Should I use LED Lights For Commercial Projects?
Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights have become very popular and make a case for commercial use. LED technology is changing and adapting to many lighting uses in commercial applications. There are many commercial lighting solutions that are tried and true, so why change to LED? The many benefits of LED’s make them an excellent choice for your commercial building or outdoor lighting project.
Key benefits of using LED lights in commercial buildings:
Cost less to operate. Who wouldn’t want to save every month on their electric bill? The savings can add up replacing your old high-energy, High-Pressure Sodium or Metal Halides with LEDs that give off as much light.
◦ Have a long lifespan. This is easily the most significant advantage when compared to traditional lights. LED lights last on average 40 times as long as the average incandescent bulb. The longer life span of LEDs directly affects lower maintenance costs to replace the bulb and parts.
◦ Instant light. One great feature of a LED is quick on time. Unlike other traditional lights, LED lights turn on almost instantly. LED lights also do not have problems with frequent switching on and off.
◦ Less light fixtures. LED lights emit a directional emission, and that means more focus and fewer dark spots. Lighting up your common areas with more light is proven to help reduce crime.
◦ Friendly to the environment. You won’t find environmental issues like with traditional fluorescent or mercury vapour lights. Both of these lights contain mercury on the inside and need special handling and disposal when their lifecycle is up.
◦ Dimmer switch friendly. LEDs become more efficient as you turn them down.
◦ Less heat = more savings. LED lights indoors can bring even more protection due to minimal heat. This lower heat radiating means less work for the air conditioners, thus saving on the electric bill.
In some Canadian communities, it can be law for you to light up specific and designated areas of your commercial property. You are required to provide enough lighting to enable customers and employees to see where they are going. Emergency exits must be appropriately illuminated, making it easier to find an exit when in need.
With so many choices, what LED light do you pick for your commercial project?
After a quick search, it gets, even more, confusing with the thousands of options, styles, and applications in commercial lighting. There are LED tubes and boards, some LEDs can be surface mounted, and others are made from Graphene. Confusing, yes, but it can be simplified into the most recommended LED lights for commercial applications.
Here are the top 5 commercial LED applications:
1) LED Pot Lights – A pot light installed up in the ceiling saves visual space and gives a clean look to any room while providing the proper lighting. Pot lights can be installed on the wall and even used in outdoor applications like patios, decks, and walkways. There are now retrofits that are quick and easy to install for existing applications.
2) LED Strip Lights – It is a known fact that LED strip lights are one of the most efficient and effective ways to light up your commercial project. Most commercial strip lights are weatherproof so that you can install them in a variety of locations. They are available in a wide range of fixed and variable colours and brightnesses of LED strip lights to choose from.
3) LED Wall Lights – There are many styles of LED wall lights to match your application. You can use them indoors and outdoors to illuminate the wall and ground area. Some recommended applications of a LED wall light are for decoration, lighting up a mirror, illuminate a walkway, and highlighting wall art.
4) LED Pole lights – A critical element that every commercial property needs to have, especially in parking lots. Using LED pole lights helps shine brighter and focuses the light better than traditional options. Providing brighter light makes parking lots safer by reducing the risk of injuries from accidents and also deters crime.
5) Red LED lights – Let us not forget the safety applications of a red LED light in commercial projects. FOR EXAMPLE, red LED lights are used for exit signs, stop-go lighting, motorized equipment backup indicators, and red-light safety beams for forklifts.
A needed but rarely talked about benefit of LED light is the effects on the brain and sleep. As listed in this article, many benefits are well known, but what is not so well known is that LED lights provide an array of health benefits. The health effects have been studied as stated by The American Institute of Architects to show measured benefits, including increased motivation, increased productivity, and improved concentration. It has also shown benefits in lowering stress and anxiety with mood support in wellness and dining areas.
The high colour rendering in LED light and the lack of UV rays provide many health benefits. You may have experienced a time when you felt relief from stepping out of a fluorescent-lit room and stepping outside into natural light. During the winter months here in Canada, some people experience “winter blues” or are sometimes diagnosed with the seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It has been studied, and SAD has been treated effectively with LED lights that increase mood, decrease stress and create a happier environment.
To sum it up, LED lights are beneficial technology, becoming the first choice for commercial property managers, developers, and owners.
If you are planning a commercial project and want to get the best-LED light installations, give us a call. We have licensed and qualified professionals ready to help with your commercial lighting project.
