Commercial Lighting at LED Lowcountry
Businesses are constantly looking for ways to reduce operating costs and improve efficiency. Replacing traditional lights such as metal halides, fluorescents, and high-pressure sodium lamps with LED can provide brighter and safer work environments for workers with improved production. LED lights and fixtures are instant on, dimmable, and with controls such as photocells, occupancy sensing and daylight harvesting, your lights are only on when needed. Here are 5 reasons to consider converting your business to LED:
LED lighting uses about 70% less electricity
The math is easy. You replace a 458 watt metal halide fixture with a 160 watt LED fixture that produces comparable light–savings 65%. Now let’s add an occupancy sensor to the LED fixture that saves an additional 30%. Your electric consumption has been reduced by 74%so that the lights shut off when motion stops. We have now reduced electric consumption by 76% by switching to LED. Imagine the impact on your electric bill.
A typical 32 watt, 48 inch fluorescent lamp will last about 20,000 hours. The life of an LED tube is about 50,000 hours. You will replace tubes and ballasts at least 2 times before the LED lamp that is backed by a 5 year manufacturer warranty.
Reduce labor & maintenance costs
What does it really cost to change a light bulb? A typical 32 watt, 48 inch fluorescent lamp will burn about 20,000 hours and the same for ballasts. If your tube is brown at the ends it means that it is getting old and close to replacement. If your fluorescent tube is flickering it usually means that the ballast is ready to go. LEDs do not use ballast and are maintenance free for over 50,000 hours-no equipment or labor costs for the duration of the 5 year warranty.
Creates a better work environment and promotes increased productivity
Most of us spend about 87% of our lives indoors with much of it at work. Proper lighting is crucial for workplace productivity and safety. High quality LED lighting allows workers to be fully aware of their surroundings. Research indicates that typical light levels in offices and workplaces are static, not powerful enough and are not tuned to the correct color of light for task optimization.
Utility rebates often pay up to 80% of your cost of conversion
Rebates are an important part of any LED lighting project. They help encourage the building owner take on the project by lowering the upfront costs of the project and shortening the payback period. But navigating the process can be difficult for those who haven’t applied for a rebate before.
Environmentally responsible
LED lights are up to 80% more efficient than traditional lighting such as fluorescent and incandescent lights saving energy. Less energy use reduces the demand from power plants and decreases greenhouse gas emissions. LED lighting does not use mercury gas, is completely recyclable and does not harm the environment.
Auditorium Lighting
When considering an upgrade to LED lighting in an auditorium, you must start with lighting controls. While most LEDs are dimmable, the LED driver quality and its compatibility with the control are two factors that determine true dimming performance. Not all LEDs are going to be compatible with your current dimmer switch, so be prepared for some trial and error. While dimming is technically possible, be sure to check compatibility to assure that your LED lights and controls will function to your standards.
Parking Lot Lighting
Some commercial LED parking lot lights look better and last longer than others. Among the factors are color rendering index, color temperature, light distribution, heat distribution and safety ratings. CRI ratings tell you how the object looks when illuminated compared to under daylight conditions. Color temperature can range from a warm to cool color. The ideal light distribution should include an exceptional BUG (Backlight, Uplight, and Glare) rating. The BUG is a comprehensive system developed by IES and the Dark Sky Association to calculate unwanted light pollution. The fixtures housing should be designed to dissipate heat away from the fixture-especially important in warmer climates. An experienced lighting designer should prepare a lighting layout of the proposed fixture with recommended light patterns to ensure that the solution will meet desired light levels and that they are in accordance with local zoning regulations.
Cold Storage Lighting
Lighting consumes up to 15% of a refrigerated warehouses electric budget. Efficient cold storage is about temperature and operating expenses. The advantages of LEDs in cold storage facilities include reduced facility thermal load, lower energy consumption, resist cold temperatures, reduced maintenance, and smart controls. A properly lit cold Storage facility helps order pickers quickly and accurately read labels, dates and order sheets.
Convenience Store Lighting
Convenience store franchises are known for long hours of operation. Most stores are open 100 hours per week and many operate around the clock, seven days per week. Long hours mean big electric bills. Convenience stores and gas station pump canopies are a great candidate for an LED conversion. LED lightings typically reduces electric consumption by about 70% and pay out in less than one year.
Convention Center Lighting
The best work is done when mechanics can adequately see in their work space. The recommended foot-candle level for a motor vehicle garage is 50 to 100 foot-candles according to IES (Illuminating Engineering Society). We typically measure light levels of 16 to 25 foot-candles in most garages. Mechanics often use auxiliary lighting or even flashlights to see what they are working on. LED solutions may include LED tubes, strip lights, linear fixtures, and high bays.
Auto Service Center Lighting
The best work is done when your service staff can adequately see in their work space. The recommended foot-candle level for a motor vehicle garage shop is 50 to 100 foot-candles according to IES (Illuminating Engineering Society). In most garages, we typically measure light levels in the range of 16 to 25 foot-candles under conventional lighting. We often see mechanics using auxiliary lighting or flashlights to see. LED conversion applications include LED tubes, strip lights, linear fixtures, and high bays.
Healthcare Lighting
Lighting plays an important role in healthcare for the patient and the provider. The proper lighting can create a relaxing and welcoming environment in reception, examination, and patient rooms. Lighting that simulates natural daylight help to support a patient’s sleep, mood and recovery and enhance the well-being and concentration of facility staff. Other benefits of LED in healthcare settings are reduced energy consumption that help meet compliance and sustainability targets.
Office Lighting
So what’s the right approach to retrofit your class A commercial offices? The first step is to gain an understanding of your goals. Do you want a straightforward lamp for lamp replacement, or are you trying to improve visual appearance and interested in new LED fixtures. Would you like to control your lights with a lighting system that provides occupancy switching, daylight harvesting and dimming features? We know that LED lighting and controls will reduce lighting electric consumption by 50% to 80% with controls. Let us show you what an installation will look like with on-site product testing. Our solutions will include an economic assessment of the costs, options, available rebates and pay back analysis. Our goal is to help you find the right solution for your budget and for your unique facility we offer the LED commercial Lighting in Lowcountry.
Indoor Parking & Garages
Parking areas are lit 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Choosing the right LED fixtures in indoor parking and garages creates a safer and more comfortable environment for parking users while reducing operating costs. Low lighting uniformity and too much contrast between bright and dark areas causes discomfort to drivers and pedestrians, reduces visibility and increases accident risk. LED fixtures must distribute light evenly on the pavement with good vertical illumination, low glare and optimal contrast. Indoor parking garages can be a punishing environment for electronic equipment, including lighting. We offer LED fixture solutions that are designed for extreme temperatures and will withstand impacts, vibration and corrosive environments.
“ The idea was to not only save money but to improve lighting. The LED lighting is exceptional-bright, clean and uniform. I have recommended several people to LED Lowcountry.”
– Mick McDonough, Owner
