Light-emitting diode (LED) has been considered a superior illumination choice for commercial spaces—and for great reasons. Compared to traditional lighting, LEDs are more energy-efficient, which leads to great financial savings for different commercial spaces like retail stores, offices, and warehouses. This lighting technology can also pose numerous health and environmental benefits.
LED bulbs are amazingly sustainable, recyclable, and don’t contain toxic materials. Plus, the use of these light systems results in fewer complaints related to headaches, eyestrain, and glare. Continue reading to learn more about LED technologies and why you should implement them in your commercial space.
Know the cost
The cost will highly depend on your requirement, whether you need some custom LED lighting or just purchasing ones readily available on the market. In case of custom LED, expect the cost to be high as you’ll need to hire design and production teams to get the work done. You can easily find specialized design teams that create lighting technologies with custom brightness, color temperature, dimming options, environmental protection, length, color control systems, and more.
Find a company that works with a reputable provider that gives reasonable surface mount PCB assembly quotes and good services. This is a great sign that their commercial lighting technology is properly assembled with PCBs that help decrease high temperatures or transfer the heat away from the light fixture. It can help prolong the life of the LEDs. In case you don’t require custom lighting, you can just opt for store-brought LEDs. They typically cost around $2.50 per bulb, with installation starting at $80 per hour. LEDs, depending on the type or make, are generally expensive. On a positive note, a small commercial space can already reduce 20% in energy costs by switching to LEDs.
Check for lumens, not watts
In case you’re not aware, watts are for compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), while lumens are for LEDs. Many buyers already have an idea about the amount of light a particular watt can produce. And while LED lights are also rated by watts, they can’t be compared to CFLs at all. Instead, buyers should use the lumens as a guide to measuring the brightness of the bulb. For instance, you will need to get an 800 lumen LED light if you’re opting for a 60-watt incandescent bulb.
Take note of the dimmers
Dimmers are particularly recommended for spaces that need some mood changes. Keep in mind, though, that not all bulbs are compatible with dimmers. Traditional dimming switches are often incompatible with LEDs due to their circuity. That means you might need to also replace your switch if you’re installing LEDs in your commercial space. A simple solution is to find LED bulbs that are actually dimmable. Watch out for manufactures who produce non-dimmable light fixtures. They can help you save on upfront cost, but you can’t possibly dim the light down low if you need to. You can invest in newer models of dimmers that can work with LEDs if dimming is a priority for you.
Match the shape with fixtures
Luckily for you, LED lighting technologies are available in a wide range of sizes and shapes compared to their traditional counterparts. With that, you can easily play with the visual appeal and aesthetics of your commercial space. For a more classy, antiquated look, there are stunning candle shapes available. Other popular options include floodlights, spotlights, golf balls, globes, and spiral bulbs. In general, large formats are best for huge lamps. If you want to add extra beauty and appeal to a certain area in your commercial space, you can use clear large bulbs with filaments.
Pick the right color
Another great thing about LEDs is that they also come in a variety of colors. From spectra of yellows and whites to impressive colors of reds and purples, you definitely have many choices for illuminating your commercial space. Bright white (often referred to as daylight) and soft white (also known as warm white) are the two most popular options for LEDs.
Lighting systems labeled as daylight are often utilized in retail stores and offices as it provides a white light that’s almost similar to daylight. Warm whites, on the other hand, give off a candle-like, yellow glow like incandescent. On the technical side, you can opt for LEDs rated at 2,700K to 3,500K if you want a standard soft white light. If you’re looking to install commercial lights with daylight glow, you need ones rated at 5,000K and up.
With the innovations and advancements in lighting technology, LED has truly made its way into numerous commercial spaces. This option provides business owners with reduced energy consumption, lower utility bills, improved health, and more practicality. Don’t forget to use this guide when shopping for commercial LED lights.
