LED Lighting Solutions

Lighting can have a profound effect on people. It is a known fact that brighter lighting causes people to respond more emotionally while dim lighting can have a relaxing effect on people. But changing the hue of light can also add to the productivity and the alertness of workers. Adding blue or bright hues into the spectrum can keep employees alert while red and warm hues are more appropriate for leisure areas.

Lighting design is often overlooked when thinking about office AV design, but, it can have a significant impact on the health and productivity of employees. Apart from this, traditional lighting solutions are inefficient as compared to modern LED Lighting Solutions. Many organizations are yet to harness the considerable cost savings offered by the new lighting technology.

Professional lighting specialists share 4 suggestions for businesses to easily enhance their office lighting.

1. Use energy efficient LED lighting solutions

Fluorescent tubes have long been the bulb of choice for offices. They are installed in suspended ceilings and can light large areas. However, common problems with fluorescent tubes include flickering, buzzing and the light bulbs losing luminance with age. This leads to poor and inconsistent lighting levels. Also, fluorescent tubes are highly inefficient.

A popular alternative to fluorescent tubes are LED lights. LEDs have often been seen as an expensive option for offices, however, in the long run, they are more cost-effective than traditional fluorescent lighting. LEDs are far more energy efficient, last far longer and use much less wattage to operate. Another environmental benefit is that LED tubes do not contain mercury and other harmful chemicals found in fluorescent.

For added aesthetic value, LED panels can be fitted into suspended ceilings in place of traditional light fittings. Finally, energy-efficient LED lighting solutions drastically eliminate glare, which can improve comfort and productivity in the office.

2. Have a lighting control system integrated

Lighting control systems are designed to save energy in an office building by responding to how each area of the office is used. They help you make the most out of natural daylight and help you to save money by regulating the lighting in different areas of your office.

Areas such as corridors, toilets and meeting rooms that are not in constant use will benefit from a lighting control system as they ensure that these areas are only lit when they are in use. Occupancy control sensors ensure that the areas are lit when in use and that lights are switched off when they are not needed.

Lighting control systems add a level of flexibility to lighting that is crucial in modern offices. Dimmer switches can be installed to control light levels in meeting rooms where projectors are used. Today’s advanced lighting controllers even allow user to remotely monitor and control lighting via desktop and mobile devices.

3. Aim to increase visual comfort by glare reduction

From a lighting perspective, visual comfort is the key to an effective working environment. Vision has to work hard focusing on a screen and it doesn’t need more challenges than the ones that already exist. In most offices, glare is one of the top causes of eye fatigue.

Glare is an extreme form of visual discomfort and is caused by large variations in perceived light intensities. It is important to be aware of daylight and to balance this strong natural light with equally bright artificial interior lights.

Aim to create uniformity between the vertical and horizontal planes of lighting. Indirect and diffused light balanced with natural sources are the most comfortable types of light in today’s office spaces. Bouncing light off a ceiling is an easy way of softening the light and subsequently glares.

4. Utilise natural light to your advantage

Natural daylight is one of the best assets in office design as it can instantly make an office look brighter and welcoming. Ideally, natural light should take the lead, with artificial lighting increasing the light to sufficient levels. The aim should be to make people feel connected to the outdoors while being able to work comfortably. Good levels of natural light can increase productivity and creativity. Lighting an office naturally can cut energy costs too, as more natural light in an office means reduced less artificial light.

Additionally, daylight integrated lighting control systems work with ambient light sensors to automatically monitor and regulate light levels. This means that the artificial light will be automatically dimmed in accordance with the level of a natural light present in the room.