Lighting plays a major role in the perception of your business to your customer base, but it is also one of the main target areas for improvement when considering energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency is one of the biggest buzzwords in a wide variety of commercial industries today. From retail to property management and more, saving on energy costs is becoming a key target. However, companies also don’t want to skimp on the services they are providing to their customers and clients. When it comes to lighting, this need is highlighted even more. Lighting plays a major role in the perception of your business to your customer base, but it is also one of the main target areas for improvement when considering energy efficiency. Luckily, you don’t have to sacrifice great customer care for improved energy efficiency, or vice versa. Here are a couple of major ways to improve both.
Upgrading Your Lighting to LED
In commercial office buildings especially, fluorescent lighting is dominant because it produces a crisp, clean light that promotes productive work. This lighting is fairly energy efficient, but it can also be harsh and artificial. LED lighting has really come a long way since its introduction and is now the top choice for companies looking to upgrade their lighting. It’s more energy-efficient than fluorescent tube lighting and it looks more natural too.
Upgrading your lighting may need to come in multiple stages, but we recommend focusing on important areas first. Your parking areas and other places where safety is paramount should be number one on your upgrade list, followed by areas where it’s harder to change bulbs. Next, upgrade in places where you know you are using bulbs the most – your “high-burn” areas are the places where you can potentially save the most from going a more energy-efficient route.
Adding Lighting Controls
Even in a large retail building, there are likely areas where lighting does not need to be used 100% of the time. Lighting controls are a perfect addition for commercial settings and are a great way to promote energy efficiency. Depending on the setting and usage rate, you may save anywhere from 5 to 40% on your energy costs just for adopting controls, which is an investment that will pay for itself over time. The type of controls used will vary based on your situation. Most commercial offices benefit from utilizing motion sensors that automatically turn lights in a room on and off. A timer is another great option if you know people leave your building by a particular time. And dimmers pair nicely with LED lights to not only reduce your energy needs, but also create a more welcoming atmosphere.
CHECK OUT OUR SERVICES FROM CMI LIGHTING
With over 35 years in the industry, CMI has an array of equipment to handle the logistics of any in-house job. We also frequently provide solutions to property managers and upcoming developments. CMI Companies provides services in Mid-Atlantic Region and proudly serves clients in Northern Virginia, Maryland, Richmond, Southern Virginia, Manassas, Prince William County, Fairfax County, Rockville, and Prince George’s County. Also, check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.