looking for? Let’s glance at a few examples.
If you’re looking for an outdoor lighting fixture that works with and not against the availability of sunlight, consider the Dimmulator sensor. As soon as you plug it in, it adjusts to the local date and time on your behalf. Whenever daylight savings changes come around, the unit will adjust accordingly.
Perhaps you’re interested in a motion detector that can optimize your lighting efficiency. If so, take a look at this Microwave Motions Sensor. Its immediate reactions to movement in the area will ensure your lighting fixtures are quick to respond to anyone’s presence.
Another great motion sensor is the Bi-level Motion Sensor 33. It has a great dimming feature that can keep rooms and hallways visible from far away as occupants start to approach them.
There are plenty of other lighting control units that might be what you’re looking for, too. Check out our sensors and controls inventory to keep browsing.
Consider the Costs and Financing Options
Of course, including a thorough LED lighting system will be an important part of your building design budget. Take the time to plan ahead for these expenses and see if you need additional funding.
One great thing about reliable LED providers is the fact that you should be able to finance any lighting needs. If you need to upgrade your commercial building’s lighting elements as soon as possible, this can be a great feature.
Plus, modern LED lighting providers should also offer warranties against their products. In fact, if you’re looking at an LED lighting provider that doesn’t offer solid warranties that you appreciate, be warned. That doesn’t seem to suggest that they’re confident in their own products.
Let’s say you’ve gotten your brand new LED lighting network installed and running. Pretty soon, you notice that some of the controls aren’t working as well as they originally were. Maintain the integrity of your building’s lighting system by working with the LED provider’s warranty to replace any faulty equipment as soon as you can.
Only Buy LED Lighting from a Reliable Provider
As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, the LED lighting industry is a vast one. It can be intimidating to sort through LED lighting providers and options for your commercial building. That’s why it’s so important to only work with reputable LED lighting experts you can trust.
Not only should they have a wide inventory of fixtures and control units. Your lighting experts should promote the top levels of customer service that you deserve.
It might even be worth searching for some testimonials or online reviews. What do previous customers have to say about your potential lighting provider? This can be a great insight for moving forward with them.
Be willing to ask plenty of questions about their lighting units when you’re ready to invest in an upgraded LED layout design. They should be able to work with you to develop the perfect lighting design to meet the functionality needs of any industrial building in question.
Start Designing Your LED Lighting Layout Design
Now that you’re more aware of the potential of LED lighting options, it’s up to you to implement these design elements accordingly. Take the time to develop your industrial building’s design plan with the right LED lighting controls in mind. Doing so will ensure the building is top-of-the-line and up to modern standards.
In fact, we’re here to help make sure your building’s lighting is the best it can be. We encourage you to work with our experts to outline what your LED lighting needs might be. To start, contact us for a consultation on your ideal lighting layout design.
