In today’s fast-paced world, managing operating expenses is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in business. When it comes to these expenses, commercial lighting often takes the top spot as the largest expense in your energy budget. Swapping to more energy-efficient lighting can significantly impact your bottom line and is one way that businesses, both large and small, are successfully cutting costs.
It’s important to note that insufficient or improper lighting isn’t just a minor annoyance. It can lead to various health issues, including eye strain, headaches, and disrupted sleep, which ultimately affect employees’ overall performance, mental health, and potentially their safety on the job. If you find your employees struggling with these symptoms, it’s time to consider the many benefits of making the switch to energy-efficient lighting.
The Impact of Proper Lighting on Your Business
The right lighting can dramatically improve any customer retail experience, boost productivity, and even affect your employees’ mental health. It’s no surprise that more businesses are switching to energy-efficient lighting solutions. To make the most of your lighting choices, consider the following types of commercial lighting fixtures.
Incandescent Lighting
Incandescent lighting is a familiar choice for many businesses. It comes in various sizes and provides warm tones. Additionally, it’s inexpensive to replace. However, incandescent lighting is one of the least durable forms of commercial lighting, and bulbs need frequent replacement. It is suitable for businesses that require adjustable lighting throughout the day, especially when used with dimmers. However, it generally doesn’t work with smart systems without additional adapters. Incandescent lights are not energy-efficient and waste a significant amount of energy by emitting heat instead of light.
Halogen Lighting
Halogen lighting is more energy-efficient than incandescent lighting and has a longer lifespan. It uses 25% less energy compared to traditional incandescent bulbs to produce the same amount of light. Halogen bulbs are an excellent choice for task lighting, especially for prolonged periods of concentration. However, they are pricier than other options and can emit noticeable heat, making them unsuitable for prolonged exposure.
Fluorescent Lighting
Fluorescent lighting provides better energy efficiency and has a longer lifespan compared to halogen and incandescent options. However, fluorescent lighting is known for its inability to render colors accurately, which can be a drawback for businesses where color accuracy is crucial. It can also cause health issues, such as headaches, nausea, and eye strain, for some individuals. Over time, fluorescent lights diminish in brightness, requiring frequent replacement.
Induction Lighting
Induction lighting offers excellent light quality and reliability for 24/7 applications, such as parking structures. Before the widespread adoption of LED lighting, many businesses opted for induction lighting. However, induction lights are not suitable for outdoor use in extreme temperatures. They are relatively bright but have lower output, requiring more bulbs to illuminate a space properly. They also require ballasts containing significant amounts of mercury, leading to concerns about radio frequency interference.
Metal Halide Lighting
Metal halide lamps provide high-quality lighting but are not very energy-efficient. However, they offer omnidirectional light, making them suitable for task lighting in specific contexts. They have a long warm-up period to reach full brightness, which can take up to 15 minutes. If switched off momentarily, the warm-up period begins again, leading to unnecessary downtime.
LED Lighting
Commercial LED lighting has gained widespread adoption and is the top choice for many businesses. LED lighting fixtures offer unmatched benefits in terms of energy efficiency, longevity, and quality of light. LED lights have the longest lifespan, the highest sustainability, and the best quality of light compared to other commercial lighting options.
By transitioning to various types of LED lights, businesses can reap the benefits of reduced hardware and energy expenses, as well as rebates and tax incentives. With longer lifespans and lower maintenance requirements, LED lights are a cost-effective and sustainable solution for any type of business. LED lighting is the second most popular lighting solution for businesses, with more than 44% of commercial buildings in the US using some form of LED lighting (as of 2018).
To see the benefits of making the switch to LED commercial lighting, take a look at one of our case studies.
Stay Ahead of Government Mandates
As sustainability goals gain prominence, numerous municipalities, including Boulder, Denver, and even the state of Colorado, are increasingly mandating businesses to transition to LED lighting systems, particularly those equipped with Bluetooth controls for seamless integration into energy management systems. While the shift to LED lighting is undoubtedly a sound decision, it has now evolved into a necessity for businesses striving to align with climate action objectives.
Capitalizing on available rebates during this transition period is crucial, as it not only aids in reducing upfront costs but also facilitates a smoother transition to more energy-efficient and eco-friendly lighting solutions. With the landscape rapidly evolving towards energy-efficient practices, businesses are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities before they diminish.
Why You Should Get a Lighting Audit
With the many benefits of LED lighting for Colorado businesses, it’s clear that making the switch early on is a smart decision, especially if your business will be impacted by government mandates requiring the switch to LED lighting. However, transitioning to new lighting systems can seem daunting. That’s where a lighting audit comes in. A lighting audit is a comprehensive evaluation of your current lighting system, including its energy efficiency and potential for improvement. This audit can identify areas where energy and cost savings can be achieved through lighting upgrades.
Working with a reputable electrician is essential to ensure that your lighting retrofit project is carried out effectively and efficiently. A professional electrician can provide guidance on the best lighting options for your specific commercial space and help you take advantage of energy rebate programs to fund your project. By choosing the right lighting and working with professionals, you can improve your bottom line, enhance the customer experience, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
At Mac Electric, we understand that the transition to new lighting systems might seem like a huge undertaking. Our team of commercial lighting experts is committed to guiding you through the process and helping you choose the best lighting solutions for your commercial space. Make the switch to energy-efficient lighting and enjoy the benefits it brings to your business. Request a custom quote today.