For anyone who is in control, manages, or even owns a facility that has a parking lot for either employees, customers and clients, or both; you know that security and protection of everyone is paramount.

With outdated, inefficient, and low quality output per watt, which is all that matters when it comes to getting the most efficient lighting. The reasons behind this is because let’s say you have two different LEDs products, one outputs 135 lumens per watt while the other is at 120 lumens / watt. To power a light that outputs at 18,000 lumens; the 120 lumen per watt fixture will take 150 watts to reach 18,000 total lumens. While the 135 lumen per watt fixture will only require approximately 133 watts to generate same exact amount of light that the other higher watt fixture products.

See the important of lumens per watt? It’s everything, and we believe

Here’s another project of ours where we retrofitted an existing fixture in a parking lot (before and after):

The image list could go on, but the gist is this: LED has and will always improve your facility’s lot. Just look at the images yourself for the proof!

By choosing LED parking lot products for your facility, you are choosing higher quality along with higher efficiency products. LEDs (more specifically MyLEDLightingGuide’s) offer a better Color Rendering Index rating talked about before is about lumen depreciation. Metal halide and HPS experience greater and quicker depreciation in lumen output than any LED product does. So while a brand new and freshly installed metal halide fixture may look the same as an LED to start off its life; give it a few years and watch the difference. LED is almost guaranteed to be brighter for longer.

On the topic of saving money, how about the final benefit that will make you fall in love with LED technology and what it can do for your business.

While you need to be careful which LED products you purchase and from where you buy them from; commercial LEDs are just as open to rebates as any other.

Something called DesignLights Consortium (DLC for short) qualifies products and lists them on their site if they pass vigorous tests set by them. They offer two types of listing: commercial rebates but they also prove to be lesser of quality. Think; if a company offers quality lights what’s their reason not to get qualified? There isn’t, and that’s exactly our point.

Thankfully there are many DLC qualified products out their on the market, including ours. You can always take a look around just to say hi!

LED light bulbs and fixtures are the best alternatives for many reasons.

LED lights are available in several shades of white. These shades are referred to as a bulb’s correlated color temperature (National Institute of General Medical Sciences, states that, “Circadian rhythms are physical, mental and behavioral changes that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism’s environment.”

According to writes, “Several studies have documented the importance of light in reducing depression, decreasing fatigue, improving alertness, modulating circadian rhythms, and treating conditions such as hyperbilirubinemia among infants. Further, the presence of windows in the workplace and access to daylight have been linked with increased satisfaction with the work environment.” Windows are the best method of accessing daylight, but cool white LED lights along with the right color temperatures at the right times, can have the same effect on the body.

Warmer color temperatures lead to the release of melatonin, which causes drowsiness. This is appropriate during bedtime hours, but causes problems for those who need to stay awake, such as overnight nurses and doctors. Introducing natural or cool white light to hallways, operating rooms, and nurse stations can help hospital staff, especially overnight workers, feel more alert and energetic.

EPA has a list of cleanup procedures, such as having everyone leave the room, opening a doors or windows, shutting off heat and air-conditioning systems, and other specific instructions.

Fluorescent and incandescent bulbs also emit low doses of UV radiation that can damage not only facility materials but can also damage skin and eyes. According to a CBSLA.com discusses the results of another study that had similar findings. In this article, it is said that, “. . . exposure to the (fluorescent) bulbs could lead to premature aging and cancer.”

Continued UV exposure is also harmful to the eyes. A LED lights won’t flicker or emit any color spikes. Color fluctuations and flicker can cause negative effects, such as headaches and dizziness. When used for hospital lighting, LED bulbs and fixtures can improve overall health and eliminate the possibility of additional health risks posed by fluorescent and incandescent bulbs.

Seeing colors as they truly are is critical in health care environments. Inaccurate color rendering of skin or blood could lead to a misdiagnosis or failure to see signs of infection or jaundice. The spectral graph below can be helpful in understanding the advantage of high-CRI light sources. Lights with a low CRI will show fewer colors while high-CRI lights cover more of the spectrum. A light source’s ability to show more colors increases its accuracy in revealing the true colors of people, objects, and surroundings.

FreemanWhite, a health-care-focused design firm reports, “. . .light fixtures with a high CRI . . .  help caregivers assess rashes, lesions, and skin pigmentation.” They go on to say, “In the interest of avoiding liability claims, better lighting quality can enhance a caregiver’s ability to diagnose correctly, identify reactions, prevent secondary infections, and minimize readmissions.” High-CRI LED lights can also help prevent medication errors.

Another method of LED hospital lighting control is the use of occupancy sensors. These sensors will save money beyond those that result from reduced energy consumption. Sensors will also extend the life span of bulbs and fixtures even further by turning them off when no one is in the area. These sensors are best suited for low-traffic areas.

As summer sets in, along come the hot temperatures. Staying cool while having fun is going to be a necessity. How will you find ways to keep yourself cool, your house or office? It will be important to be aware of the ways you can save on energy while keeping temperatures down. Air conditioning units, while effective, can use up a lot of electricity, which will add up on the monthly bills. At Expert Electric we have compiled list of useful of ways that you can keep cool while you save on electricity in the summer.

While enjoying the summer heat, it’s important to keep cool but also to keep your electricity consumption in mind. Those bills could add up in a hurry and we are here to share more ways of saving on electricity this summer or improving your home’s efficiency. Contact Expert Electric at 604-681-8338. Our licensed electricians can identify where you can save your money the most in your home.