LED Accent Lighting: 3 Forms to Meet Your Ambient or Standard Illumination Requirements.

The phrase, “energy-efficient lighting” may not resonate with a lot of people because they associate that term with “compact fluorescent lighting,” or CFL, a common-variety way of providing illumination.

But you can be sure there is nothing ‘common’ when it comes to the way LED Lighting can be used in homes or businesses.

Truly efficient and energy-efficient, LEDs are gaining traction, particularly among homeowners as they see its versatility in everything in the kitchen from decorative range hoods to under-cabinet lighting that provides that just-right-ambient lighting. Newcomers to LED lighting are generally faced with three choices, when it comes to the type of lighting they may be looking for:

CUSTOM CUT ROPE LIGHTS To begin with, forget about those bulk spools of LED rope lights you see on our website—you don’t have to order the spool!

We understand your individual needs, and that’s why we offer custom- cutting to you specifications: The basic length is a standard 39” section. And, yes, the length you order does include the power cord.

LED Strip Lights

Considered to be the next generation of accent lighting solutions, these ‘ribbons’ of LED low-voltage lights are extremely bright. Easy to install because of the peel-away-backing, these ribbons make for quick installations. And they come in two distinct varieties: 3528 SMDs and the larger 505S MDs.

LED Light Bulbs The old 40-60 watt incandescent bulb is no longer manufactured as January 1, 2014. That means a green light, of course,   to LED lighting, given their long life, durability and low power consumption.

Contact us and let us help you with planning your use of LED  lighting in your upcoming project; learn how LEDs can help you save on electric bills.

Things to Consider before Installing Commercial Exterior Lighting

So you’ve decided it’s time to improve your commercial outdoor lighting. What should you do next? Before you have any type of  exterior lighting installed, here are a few things you should first consider.

Future changes to your landscape

Ideally, outdoor lighting plans will be made after all the elements of your landscaping are already in place. That way, you can determine which features you would like to highlight at night, and then plan your lighting arrangements accordingly. If you are considering adding new plants, be sure to let share this information with a lighting designer in order to ensure your fixtures will continue to work well in the future.

Where will lines be buried?

This is important, since burying electric wires could be disruptive to other utility lines. In order to ensure no lines are present, you should call 811 at least three days prior to digging a trench to house landscape wiring in. You’ll also need to determine whether or not lines will need to run underneath sidewalks or other concrete structures so that you can attempt to reroute them if possible.

What prior authorization is needed?

If you currently lease your space, you could be restricted on how and where exterior lighting is placed. Likewise, the addition of certain fixtures could require you to obtain a building permit as well.

You’ll also need help from an experienced outdoor lighting specialist. Here at Relumination we are very familiar with exterior lighting procedures, and can install any type of fixture safely and efficiently. To set up an appointment for a consultation, contact us. 

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint with Commercial LED Lighting

lightingLighting is responsible for a large amount of unnecessary wasted energy and the release of  potent greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Although many people have chosen to switch from incandescent to florescent lighting, this has a number of disadvantages. By learning more about how the use of commercial LED lighting can reduce your company’s carbon footprint and energy costs, you can also do your part to help reduce global warming .

Lighting is Responsible for A Significant Percentage of Energy Usage

According to the U.S Energy Information Administration, “EIA estimates that in 2011, about 461 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity were used for lighting by the residential and commercial sectors.” This was equal to about 17% of the total electricity consumed by both of these sectors and about 12% of total U.S. electricity consumption. Since commercial LED lighting is 50-90% more efficient than traditional lighting, its installation can greatly reduce your respective carbon footprint.

Fluorescent Lights Contain Mercury

Each fluorescent light bulb contains about 5 milligrams of Mercury, a potent neurotoxin that can cause brain and kidney damage. Although this amount may seem small, that actually enough Mercury to contaminate approximately 3,000 gallons of drinking water. Besides the obvious threat of contaminating your business and employees, this presents a complex waste disposal problem for when the light bulbs burn out, in case of which the average consumer will just throw the bulb away in the trash. LED Lighting is non-toxic and up to three times more efficient than a fluorescent equivalent.

Be sure to contact us at Relumination if you have any questions about reducing your commercial carbon footprint with LED and other energy efficient lighting solutions.

 

 

3 Things You Need to Know About Installing Exterior Lighting

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWhen it comes to installing exterior lighting, there are a number of factors to consider. These first and foremost include installation, design and maintenance. By learning how to evaluate such factors, it should be possible to create a successful outdoor lighting layout that lasts for years to come.

1. Light Efficiency Relates Directly to Cost

When it comes to cost, the efficiency of your lighting system is extremely relevant. Efficient lighting systems not only greatly reduce the amount of electricity necessary, they also tend to have light bulbs which last much longer, reducing the cost of maintenance. Consider installing a system which turns the lights on and off based on the current amount of natural light available. A large amount of energy is wasted on lights which are not programmed to turn on and off according to the constantly changing lighting schedule.

2. Avoid Trespassing Light

Light which inadvertently leaves your property can often cause problems. According to Discover Lighting, “Light trespass is the light that leaves the area for which the lighting system was designed and “trespasses” onto the neighboring property.  To minimize this effect, the light from an installation must be controlled with a combination of luminaire optics, pole placement, and overall light levels.” Design your exterior lighting system so that it minimizes light which leaves your property while still satisfying your lighting requirements.

3. Prioritize Light Based on Security Needs

In many outdoor lighting systems, security at night is one of the highest priorities. This is especially true if the lighting will be used in an area with a lot of businesses or automobiles. Although the aesthetics of a lighting system are important, light coverage in areas which are vulnerable to thieves is a strong deterrent to crime. Such areas should be illuminated to the full ability that the scope of the design allows.

Take the time to contact us at Relumination if you have any questions about designing and implementing exterior lighting for your home.

LED Sustainability Outshines Any Other Form of Lighting

You’ve heard plenty about the sustainability of LED lighting, but just how eco-friendly are they really?

The answer: extremely!

Here are just some of the ways LED lights outshine the competition!

LED

LEDs Provide More Light, Less Power
LED lights use between 50-90% less energy when compared to more common fluorescent or incandescent bulbs. LEDs also produce 10 times more lumens per watt than incandescent lighting. This is in addition to the fact that LEDs take no time to warm up like traditional bulbs do, and can be dimmed to a lower setting, or turned up to provide brighter lighting in a snap.

LED Lights have a Longer Lifespan
LED lights have an average lifespan of 50,000 hours – that’s over 5 times longer than the average fluorescent, and nearly 50 times longer than the average incandescent. That translates to over 10 years of daily commercial or industrial use. LEDs are especially useful in industrial settings as well, given their increased durability. Unlike vacuum tube bulbs, LEDs are much harder to break, and don’t carry any risk of causing fire in case of damage.

LED Lighting Utilizes Greener Construction
Given the long life and durability of LED lights, much fewer need to be manufactured. Another great advantage to LED lights is that they are 100% recyclable, and toxic chemicals are not used in their construction.

Whether you manage an office building, warehouse, manufacturing plant, or are in charge of community or municipal street lights, the benefits of LED lighting is clear. Not only does their improved energy efficiency make for considerable savings on electric bills, they also result in greatly curbed emissions.

Contact us today for more information on our products and services.

 

 

Tips for Getting Creative with LED Lighting

led-bulbWhether you own a home or a business, it’s always a good idea to cut costs and reduce your carbon footprint, both of which can be done by using LED lights whose average life span is 50,000 hours.  This means that even if you keep the light on 24 hours, which is probably not likely, you still won’t have to change the light bulb for six years.  During that time, you’re likely to go through 40-50 incandescents.  So get creative using the following LED lighting tips and transform your home or business:

  1. Get Creative with Light Fixtures.  There are a number of light shades available on the market.  You can get Victorian style lamps for your garden or Chinese paper lanterns for your patio.  Indoors, you can invest in stained glass lampshades or table lamps with cloth shades.  No matter what kind of fixtures you opt for, you can fit them with LED bulbs.  This way, your lighting will be practical as well as aesthetically pleasing.
  2. Adjust the Brightness.  Depending on what you’re using the light for, it’s important to have the right amount of brightness or dimness.  If you’re working on a project which involves drawing and accuracy, you probably want to have very bright lights.  On the other hand, if you want to create a romantic environment or just chill out by yourself in the bathtub, you’ll want dim lights.  Candles are great, of course, but they produce a lot of heat.  LED lights, on the other hand, save energy and are not too bright.  If necessary, you can even invest in dimmable lights and adjust their brightness depending on the occasion.
  3. Play with Light and Shade.  Recessed lighting can create a very pretty effect by throwing light only in a certain area.  Plus, you also get light shades which can direct your light in one direction or the other.  By installing a bright light but covering it up partly with a shade, you create mood lighting reminiscent of the Italian painter Caravaggio who was known for his stark contrasts.  Play around with this idea until you get the effect you were looking for.

So whether you’re trying to light up your home or your workplace, you can get a little creative with the use of lamps, chandeliers and other light fixtures.  Contact us for more tips on using LED lights to create the effects you desire.

 

 

The Advantages of Energy Efficient LED Restaurant Lighting

Many restaurants find that their energy bill can be exceedingly high, especially at locations which are open 24/7. Although keeping the business well lit is a necessity, the high cost isn’t. Our LED lighting approach has a number of advantages for restaurant lighting and lower maintenance cost, unparalleled energy-efficiency and a higher light quality are just a few.

If you are a restaurant owner, take a moment to learn more about our lighting system approach. Beginning your  LED lights installation might just be one of your greatest New Year’s resolutions!

LED Lighting Rarely Needs Replacement

Nothing is more of a hassle than having to replace a typical incandescent or even florescent bulb after it burns out. In many restaurants, this often requires pulling out a ladder before or after the restaurant is open. For restaurants which are always open, it can negatively effect the customer experience when light bulbs burn out and must be replaced. According to How Stuff Works, “But energy-efficiency is just part of the story. The other part is time-efficiency: You could go 20 years without having to change an LED light bulb. Solid-state lights like LEDs are more stable light sources than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, and the difference is startling: A typical incandescent bulb lasts about 750 hours; a Geobulb lasts 30,000 hours.”

Superior Light Quality and Control

The quality of LED restaurant lighting is simply superior. Typical lighting can often be harsh and irritating to the eye, often leading to the development of headaches and stress in workers who are frequently exposed. An LED light does not emit ultraviolet or infrared light. LED lights also have an extensive brightness/dimness control, allowing for adjustment across the intensity grade without a change in color temperature.

Take the time to contact us at Relumination if you have any questions about the benefits of installing LED restaurant lighting.

3 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Quality LED University Lighting

college_lightsWe all know that universities bring students together for the purpose of expanding young minds, but did you know how important good lighting is for this journey? Chances are, the thought may not have crossed your mind but it’s very important to invest in quality university lighting. Still not sure why it matters?

Here are 3 great reasons to invest in good lighting:

1. Safety: Within a university campus, you can expect students to be coming and going at all hours.  Especially when it’s time for exams, students often stay up half the night at the library.  On weekends, students can be expected to attend parties.  In all these cases, they’re going to be walking around late in the night and sometimes, they’re going to be alone.  So for the sake of safety, it’s good to have sufficiently bright lighting all around campus and around the dorms.

LED lights have the advantage of longevity, so they’ll need to be replaced far less often than incandescents.  This means that they’re also safer.  That street lamp isn’t going to stop working without notice if it contains an LED light bulb.

2. Concentration: The right kind of lighting can be more conducive to concentration and learning.  Lights that are too bright or too dim fail to help students focus.  Very bright lights can hurt the eyes, and dim lights can put you to sleep.  In order to encourage concentration, you need to create an ideal environment which is neither too relaxed nor too tense.

Straight-backed chairs are probably a good idea, but you can make them somewhat more comfortable by making sure they’re upholstered and not just wood or metal.  Painting the library in warmer tones also helps.  And, of course, you’ll need the right kind of lighting.  One of the advantages of LEDs is that they can be dimmed as much as you like.  So you can be sure to create just the right environment for studying and concentration.

3. Socializing:  When it comes to larger places on campus such as the cafeteria, you want to encourage students to mingle, and making sure that the area is well-lit can help you to do that.  Universities often invite speakers or host events for students to go to in large auditoriums.  Once again, this makes it necessary to have sufficient lighting which can be adjusted to make it dimmer or brighter.  LED lights are great for this purpose.

If you’re looking for university lighting, you’ve come to right place. We’ll make sure that all your lighting needs are considered and taken care of. Learning is an illuminating process, make sure you have the right lighting!

Relumination Selected to Upgrade Macy’s Lighting in Tempe

macys2Relumination is pleased to announce that we have been selected by Macy’s in Tempe, Arizona for a project to upgrade parking structure lighting at their Credit Card Services building.

Proper lighting is essential for employee safety, from having adequate lighting to park without hazard to having a sense of security walking to the car, a well lit structure is mandatory. Macy’s has decided to upgrade the current lighting in order to increase employee safety while decreasing energy expenditure and maintenance costs.

This lighting update will save the company more than 100,000 kWh of electricity per year and will pay for itself within just 2 years. LED lighting is not only energy efficient, but  as you can see, it saves money as well. In fact, it’s estimated that LED lights conserve about 50% to 90% more energy than traditional lighting. This is why commercial LED lighting is becoming so popular.

In addition to these benefits, we estimate that once the project is completed there will be no need for maintenance for at least 10 years. This is the fourth time we have been selected to work with Macy’s and we look forward to providing them with safe, energy efficient lighting in their employee parking garage.

 

Ways to Ensure your Exterior Lighting is Dark Sky Compliant

Security_Wall_Mount_Lighting_30Exterior lighting provides tremendous benefits when it comes to their safety. At the same time, outdoor lighting can also contribute to light pollution if not installed correctly. Excess light pollution is attributed to health problems in humans, in addition to being disruptive to wildlife. So what’s the answer? Here are a few ideas you can use to ensure your landscape lighting is dark sky compliant so that you can enjoy the benefits of it without causing damage to the environment.

An excellent way to avoid overly lighting up the night sky is to use fixtures that shine directly at the ground rather than upward. Choose light fixtures that have openings only on the bottom rather than at both the top and bottom. That way, you’ll avoid sending any unneeded light into the atmosphere, but will still be able to illuminate the areas you use most often after dark.

Motion lights are very helpful at preserving the night sky because they shine only when they are needed. As a result, you could also notice a great deal of savings on your energy bill as well. Consider placing motion lights near your garage, outdoor shed, patio or front porch in order to reduce the amount of outdoor light transmitted by your fixtures. Motion sensing lights are also very important for maintaining security in commercial areas at night. Installing these light fixtures outside your business can help discourage theft and break-ins.

If motion lights aren’t feasible, consider placing your lights on a timer instead. This helps reduce light pollution because it will allow you to turn lights off when they are not needed. For example, you may not need to have the  front area of your business lit up at night for safety, so you could time the lights to go off whenever necessary. This is yet another money-saving idea that is also earth friendly.

Colored lights are less likely to emit light pollution that white or yellow ones are. Consider adding colored bulbs to your existing features-earth tones tend to produce just the right amount of light, yet are not overly brilliant.

Want more environmentally friendly landscape lighting ideas? If so, we’d be glad to talk to you. Contact us today to find out more.