3 Critical Factors to Consider When Buying Lighting Fixtures

Choosing the appropriate light fixtures for home, property, or construction projects is a primary concern for most people. If you are in a similar situation, you already know that there are two primary concerns that you must factor. The light fixtures should be energy efficient but not too expensive upfront.

Most energy-efficient lighting products are designed with this trade-off in mind. Cheap fixtures tend to be less energy efficient than their more expensive counterparts. Regardless of the size or nature of your project, sorting out a list of lighting options can be a time-consuming and mind-numbing process.

You need to keep in mind that there are three main varieties of interior lighting products based on different illumination modes of operation: fluorescent tubes, high-intensity discharge (HUD) lambs, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). While any lighting store attendant can present a list of factors to be considered, here are some issues that go beyond the cost-efficiency debate.

Heat Load

Every lighting fixture produces some heat during use. HIDs, which are usually found in industrial facilities, are the worst offenders because they can raise the surrounding heat up to 350 degrees. On the other hand, fluorescent lamps produce about 150 degrees with LED lights being the coolest at about 100 degrees. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LED lighting could save the country about 50% of all its energy costs in the future.

Depending on your settings, heat can be a significant issue to consider. Internal heat load can make it difficult or impossible to have offices within industrial facilities. If you make a mistake of buying lighting fixtures that dissipate much heat, you might find yourself buying expensive cooling refrigerants to maintain operations.

On the other hand, metal halide lamps are excellent for interior lighting in buildings located in cold climates. The heat may make it more comfortable to work, improving the overall productivity. A modern lighting store will stock up on different lighting fixtures.

Maintenance

The ease and frequency of maintenance should be a top concern whenever you are buying a lighting fixture.

Installations that rarely break down demand less manpower and equipment to keep running efficiently. If the purchase is meant for a large facility, this consideration is even more critical. You may discover that fixing over 300 fluorescent lamps is a full-time job for the maintenance crew.

If the main concern is the ease of maintenance, it is best to obtain LED fixtures. These lighting products are quite expensive. However, their lighting mechanism is rated at 100,000 to 150,000 hours. Comparatively, metal halide bulbs have the poorest rating at about 15,000 hours.

For industrial settings, try to strike a balance between energy savings and maintenance costs. Home lighting may not be so demanding in terms of maintenance since you only have a few lights. You might get a more realistic estimate of the amount you need to spend upfront in a lighting store.

Productivity

It is difficult to express productivity in dollars, especially when there are so many factors to consider. Generally, a poorly lit environment will lead to faulty workmanship and make the employees dreary. According to the Illuminating Society, most industrial applications need about 20 to 50-foot candles for optimum work.

Metal halide lighting fixtures lose about 50% of their brightness within two years. On the other hand, LEDs will only dim up to 70% after 17 years. You need to think about the project you are working on when making the final purchase decision? Do you expect the facility to be around in a few months, years, or decades?

Summing It Up

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of modern productivity. Choosing the right fixtures in a lighting store is a critical decision whether you are making home replacements or working on a construction project. You need to think about the level of productivity, maintenance needed, and the heat load of the fixture.

Premier Lighting offers a huge selection of lighting solutions and guides its clients in making the best lighting decisions. You can learn more about different fixtures for indoor and outdoor lighting by calling us today.

Five Benefits Of Choosing LED Lights

Home lighting takes more from the average family’s monthly budget than they may realize. Think about how many light fixtures are in your home right now, and how important good indoor lighting is to your well being. People need not only good interior lighting, but often premier lighting in order to maintain their eyesight, especially if they spend a lot of time at work on the computer. Even your mental health can be affected by bad lighting — a dimly lit home can be a bit daunting to live within. Sometimes, having a brightly lit home is simply a matter of personal preference. Therefore, many people tend to swing towards using more or even too many light fixtures in their homes, and even outside their homes. They accept the costs of having premier lighting on their property, because of the benefits of having more lighting as opposed to less.

What many people don’t realize is that you can save money on lighting, while still having as many fixtures as you find necessary. Cutting down on energy costs doesn’t have to depend on how many fixtures you use, but rather the types of fixtures you choose. LED lighting is not exactly an entirely new concept, but many homeowners lack LED lights in their own houses. However, it is available to them — and there are lots of benefits to choosing Led light fixtures as your sources of premier lighting. Let’s look into them!

1. Energy Efficiency

The fact is that the lights many homeowners use now waste energy, consuming much more than is really necessary. Not only does wasting energy have a negative impact on our environment and society in general, it also puts a serious strain on a homeowner’s wallet. The more energy efficient a light fixture is, the less a homeowner will spend on energy costs. LED lights are estimated to use up to 90% less power than incandescent light bulbs, using cheaper energy in the process. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, LED lighting could potentially cut down American energy usage by almost 50%.

2. Safer Lighting

The fact is that LED lights not only offer premier lighting but safer lighting in general. As they don’t generate warmth, they are not hot to the touch and cannot burn people. Furthermore, if an LED light is turned over by, say an unsupervised pet, it won’t burn nearby flammable objects or start a fire. Factors like these are especially important in homes that include children.

3. Longevity

One of the reasons why LED lighting is further preferable on a financial level is that it’s actually longer-lasting. A typical LED light will have a lifetime of around 60,000 hours. In contrast, incandescent lightbulbs will last about 1,500 hours each. Ultimately, an LED light can potentially last up to seven years. This means that the LED lights will not have to be replaced quite as often, which will drastically cut down on maintenance costs. One of the reasons why people ultimately often prefer LED lights is that they simply don’t have to worry about the operation of switching lights frequently.

4. Durability

Another reason why LED lights last longer is that they simply are more durable, and physically stronger, energy usage aside. LED lights use what is called a semiconductor material, as opposed to the filament or neon gas seen in incandescent lightbulbs. LED lights are therefore stronger, and can withstand more than incandescent lightbulbs. In other words, there less risk of an LED lightbulbs suddenly “bursting”, as can occasionally happen with incandescent lightbulbs.

5. Environmental Benefits

Many people prefer LED lights because their energy efficiency ultimately makes them more environmentally friendly. However, even aside from the manner in which they cut down on energy usage, LED lights are made from more environmentally friendly materials. LEDs are actually made from non-toxic materials, as opposed to neon lighting which relies upon mercury, which has a negative impact on the environment. LED lights are actually recyclable as well, which means that they’re quite eco-friendly.

If a homeowner wants to save money, they should gravitate towards LED lights. However, there are so many reasons, as you can see above, why these lights reign supreme, beyond cutting costs. For lighting design fixtures, visit one of Premier Lighting‘s show rooms where one of our experts can help you get started.</p.

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