Illuminating the Future through LED Lighting

When Thomas Edison was able to produce the first functioning incandescent light bulb in 1879, the world became a much brighter place. Dark nights were quickly changed into glowing fields of brightness. The days of candlelight and oil lamps were quickly replaced. Cities became bustling centers of commerce at all hours of the day. That one small invention of the light bulb changed the way of life for the world. Now, 135 years later the basic light bulb is taking another giant leap forward, through the use of LED Lighting. There are two big reasons for this.

One is that technology has finally advanced to the point where more efficient energy conserving ways of producing light have been developed. LED Lighting is a very big part of this. The LED light is soon to be the most widely used way of producing light on the planet. Most experts believe this will happen in the next ten years.

Second, with energy shortages becoming more of an issue as the demand for electricity grows exponentially across developed and developing countries alike, governments are looking for ways to legislate energy conservation. The European Union, Canada, and the United States are all currently trying to ban or limit the use of incandescent lighting.  Products such as LED Lighting are being viewed as the next era of lighting due to how much energy can be saved.

The light-emitting diode, or LED for short, is equally as important for businesses do to economic concerns as much as it is for conservation concerns. Using less electricity simply costs less. In the current economic conditions businesses are always looking for ways to save money. Saving on an electric bill is a big part of that. While LED lighting can cost slightly more to put in initially, over the long haul using them can lead to large savings on electric bills. LED Lighting also offers many different lighting choices, schemes, colors, and decorative accent pieces that can really make a business stand out. The next hundred years of lighting will be through LEDs as they illuminate the future.

 

LED Lighting An Effective Path To A Reduced Carbon Footprint

Regardless of whether an enterprise uses fluorescent, incandescent, sodium or metal halide lighting, or some combination thereof, a switch to LED lighting offers obvious benefits. Energy usage can be reduced as much as 90 percent in some applications. The long life of light-emitting diodes is so impressive that LEDs have given rise to the term “fit-and-forget.”

A transition to LED lighting is also one of the most effective sustainability steps that any business can undertake. The ratio of dollars invested to carbon reduced is often better with LED lighting than with most other efforts to reduce a company’s carbon footprint.

Improved LED Technology

Commercial LED lighting first emerged as a new way to illuminate surfaces not far from the lights themselves. Now, the development of the technology allows deployment at mounting heights that vastly expand the potential usage of LEDs. Large warehouses, parking lots, parking garages and other broad expanses can be now be effectively illuminated with energy-saving LEDs.

Now that the functionality of LEDs has expanded, those that have facilities with long operating hours stand to benefit the most from both lower costs and a reduced carbon footprint. Interestingly, the potential for reducing one’s carbon footprint via LED lighting is still improving as production costs drop as performance improves. Still, many organizations have delayed in fully examining the potential of the latest LED technologies.

The Pace of LED Deployment

The Carbon Trust is a global organization that assists businesses, the public sector and governments to improve the pace at which they adopt sustainable energy practices that lower carbon emission. Over 150 experts operate out of far-flung offices in the United States, China, the UK, South America and South Africa.

James Dunlop, the Technology Manager at the organization, has weighed in on the question of why the adoption of LED lighting has not been even more rapid-paced. Dunlop suggests that inertia surrounds some lighting systems that are adequately functioning, even at the expense of excessive energy consumption. On occasion, some end users across the vast expanse of the business community lack the technical expertise to fully understand the potential benefits.

Once such an end user has started a partnership with a supplier that does possess the expertise, lighting solutions can be explained and subsequently deployed.

Retail Lighting: How To Implement It To Your Advantage

Shopping is оftеn referred tо аs ‘retail therapy’. Іt іs sаіd sо bесаusе іt іs believed thаt whіlе shopping, аll five of the senses are activated аnd gіvе а sense оf elevated happiness. Whаt іs thе еffесt thаt lighting has on the senses in retail shops? Ноw muсh dоеs іt aid іn ‘therapy’ bу shopping? Whаt іs thе best wау tо usе lighting tо raise thе attention аnd retention levels оf customers?

Lighting conveys emotions аnd activates people’s instincts. Іt helps customers find thеіr wау аrоund the store and decide what they are going to purchase. Тhеrе аrе mаnу different options for retail lighting such as color, distribution, intensity аnd brightness of the lights. Тhеrе аrе sоmе retail lighting suggestions that саn help improve customer convenience, enhance thеіr sense оf well-being аnd can lead to аn increase іn customers аnd will result in higher chances for a sale.

Brightness іs оut, contrast іs іn: Іf a merchant want to attract instant attention tо а product оr placement, high contrast may be better suited thаn overly bright lighting. Νоt only will іt cut dоwn оn energy consumption, but will аlsо intensify attention to the display or product being advertised.

Vertical lighting improves orientation: While diffused general lighting mау generate а sense оf comfort, іt іs vertical illumination that will mаkе іt easier tо grasp thе layout оf thе room. Іt will bе easier fоr thе customers tо find thеіr wау аrоund thе aisles hеnсе thеу will be more likely tо buy a product from the store. Аt thе sаmе time, detailed accent lighting саn improve thе perception оf thе displays аnd mаkе thеm sееm mоrе attractive.

Increase familiarity wіth color: Colors influence thе emotions of the customers and guides thеm іntо а sense оf security if it is done correctly. Cool color temperatures suсh аs white mаkе thе area lооk bigger whіlе а warm color mау denote smallness аnd familiarity in the space. Transitional white light helps customers feel better аnd leads tо thеm spending mоrе time іn thе store. Еvеn wіthіn а single lighting concept, people tend tо shоw а preference fоr dіffеrеnt light colors. Keeping thіs іn mind, dіffеrеnt color temperatures shоuld bе implemented асrоss general аnd vertical lighting.

Use lights tо highlight features аnd shop windows: The fіrst impression of а shop comes from its window. Тhеrеfоrе іt would help tо focus оn accent lighting оn thе merchandise displayed in the windows (іn addition tо daylight). А furthеr step іn thіs regard, wоuld bе tо pinpoint accent lighting sо thаt іt focuses оn contrasts on the product being displayed. Then as the sun sets and the night lighting comes on, the levels оf light coming from the shop will bе еnоugh tо attract а customer to walk in.

Choose the Right Lighting to Capitalize on Energy Reduction

In order to preserve the longevity of your business, you should consider the different ways you can reduce your business-related expenses, especially reoccurring ones. Fortunately, a simple method to accomplish this goal is with energy reduction, which can be done in several ways such as switching lights.

Although your current lighting setup may last a long time until it needs to be replaced, you may be better off by replacing the existing system and replacing it for a lighting setup of superior energy efficiency.

Consume Less Energy

Since your main focus should revolve around reducing your monthly business expenses, you can do this by switching out light bulbs or lighting systems to start using LED lights. It is hard to compete with the efficiency that light emitting diode (LED) lights can provide. By using these light bulbs or systems, energy expenses will be greatly reduced.

Longer Lasting Lighting

While a huge benefit of LED lighting is the fact that you will be spending less money on electricity, you will also find another advantage that comes with using LED lights in that they last very long. If you currently use halogen incandescent lighting, you may find that new LED lights can last up to 25 times longer. The longevity of these light bulbs will save you money since the frequency of light bulb changes from burnt out bulbs will reduce.

Variety of Wattages

It is understandable that you need different wattages for certain areas, and this is another area where LED lighting manages to succeed in providing businesses with multiple options. Regardless of how much lighting you may need, you should have no problem getting more than enough with LED lights. With a wide range of options available, the perfect LED light for your space can be found. LED lighting can be found with many variations to fit the needs of your space.

School Lighting : Illuminating Ways in Education

Most people realize that they feel gloomy after several dismal, rainy days. Did you know, however, that good lighting can affect the way we learn? The need for better lighting seems to be connected to the advance of technology. Humans used to spend more time out of doors in natural lighting. Now, however, we are becoming a culture that stays inside most of the time. Human Centric lighting, or lighting to optimize human performance, is used in workplaces and now studies have shown that optimum lighting influences learning.

It seems that higher illumination, and warmer-colored illumination, lead to higher academic performance when compared with the efforts of students under standard lighting. This is true in the college lecture hall and in the kindergarten class. It appears that school lighting may be as important as technology in determining the quality of our children’s education.

Good lighting has been shown to positively influence the social behavior of children, and may be connected to their physical health as well. Studies seem to indicate the influence of lighting on blood pressure, growth levels and even on circadian rhythms. “Tunable” lighting may also acelerate healing and prevent or slow some chronic diseases.

Speaking of Circadian Rhythms, experiments have shown that sleepiness is a deterrent to learning ability. Optimum lighting may help students remain alert during the day and so improve their “sleepiness” at bedtime.

Reduce Eye Strain by Making a Few Lighting Adjustments Around Your Desk

Eyestrain can lead to significant problems such as headaches, dizziness, and even a drop in productivity. Although the effects of computer eyestrain can be worrisome, you can reduce the effects by making a few adjustments in the lighting for your home office. By following the steps below, you’ll be able to keep your workspace well-lit so that eye strain doesn’t occur as easily and so that your desk is a comfortable place to work.

Consider the Location of Your Desk

The location of your desk is so important when you have several lighting sources and windows in a room. One of the most common causes of eyestrain with computers is the glare that can occur when light from a window bounces onto the monitor. Trying out different positions with your desk can often help reduce the strain or even eliminate it entirely.

Purchase a Swing-Arm Task Lamp

While there are several good options for lighting your desk space, a swing-arm task lamp is always a smart option. The customization of how you can position this kind of lamp and the attractive appearance can make them one of the best choices for workspaces.

Set up LCD Lights on Your Monitor

Keeping your computer monitor well lit can be much easier when you use adhesive for LCD light strips. These lights can be attached to the back of the monitor so that you’ll have lighting surround your monitor, making eye strain a thing of the past.

Better School Lighting Can Lead To A Better Learning Environment For Teachers And Students

Lighting has a tendency to make us all feel a little better. Light has a great effect on us and not just in a biological or emotional way. When lighting is good, it can produce better results in schools and other learning environments. Schools are taking the initiative to add every resource and movement to help their students feel more comfortable in their learning environment.

School lighting can have a great impact on the type of learning environment your school has. A classroom is filled with great students and teachers; and the classrooms consist of a variety of ages. Everyone will be in the learning space for up to eight hours a day. There are a few breaks in between, but there will also be several hours spent in the classroom doing the standard and traditional classroom assignments. Students get opportunities to see audiovisual presentations and they also get chances to complete assignments on desktop and laptop computers.

When these assignments and classroom needs are taken into consideration, you can determine the best kind of lighting classrooms will need. The students in the classroom can have more energy and urgency when they walk into a classroom that is equipped with proper lighting, especially during the days when it is dark and gloomy outside.

The health and well being of students will also be better when classrooms have a better atmosphere. There will not be a need to increase the consumption of energy to increase or improve study results of the students in the classroom. Since schools are coming face-to-face with energy costs and other costs, it is important to implement anything that can save money. There will constantly be changes in the way teachers teach their students, and classrooms have to be equipped to handle those changes. With all of the new learning strategies, technology, and devices, it seems that the old blackboard may not be needed as much.

Since everything else is changing in the classroom, school and classroom lighting should be changed too. A good thing is the changes in lighting are not difficult to make.

Improve Your Bar Lighting To Give Your Patrons A Better Experience

Lighting that is well designed is a key and important feature for maintaining a well-established customer base at your bar, as well as being an appealing place to new customers. Previously, it may have been too expensive to run well-designed lights and maintain them. Now, many bar owners are discovering that they can afford LED lighting because the prices are becoming lower as the lighting industry progresses. Even if you are part of a small business, you can afford fantastic bar lighting. There are plenty of utility companies that offer rebates and credits for those who implement energy saving solutions.

LED lights for your bar will illuminate and appeal customers more than other traditional lights. If you have a hyper bar or a modern bar, your lighting should be just right for any setting. The fixtures in bars will certainly vary, but certain lights can still be considered the same. The people at the bar will not want an extreme amount of light that can ultimately overwhelm the eyes, but they will need just enough lighting that will allow them to walk or dance around. The lights in a bar do not have to be overwhelming to the eyes to produce flawless results.

The bartenders are responsible for making the drinks, and they need to see what they are making. We do not want anything to interrupt your great atmosphere, so an option would be to have strip lights under the cabinets. The lights will allow quality drinks to be made without bringing any kind of disturbance or unwanted attention to what you are doing. The customers or partygoers in the bar will enjoy the glow they see from the counter, and it can even add something to the bar’s atmosphere.

Unlike the traditional lights you may have, LED lighting will cooperate with controls, such as dimmers and sensors. When you can dim lights or adjust them the way you like, you can reduce the amount of energy that is coming from the lighting. Implementing LED lights can also be used on the outside of the bar for the parking area or an outdoor eating area. There are limitless reasons to implement better lighting for your bar.

 

Can Energy Efficient Lighting Reduce Costs For Greenhouse Growers?

When Greenhouse Growers compiled the results of their 2013 State of the Industry report, it wasn’t surprising that of the 300 grower retailers, wholesalers, and young plant growers based in the U.S. and Canada, increasing energy costs was cited as the second biggest overall worry, with small growers expressing the most concern.

Consumers are demanding any kind of produce they want, at any time of year they want it, and at affordable prices. More people than ever are spending leisure time outdoors- connecting with nature, and are dissatisfied with just laying some sod and planting a few petunias. They want hops to brew their own beer, pollen rich plants that attract bees, succulents that amaze, and native plants that complement their current landscapes.

How to satisfy all this new demand while keeping costs down? According to a Purdue University study, by using better lighting efficiency methods, such as LED instead of high pressure sodium (HPS) lights, growers could get the same yields of fruit off tomato plants using just 25% of the energy. While only 30% of the energy going into an HPS light actually gets converted into usable light, up to 50% of the energy going into an LED light gets used, and can be optimized for different wave lengths that optimize plant growth.

The study also found that each plant grown using HPS light used 1224 kilowatt hours of energy during a season; compared to just 294 kilowatt hours for LED lighting. The incredible savings on an electric bill aren’t the only benefit. Growers can avoid local power caps during high-use times or because of inclement weather, provide uniform distribution of light, encourage flowering, and maximize crop cycles during long winters or in cloudy northern areas of the world.

Many greenhouse growers have been reluctant to invest in LED lighting because of the perceived high initial cost, but according to Green Tech Media, costs are falling and the payoff time is often less than 3 years. LED lighting is the future of greenhouse lighting!

 

GE Starts A Smart LED Lighting Price War

led light bulbSmart bulbs are finally here and going green just got a whole lot easier. Did you forget to turn the downstairs lights off, but you are cozy upstairs in bed? No problem. Stop wasting that electricity and turn the lights off instantly with your smart phone or other connected device. There is definitely a demand for this product and GE is more than prepared to become the major provider meeting it.

The GE smart bulb, dubbed Link, comes in three different styles with the most expensive currently priced at under $25. However instead of designing a proprietary smart home platform, GE has paired with Wink, an all in one app that allows control over connected in-home devices, who are praised for the openness of their platform. This is an open invitation to GE’s competition to innovate and bring down the cost of their smart bulbs. Rarely does a corporate giant like GE make a move that could change their profit outcome, but the potential benefit of gaining environmentally conscious consumers is pushing them towards lowering LED bulb costs.

There has been so much speculation among adopters of LED technology that the longevity of LED bulbs has made multiple companies reluctant to try and bring down prices. Once an LED bulb is purchased, replacement may not be necessary for my years thus lowering profit to lighting companies due to decreased light bulb sales. A few more modifications in the lighting industry however, may quickly reveal the path towards affordable LED lighting in the future.