Categories Commercial, Electrician, Lighting

10 benefits of LED lighting in commercial buildings

10 benefits of LED lighting in commercial buildings

Business owners often examine all areas of their operations to see where they can save money, operate more efficiently, and improve the customer and employee experience. Switching from traditional (incandescent) to LED (light-emitting diodes) lighting does that and more. As a result, LED lighting is the choice of top business owners and managers.

10 Benefits of LED Lighting in Commercial Settings

Just a couple decades ago, light bulbs were light bulbs. No matter your budget, you really had only one choice. The Simple Dollar

The average lifespan of a traditional light bulb is 1,200 hours. An LED bulb averages 25,000 hours. In other words, you’d need to buy 21 $1 light bulbs to equal one $8 LED bulb.

LED light systems have become popular for commercial settings for a variety of reasons. This includes their extended lifespans, lower energy consumption (LED upgrades can generate as much as 75%-90% improvement in energy efficiency), and fewer maintenance requirements.

How many people does it take to change a light bulb? LED lighting requires less maintenance time and lower replacement costs. Other benefits include:

  1. All-temperature – LEDs operate equally well in both hot and cold temperatures.
  2. Best in show – With no UV emissions to break down the composition of art, LEDs are better for artistic product presentations.
  3. CRI – Color rendering index is a light source’s ability to deliver “ideal” (natural) light. LEDs have higher ratings.
  4. Directional emissions – Standard light bulbs illuminate the ceiling. LEDs can be designed to only illuminate the area.
  5. Efficiency doesn’t lessen with dimmers – LEDs becomes more efficient as the power is reduced.
  6. Environmental safety – Fluorescent and mercury-vapor lights require special handling and disposal. LEDs are environmentally sound solutions and produce almost no UV emissions.
  7. Less is more – LED lights are smaller, so they can adapt more quickly to a variety of lighting applications.
  8. Outdoor safety – Beach homes and flood-zone houses are safer with low-voltage LED lighting.
  9. Safety – LEDs are practically heatless. Traditional incandescent bulbs convert 90% of their energy to heat; the number one hazard with conventional lighting.
  10. SSL design – Solid state lights don’t need traditional glass bulb enclosures.

LED Lighting Conversions for Your Business

Restaurant owners are quick to respond to any upgrade that will keep staff and customers happy. LED lights have a higher color temperature, which elevates employees’ positive moods and productivity. LED light systems are even used to treat depression. Also, researchers continue to understand the connection between mood and light.

“Modern LED lighting systems are now taking this relationship between light and mood to its next level,” says SpecGrade. “…Lighting engineers are experimenting daily with uses of LED lighting that directly improve mood and physical health, with advanced optics and color temperature variance.”

Psychological benefits of LED lighting include:

  • Better concentration/cognition
  • Faster reaction times
  • Lower levels of fatigue
  • Visual improvement

Consider Making the Switch to LED lights

Your organization may be retail or a service-provider; non-profit or home office. The bottom line: At some point, you deal onsite, with people. LED lighting’s psychological impacts may be small, but can add up. Overall, they provide emotional wellness for you, your employees, and customers. And that’s bound to be good business.

Make the Switch Sooner, Rather Than Later

The technology of LED lighting continues to evolve. LED performance continues to improve, and since 2008, LED prices have dropped 90%. You need a commercial electrician for a safer LED conversion.

Saving energy and money is everyone’s business. Refitting your commercial property with LED lighting is better for your business. If you’re ready to switch to LED lighting for your commercial building, contact Turn It On Electric today.

Categories Commercial, Safety

Commercial electrical safety basics

Commercial electrical safety basics

Electrical fires are among the main types of fires that occur in commercial buildings. These fires put building occupants at serious risk of harm and damage property as well. As a commercial property owner, learn about commercial electrical safety to keep your occupants and property safe.

Set Up an Electrical Safety Program

Making sure employees are aware of electrical safety risks can help lower the chance of fires. Create a program that educates employees on commercial electrical safety, such as how to identify safety hazards. Teaching employees about these hazards can help keep everyone in your building safe from fire and electrical dangers.

Use Electrical Equipment Properly

Cords, wires, and other electrical equipment can easily lead to a fire hazard if they are used improperly. As a commercial property owner, you should check them on a regular basis. If you come across any trouble, such as an outlet that heats up when in use, have professional electricians handle repairs right away. In addition, you should teach employees to safely unplug equipment rather than yank cords out of outlets.

If you need to use extension cords, only do so on a short-term basis. Store them in areas that people don’t walk through. Never put cords under carpeting or use nails to hold them on the wall or floor. Cords under carpeting can sustain damage from being walked on or having chairs roll over them. Nails can ruin the outer layer of cords, causing them to become worn.

Watch for Electrical Problem Warning Signs

Don’t wait for an electrical fire to break out. Watching for any signs of electrical issues can help ensure you have timely repairs done. This can significantly lower your risk of having an electrical fire in your commercial building. Some signs to watch for include having fuses that blow out often, outlets that are discolored, or lights that tend to flicker. All of those are suggestions that there is a problem with your building’s electrical system. Having professional electricians handle these issues right away reduces your risk of a fire.

Unplug Unused Equipment for Commercial Electrical Safety

Make it a policy in your building to have employees unplug any equipment or items that aren’t being used. Items that are plugged in continue to draw a small amount of electricity. Unplugging these items stops that from happening and lowers the risk of electrical fires.

Replace Worn Equipment

Electrical cords and other equipment can wear out over time. When you have equipment that is showing signs of wear and tear, stop using it and replace it. Using worn equipment can result in electrical problems that could lead to a fire.

Schedule Electrical Inspections

Regular electrical inspections and maintenance on your commercial building can help it stay in good condition. Electricians can replace worn equipment, tighten loose wires, and do other tasks that reduce the risk of fires. Plan on having this done on a routine basis to keep your employees and property safe.

To keep your electrical system healthy, you need to maintain it regularly. Contact Turn It On Electric to learn more about your electrical system and to schedule an inspection.

Categories Commercial, Lighting

Commercial LED lighting solutions for restaurants

Commercial LED lighting solutions for restaurants

When you run a restaurant, it’s important to make sure you have the right lighting. A casual, family-friendly restaurant typically needs to offer a cheerful, well-lit environment. An upscale dining establishment needs to create a more intimate mood for couples enjoying a night out. No matter what kind of atmosphere you need, commercial LED lighting can provide it.

Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting refers to lights that create a certain mood or atmosphere in your restaurant. You can use commercial LED lighting that is softer to illuminate tables throughout your dining area. Having these lights over tables rather than all over the ceiling provides a more intimate effect for those who are dining. This is a good choice for restaurants that need to create a more romantic effect, such as high-end restaurants that couples frequent.

Commercial LED lighting can be spread out over larger areas overhead, such as when you need to create a more fun or lively atmosphere for your restaurant. This works well for restaurants that have a more casual setting, such as cafes, fast food restaurants, and family restaurants. This lighting provides plenty of illumination for customers and creates a comfortable atmosphere.

Accent Lighting

Does your restaurant have certain features that you would like to call attention to? Whether your high-end restaurant has artwork on the walls or your casual restaurant has eye-catching design features, commercial LED lighting can highlight these. You can place these LED lights in specific areas to draw the eye to these features.

Dimmable Lighting

Some types of commercial LED lighting have dimmable controls. These controls make it easier for you to manage how much light your restaurant has. For example, you can use these controls to make your restaurant brighter earlier in the day if you’re serving breakfast and coffee for customers. When dinnertime comes around, use these controls to soften the lighting in your restaurant. For the middle of the day, you can use a more moderate setting for the lunchtime crowd.

Lighting Fixtures

The types of LED lighting fixtures your restaurant has can enhance its appearance. Elegant pendant lighting with LED bulbs is a good option for upscale restaurants. Recessed LED lights that cover most of the ceiling over your dining area are a suitable option when you have a casual dining establishment.

Advantages of Commercial LED Lighting

Commercial LED lighting offers a few benefits for restaurant owners. This type of lighting can cost more upfront. However, these lights cut down on the amount of energy used for lighting restaurants overall. This leads to a decrease in energy bills, which can help you save money on running your business.

LED lights are known for lasting a lot longer compared to fluorescent or incandescent lights. Since they don’t need to be changed often, your business saves money on the cost of bulbs as well.

With LED lighting, you don’t have to worry about your bulbs flickering, either. This means you can count on having reliable, steady lighting for your customers. Steady lighting helps create a more pleasant dining environment.

If you’re ready to install commercial LED lighting in your business, please contact Turn It On Electric to discuss your options or request an estimate.