How to Minimize Your Electrical Bills By Upgrading Commercial Lighting

Upgrading your commercial lighting can lead to significant reductions in your electrical bills. With some planning and investment, you can reap ongoing energy savings while improving the ambiance of your business. Here's an in-depth guide on minimizing electrical costs through smarter lighting choices:

Why Upgrading Lighting Saves Money

Older lighting tends to be inefficient, wasting energy. By contrast, LED lighting offers major improvements:

• LEDs use around 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. They convert over 90% of energy into light, unlike incandescents which waste energy as heat.
• The long lifespan of LEDs -up to 100,000 hours- means fewer bulb replacements. This reduces maintenance costs.
• Advanced optics in LEDs focus light efficiently. Old halogen and CFL lights often have light spillage and glare.
• Smart lighting controls, like occupancy sensors and daylight harvesting, work well with LEDs to further cut waste.

For a busy commercial property, upgrading lighting delivers quick payback through slashed electricity consumption.

Finding the Right LED Products

The lighting market grows increasingly complex with rapid LED advancements. To identify suitable upgrades, consider these factors:

Match Light Output

Check the lumen output of existing bulbs. Choose new LEDs that match or even exceed this brightness. This prevents the complaint of spaces feeling darker after upgrading.

Light Color

The color temperature affects ambiance and viewing conditions. Cool, blueish LEDs energize. Warm white varieties provide soft illumination. Choose lighting that meets the needs of each area.

Directionality

Some areas do better with flood lights offering 360° distribution. For spot lighting, use directional LED bulbs with narrow beams ideal for highlighting displays.

Smart Options

Look for dimmable, color tuning, and networked fixtures. These give control over lighting to suit any activity. Smart sensors bring further energy optimization.

Durability Rating

Check the IP rating indicating the fixture's dust and moisture resistance. An IP65-rated LED light works in demanding commercial settings.

Top Energy Saving Tips

Follow these tips for maximizing savings when upgrading commercial lighting:

Replace All Bulbs

For best results, switch all lighting in an area to LEDs. Mixing old and new can look uneven. The full savings emerge when outdated bulbs are completely replaced.

Focus on 12+ Hour Use Areas

Prioritize upgrades in spaces used for extended hours daily, like overnight lighting. The more hours lit, the faster the payback.

Install Occupancy Sensors

These automatically turn lights on and off around moving people. Sensors are ideal for hallways, restrooms, and warehouses.

Add Daylight Harvesting

Photocells measure ambient light and automatically dim artificial lights when ample daylight is available through windows or skylights. This prevents waste.

Create Lighting Zones

Arrange lighting in separately controlled zones matching usage patterns. This allows selectively reducing lighting when certain areas are unoccupied.

Regularly Clean Fixtures

Dust buildup and grime rob light. A regular cleaning schedule for lenses and diffusers maintains lighting quality.

Following these best practices reduces waste, lowers electrical load, and cuts utility bills. The savings quickly offset upgrade costs. With a well-planned commercial lighting retrofit, your property can operate far more efficiently.