As electrical usage costs continue to rise, businesses are taking steps to create a more energy-efficient work environment. Workplace lighting can account for up to 39% of your electricity usage in office buildings. The number jumps even higher for specialized businesses like hotels and hospitals.  

Commercial-grade dimming controls are a great way to reduce energy usage. The lights only turn on when the space is occupied. Dimmers also make it easy to create the right ambience, and the small devices can last for over ten years. 

Automated lighting controls include sensors that turn the lights on and off according to the room’s occupancy. Automated shades help keep the temperature down by blocking glare and bright sunlight. Timers that automatically turn lights on before employee arrivals improve safety. Installing daylight sensors that track the sun’s movements are another way to boost employee performance and save on energy costs.  

Some daylight lighting controls to consider include sensors and automated shades that maximize your use of daylight, while still keeping the space comfortable. 

Scheduling controls allow you to automate your lighting and shading system. Set the lights to turn on and off according to employees’ schedules or to adjust brightness as needed throughout the day. 

With centralized controls, building managers can manage the lights from their laptops or smartphones. They can configure lighting fixtures, monitor usage, and get reports in real-time. 

Shading controls block sunlight during the day, including heat in the summer. The shades also create a barrier in the winter, providing extra insulation against cold drafts. 

An IP Rating is a rating given to indicate the level of protection against solids and liquids. Always starting with “IP” the first of the two trailing digits refers to the solids protection, whereas the second refers to the liquids protection. 

Lumens, in other words, measure the quantity of light emitted by your LED bulb. The larger the number of Lumens, the brighter the light produced. 

Lumens are an important lighting parameter, and understanding them can help you choose the proper lighting for your purpose. 

Most energy saving bulbs are not compatible with dimmer switches. In particular fluorescent and compact fluorescent bulbs, there are a few exceptions but with the occasional complication we would certainly recommend LED.  

LED is the latest in low energy lighting technology, these do offer dimmable versions. As well as this the benefits of LED also include a much longer lifetime, lower energy consumption and low generation of heat. 

The answer to this one is simple; “YES”. 

Whenever you have electricity and water, there is an increased risk and this is why the regulations are very specific. 

For the purposes of the regulations, the bathroom is divided into different zones and the lights are given a two-digit number, known as an IP (Ingress Protection) number or classification. 

The first number of the IP Rating indicates the degree of protection against dust particles or solid objects and ranges from 0 for no protection up to 6 for total protection. 

It is the second number that is of more interest in the bathroom lighting, as this represents the degree of protection from moisture and ranges from 0 for no protection and up to 8 for a light that will be totally submerged underwater. 

Recessed downlights are perfect for use in bathrooms. They create a sleek stylish look and a crisp bright light which reflects off polished surfaces and tiles. 

Downlights work well in nearly all bathrooms as well as wet rooms, saunas or steam rooms. 

The major advantage of LED lighting is, without question, the lower power usage. Led lights meet all of the governments’ bans and initiatives to lessen our carbon footprint.  

LED bulbs have a lifespan ranging from 40k to 100k hours. Even at 40k hours, this is 4.5 years of continuous operation, implying that these bulbs will last for more than 10 years under normal conditions.