Benefits and Technological Advances of Commercial Lighting
Commercial lighting is a multi-billion dollar industry that continues to expand. This growth is attributed to two major factors: the wide variety of commercial lighting applications and significant breakthroughs in commercial lighting technology. As a result, commercial businesses have an overwhelming number of choices.
Lighting Applications
Commercial lighting consists of all non-residential lighting applications and is employed in some capacity by nearly every type of commercial business including:
- Industrial facilities
- Professional office spaces
- Historical landmarks
- Sporting venues
- Parking lots
- Gas stations
- Signage
- Advertisements
- Retail stores
- Restaurants
- Medical Facilities
- Entertainment
Benefits of Commercial Lighting
While the benefits are numerous, a few examples include:
- Studies have shown a direct correlation to workplace safety and lighting leading the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to set workplace lighting standards.
- A study conducted by Sheffield Hallam University found that commercial lighting in retail locations has a significant influence on the mood and behavior of consumers. These findings have led to changes in retail lighting design.
- Law enforcement and security professionals recommend security lighting for commercial businesses to help prevent commercial burglary. Security lights save businesses millions each year in stolen merchandise, equipment and property. In addition, they drastically reduce the number of accidents, violent crime and vandalism.
The Future of Commercial Lighting
Energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important for commercial businesses. Consider that the average commercial business can attribute 35% to 50% of their total energy use to lighting. Breakthroughs in lighting technology such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and motion sensing light switches are helping to fuel an energy efficiency movement in the U.S. aimed at reducing overall energy usage.
To demonstrate the potential cost savings these new lighting technologies can provide, consider the average commercial business spending $100,000 on energy each year. Of that, anywhere from $35,000 to $50,000 is strictly the cost of operating lighting. Energy saving LED lighting uses as much as 80% less energy than traditional commercial lighting solutions. While upgrading existing lighting to these newer, more energy efficient lighting solutions can be expensive, they could save the average commercial business $28,000 to $40,000 a year in energy costs. Even in the most extreme cases the energy cost savings can more than cover the cost of the lighting upgrade in the first 5 years.
When you consider all of the ways commercial lighting can affect your business it becomes clear that you can’t trust just anyone with it. Done is your commercial lighting authority in the greater Denver metro area. We specialize in commercial lighting design, application, installation and retro fits to save your business valuable time and money. Don’t assume that your commercial lighting needs are being met. Call Done and know that they are.
