Eco-offices Should Always Receive the Green Light
Matt Crick asked:
Eco-buildings come in many different forms: self-sufficient or autonomous structures, self-build, wooden timbre-framed, cob cottages, traditional mud and stud, to name but a few. Some are high tech, others are low tech and some eco-architecture has even gone underground to conserve heat.
Like all good architecture, of course, modern eco-buildings with closely with the climate and attempt to harmonise with their environment. The relationship is strengthened by them passively capturing solar energy, rainwater and harnessing wind to generate energy that can be subsequently stored and used – with surplus energy often being sold to the national grid!
Now, the more environmentally-conscious architects and builders have integrated this eco-concept into commercial developments across the UK, more notably in densely populated cities such as London, Birmingham and Manchester, to create work spaces that are more “self-sufficient” and “greener” to keep up with the insatiable demand from forward-thinking businesses. The balance of luxury and sustainability is now essential, and although still important, previous key attributes of a great view, gym and capacious canteen area are further down the list of requirements when searching for the right office space.
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) recently advised that non-residential properties can achieve a zero carbon output, providing that onsite renewable solutions are employed. There is a cost associated with building to zero carbon. Expenditure varies widely with both the form and use of a building. Preliminary modelling, however, suggests that the premium could range from over 30% down to as low as 5 or 10% of current baseline costs.
“We have a challenging, yet realistic timeframe for achieving zero carbon with new non-domestic buildings,” says the UKGBC. “With a trajectory in place similar to that adopted for the Code for Sustainable Homes, then a deadline of 2020 is more than feasible.”
This wave of green office development is splashing on other towns and cities across the UK too. A £50m project was irrefutably backed this year by Norwich County Council to turn a neglected area of land into eco-friendly offices. The council’s planning committee supported proposals to demolish a former electricity board site in Duke’s Wharf, creating 1,000 new jobs and a site that would include shops, restaurants and a river side path. If local authorities capitalised on pockets of disused land such as this, then would it not gradually improve the infrastructure and environment for the long term?
You’d certainly expect the National Trust in Swindon to be located in an environmentally sound building, and rather unsurprisingly, they occupy one of the greenest offices in the UK. Carbon emissions are 65% less than similar developments, largely due to a formation of photovoltaic panels (silicon panels that collect sunlight and convert it into solar energy) on the roof, which provide 30% of the annual electricity use. Eco-friendly materials, such as PVC-free linoleum and water based paints were used throughout the building.
The Jubilee library in Brighton, has become one of the main tourist attractions in the city, not before causing political controversy with its procurement by the council through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) process. Politics aside, the architecture, engineering and green elements are all blended intricately into one; using the cement in the building as an energy store to either heat or cool the building accordingly. There are also solar-controlled louvres on the vast glass exterior, which prevents the interior from over-heating.
Archirect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw has found a better way to use fish and chip wrapping and old newspapers; he’s used them as insulation for the floors, walls and roof of the Eden project’s offices; making it one of the best insulated buildings in the country. The structure is also raised off the ground on timbre columns to minimise the volume of soil removed from the site during construction, and to reduce the amount of cement (one of the most un-eco-friendly products available) required to build it.
Although these are ambitious eco-projects, they have laid the green foundations for the future. The idea of a sustainable building is by no means a fad, more a long-term program that businesses, local authorities and ultimately the government will need to drive forward.
Serviced Office Company are one company situated in the UK that are taking their stance for environmentally friendly serviced offices. Not only do they offer exclusive office space in London and Manchester, they are conscious in making businesses reducing their impact on the environment. To reinfore this ethos, they have recently created and opened offices near Canary Wharf; introducing energy efficient heating and cooling systems, automated lighting and water saving devices, with all electricity provided by green energy supplier Ecotricity.
“We’re one of a kind in London,” says Simon Eastlake, General Manager. “Our new serviced offices in Canary Wharf gave us the opportunity to do something really unique and we decided not to compromise on anything, especially when it came to the environment.”
“Companies need to show not only investors but also employees that they’re aware of environmental issues. By taking serviced office space with us, they’re making a very powerful statement.”
So the future for eco-offices, and eco-buildings as a whole, is certainly bright and green if the changes are made now. You can no longer just have plants in the office to call it green
Eco-buildings come in many different forms: self-sufficient or autonomous structures, self-build, wooden timbre-framed, cob cottages, traditional mud and stud, to name but a few. Some are high tech, others are low tech and some eco-architecture has even gone underground to conserve heat.
Like all good architecture, of course, modern eco-buildings with closely with the climate and attempt to harmonise with their environment. The relationship is strengthened by them passively capturing solar energy, rainwater and harnessing wind to generate energy that can be subsequently stored and used – with surplus energy often being sold to the national grid!
Now, the more environmentally-conscious architects and builders have integrated this eco-concept into commercial developments across the UK, more notably in densely populated cities such as London, Birmingham and Manchester, to create work spaces that are more “self-sufficient” and “greener” to keep up with the insatiable demand from forward-thinking businesses. The balance of luxury and sustainability is now essential, and although still important, previous key attributes of a great view, gym and capacious canteen area are further down the list of requirements when searching for the right office space.
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) recently advised that non-residential properties can achieve a zero carbon output, providing that onsite renewable solutions are employed. There is a cost associated with building to zero carbon. Expenditure varies widely with both the form and use of a building. Preliminary modelling, however, suggests that the premium could range from over 30% down to as low as 5 or 10% of current baseline costs.
“We have a challenging, yet realistic timeframe for achieving zero carbon with new non-domestic buildings,” says the UKGBC. “With a trajectory in place similar to that adopted for the Code for Sustainable Homes, then a deadline of 2020 is more than feasible.”
This wave of green office development is splashing on other towns and cities across the UK too. A £50m project was irrefutably backed this year by Norwich County Council to turn a neglected area of land into eco-friendly offices. The council’s planning committee supported proposals to demolish a former electricity board site in Duke’s Wharf, creating 1,000 new jobs and a site that would include shops, restaurants and a river side path. If local authorities capitalised on pockets of disused land such as this, then would it not gradually improve the infrastructure and environment for the long term?
You’d certainly expect the National Trust in Swindon to be located in an environmentally sound building, and rather unsurprisingly, they occupy one of the greenest offices in the UK. Carbon emissions are 65% less than similar developments, largely due to a formation of photovoltaic panels (silicon panels that collect sunlight and convert it into solar energy) on the roof, which provide 30% of the annual electricity use. Eco-friendly materials, such as PVC-free linoleum and water based paints were used throughout the building.
The Jubilee library in Brighton, has become one of the main tourist attractions in the city, not before causing political controversy with its procurement by the council through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) process. Politics aside, the architecture, engineering and green elements are all blended intricately into one; using the cement in the building as an energy store to either heat or cool the building accordingly. There are also solar-controlled louvres on the vast glass exterior, which prevents the interior from over-heating.
Archirect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw has found a better way to use fish and chip wrapping and old newspapers; he’s used them as insulation for the floors, walls and roof of the Eden project’s offices; making it one of the best insulated buildings in the country. The structure is also raised off the ground on timbre columns to minimise the volume of soil removed from the site during construction, and to reduce the amount of cement (one of the most un-eco-friendly products available) required to build it.
Although these are ambitious eco-projects, they have laid the green foundations for the future. The idea of a sustainable building is by no means a fad, more a long-term program that businesses, local authorities and ultimately the government will need to drive forward.
Serviced Office Company are one company situated in the UK that are taking their stance for environmentally friendly serviced offices. Not only do they offer exclusive office space in London and Manchester, they are conscious in making businesses reducing their impact on the environment. To reinfore this ethos, they have recently created and opened offices near Canary Wharf; introducing energy efficient heating and cooling systems, automated lighting and water saving devices, with all electricity provided by green energy supplier Ecotricity.
“We’re one of a kind in London,” says Simon Eastlake, General Manager. “Our new serviced offices in Canary Wharf gave us the opportunity to do something really unique and we decided not to compromise on anything, especially when it came to the environment.”
“Companies need to show not only investors but also employees that they’re aware of environmental issues. By taking serviced office space with us, they’re making a very powerful statement.”
So the future for eco-offices, and eco-buildings as a whole, is certainly bright and green if the changes are made now. You can no longer just have plants in the office to call it green
Loading Dock Lights
Camille Howe asked:
Loading dock lights are used on truck loading docks to bring light into long semi trailers and surrounding work area. The need is great as so little light often reaches the end of an enclosed trailer. For safety reasons and efficiency, it’s important to have proper lighting in loading dock areas. Loading dock lights have become enormously adaptable for numerous types of lighting applications, such as loading dock areas and warehouse work areas where work lights need to be portable. Loading dock lights are necessary for any business which does a lot of loading and unloading of heavy trucks. There are most likely other ways loading dock lights can be used in an industrial lighting situation where you want keep the light against a wall or swing out to provide ample light down the length of a truck trailer. Most companies provide several different types of loading dock lights including incandescent, halogen, high pressure sodium and rayton composite fluorescent work lights. Easy Rack?s loading dock lights reduce freight damage, expedite loading and unloading operations and provides consistent illumination inside semi-trailers or around dock worker areas. All Dock Loading Lights are UL listed.
Work lights are portable and can also be used in a residential environment when working in areas of poor light such as basements, attics, crawl spaces, working under sinks, cabinets or in dark garages. Other work light uses include painting, sanding, repairing, laying floor or staining. Whatever the job may be we have a work light that will fit the job
Industrial Dock Loading Light Benefits.
Incandescent Lights, offer portability, good color, low replacement cost and turn on instantaneously even in cold weather conditions. Our Incandescent work lights utilize a 90 watt bulb, model PAR-38, sold separately. Adjustable arm knuckle joint allows vertical and horizontal positioning.
Halogen Incandescent Lights provides more lumens/watt, better energy efficiency, has a longer service life, portable and experiences less light reduction over its lifetime. Halogen work lights are supplied with a 500 watt bulb. Light turns on instantly.
High Pressure Sodium Lights offers much higher lumens/watt output and a very long lamp life. Its illumination color rendition (yellowish) is not as desirable as an incandescent. Incandescent work lights characteristically requires several minutes to turn on, and even longer if in a cold environment. Low operating cost and portable. Dock work lights units are supplied with a 50 watt bulb.
Ryton Composite Fluorescent Dock Lights stay cool to the touch even with a 500 watt incandescent light. Dock loading lights are available in a standard incandescent lamp head and a fluorescent lamp head. Fluorescent lighting units include a bulb and head.
Halogen Work Lights provide superior lighting at jobsites that assures worker safety and precise loading and unloading. These quality work lights are UL listed and CSA certified. 500 watt halogen bulb included providing 11,000 lumens.
Companies can also carry dock loading traffic lights that have red and green lights that help avoid accidents and injuries by providing clear communication between dock loading workers and truck drivers.
Loading dock lights are used on truck loading docks to bring light into long semi trailers and surrounding work area. The need is great as so little light often reaches the end of an enclosed trailer. For safety reasons and efficiency, it’s important to have proper lighting in loading dock areas. Loading dock lights have become enormously adaptable for numerous types of lighting applications, such as loading dock areas and warehouse work areas where work lights need to be portable. Loading dock lights are necessary for any business which does a lot of loading and unloading of heavy trucks. There are most likely other ways loading dock lights can be used in an industrial lighting situation where you want keep the light against a wall or swing out to provide ample light down the length of a truck trailer. Most companies provide several different types of loading dock lights including incandescent, halogen, high pressure sodium and rayton composite fluorescent work lights. Easy Rack?s loading dock lights reduce freight damage, expedite loading and unloading operations and provides consistent illumination inside semi-trailers or around dock worker areas. All Dock Loading Lights are UL listed.
Work lights are portable and can also be used in a residential environment when working in areas of poor light such as basements, attics, crawl spaces, working under sinks, cabinets or in dark garages. Other work light uses include painting, sanding, repairing, laying floor or staining. Whatever the job may be we have a work light that will fit the job
Industrial Dock Loading Light Benefits.
Incandescent Lights, offer portability, good color, low replacement cost and turn on instantaneously even in cold weather conditions. Our Incandescent work lights utilize a 90 watt bulb, model PAR-38, sold separately. Adjustable arm knuckle joint allows vertical and horizontal positioning.
Halogen Incandescent Lights provides more lumens/watt, better energy efficiency, has a longer service life, portable and experiences less light reduction over its lifetime. Halogen work lights are supplied with a 500 watt bulb. Light turns on instantly.
High Pressure Sodium Lights offers much higher lumens/watt output and a very long lamp life. Its illumination color rendition (yellowish) is not as desirable as an incandescent. Incandescent work lights characteristically requires several minutes to turn on, and even longer if in a cold environment. Low operating cost and portable. Dock work lights units are supplied with a 50 watt bulb.
Ryton Composite Fluorescent Dock Lights stay cool to the touch even with a 500 watt incandescent light. Dock loading lights are available in a standard incandescent lamp head and a fluorescent lamp head. Fluorescent lighting units include a bulb and head.
Halogen Work Lights provide superior lighting at jobsites that assures worker safety and precise loading and unloading. These quality work lights are UL listed and CSA certified. 500 watt halogen bulb included providing 11,000 lumens.
Companies can also carry dock loading traffic lights that have red and green lights that help avoid accidents and injuries by providing clear communication between dock loading workers and truck drivers.
Modern Led Devices Vs. Traditional Light-emitting Sources
Groshan Fabiola asked:
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) represent various types of semiconductor devices that produce incoherent narrow-spectrum light fascicles when powered with a steady-state voltage electrical source, producing the effect known as electroluminescence. LEDs come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors, nowadays serving for a multitude of purposes: illuminating traffic signals, railroad crossing signals and display panels, facilitating optical fiber communications, providing backlighting for LCD televisions and displays, being integrated in remote control and optical devices (infrared LEDs), or being used simply for decorative purposes (LEDs can emit light of various colors blue, green, yellow, orange, red and purple, to name only a few).
LED lights have come a long way, today’s offer comprising highly reliable, durable and economical designs that can take various forms (LED bulbs, LED pods, LED tubes, LED displays, etc) and fulfill many different roles (functional or purely aesthetical).
LEDs are by far superior to traditional light sources such as incandescent light bulbs and fluorescent lamps, as they use less energy and produce less heat (unlike conventional light sources which consume a lot of electrical energy but transform only a fraction of the used energy into light, converting the rest of it into heat, LED lights are very economical, consuming less electrical energy and transforming a great part of it into light), have an impressively long life span (LED lights can last for more than 10 years), light up more quickly (in most cases LEDs can achieve full brightness in a matter of microseconds, compared to some fluorescent lamps that usually light up after 0,5 or 1 second and achieve full brightness in an average of 30 seconds) and can directly focus the light they emit (unlike incandescent and fluorescent light sources that generally include an external reflector that redirects the luminous rays in the desired direction).
Compared to conventional sources of light, LED bulbs and other similar LED devices can directly emit light of a certain color without the aid of color filters. Consequently, the colored light produced by LED bulbs is considerably brighter, clearer and more vivid, rendering colored-light producing LED bulbs the perfect devices for interior and exterior illumination of architectural structures, commercial panels and various decorative objects.
In addition, LED lights such as LED bulbs, LED pods and LED tubes don’t burn out unexpectedly like incandescent bulbs; when they fail, LEDs tend to dim out gradually, continuing to fulfill their purpose even in the event of a malfunction. While traditional light sources are unreliable and sometimes even unsafe (incandescent bulbs can sometimes explode due to fluctuant voltage), LED lights are durable, reliable, safe and efficient. All the mentioned advantages of LEDs render such devices the perfect replacement for incandescent and fluorescent light sources and nowadays LED light sources are already extensively used in many different industrial branches.
The main disadvantage of LED light sources and the primary reason why such devices are still rarely used for domestic, private purposes is that they have an expensive character. Unlike the omnipresent incandescent light bulbs and fluorescent lamps, devices that are usually very cheap, most LED light sources (particularly those with a high luminosity index) are still unaffordable to some categories of persons. However, if you carefully establish a cost-benefits analysis, LEDs are a great choice and a wise investment for anyone, regardless of material condition. Compared to conventional light sources that have a low purchase price but consume lots of energy and need to be regularly replaced, LED light sources have a higher purchase price but last for many years and consume only a small fraction of the energy used by incandescent and fluorescent light devices. Thus, if you are looking for durable, reliable, energy-efficient light devices, LED light sources are by far the best choice.
So, if you want to find out more about LED lights or even about LED bulbs, you should visit these links.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) represent various types of semiconductor devices that produce incoherent narrow-spectrum light fascicles when powered with a steady-state voltage electrical source, producing the effect known as electroluminescence. LEDs come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors, nowadays serving for a multitude of purposes: illuminating traffic signals, railroad crossing signals and display panels, facilitating optical fiber communications, providing backlighting for LCD televisions and displays, being integrated in remote control and optical devices (infrared LEDs), or being used simply for decorative purposes (LEDs can emit light of various colors blue, green, yellow, orange, red and purple, to name only a few).
LED lights have come a long way, today’s offer comprising highly reliable, durable and economical designs that can take various forms (LED bulbs, LED pods, LED tubes, LED displays, etc) and fulfill many different roles (functional or purely aesthetical).
LEDs are by far superior to traditional light sources such as incandescent light bulbs and fluorescent lamps, as they use less energy and produce less heat (unlike conventional light sources which consume a lot of electrical energy but transform only a fraction of the used energy into light, converting the rest of it into heat, LED lights are very economical, consuming less electrical energy and transforming a great part of it into light), have an impressively long life span (LED lights can last for more than 10 years), light up more quickly (in most cases LEDs can achieve full brightness in a matter of microseconds, compared to some fluorescent lamps that usually light up after 0,5 or 1 second and achieve full brightness in an average of 30 seconds) and can directly focus the light they emit (unlike incandescent and fluorescent light sources that generally include an external reflector that redirects the luminous rays in the desired direction).
Compared to conventional sources of light, LED bulbs and other similar LED devices can directly emit light of a certain color without the aid of color filters. Consequently, the colored light produced by LED bulbs is considerably brighter, clearer and more vivid, rendering colored-light producing LED bulbs the perfect devices for interior and exterior illumination of architectural structures, commercial panels and various decorative objects.
In addition, LED lights such as LED bulbs, LED pods and LED tubes don’t burn out unexpectedly like incandescent bulbs; when they fail, LEDs tend to dim out gradually, continuing to fulfill their purpose even in the event of a malfunction. While traditional light sources are unreliable and sometimes even unsafe (incandescent bulbs can sometimes explode due to fluctuant voltage), LED lights are durable, reliable, safe and efficient. All the mentioned advantages of LEDs render such devices the perfect replacement for incandescent and fluorescent light sources and nowadays LED light sources are already extensively used in many different industrial branches.
The main disadvantage of LED light sources and the primary reason why such devices are still rarely used for domestic, private purposes is that they have an expensive character. Unlike the omnipresent incandescent light bulbs and fluorescent lamps, devices that are usually very cheap, most LED light sources (particularly those with a high luminosity index) are still unaffordable to some categories of persons. However, if you carefully establish a cost-benefits analysis, LEDs are a great choice and a wise investment for anyone, regardless of material condition. Compared to conventional light sources that have a low purchase price but consume lots of energy and need to be regularly replaced, LED light sources have a higher purchase price but last for many years and consume only a small fraction of the energy used by incandescent and fluorescent light devices. Thus, if you are looking for durable, reliable, energy-efficient light devices, LED light sources are by far the best choice.
So, if you want to find out more about LED lights or even about LED bulbs, you should visit these links.
Stop Wasting Money on Your Lighting
Sean Kennedy asked:
Copyright (c) 2008 Sean Kennedy
As energy prices soar, companies across the UK are finding their annual energy bills are increasing by as much as 50% on previous years. With no end in sight to the rise in energy costs and faced with the challenge of slashing carbon dioxide emissions, we explain the 5 cardinal energy sins that which companies should avoid with their lighting.
1. Not using Voltage Reduction Devices
The UK’s electrical supply has been harmonised with European Standards to deliver 230V however there is an accepted tolerance of +10% to -6% which means that the power delivered could be as much as 253V.
Strangely most electrical products manufactured for the European market are optimised to run at 220V and lighting technologies such as High Intensity Discharge lighting (HID), such as Sodium, Mercury Vapour, HQI (Metal Halide) and Fluorescent lamps can operate at as little as 207V.
Not only is this a waste, the problem is compounded by the fact that running equipment at a higher than optimum voltages can increase energy usage and decrease the life expectancy of a lamp.
By simply installing a Voltage Reduction Device, businesses and organisations could save up to 25% instantly and increase the life cycle of lamps by as much as 300%.
2. Not using lighting controls
Lighting controls have been a proven technique to reduce energy consumption for many years however many businesses and organisations have yet to invest in this technology.
Lighting controls go much further than simple dimming to include motion sensors, daylight sensors, light level sensors as well as timing systems.
These control systems can be programmed to an organisation’s individual requirements controlling all aspects of the lighting from internal offices, stairwells, toilets, storage areas and external lighting.
Taking external lighting of a building, an effective lighting control system can reduce light levels and the associated energy usage by as much as 90% during inactive periods and immediately switched up to 100% when motion is detected.
3. Using Diochroic lamps in downlights
The simple truth is that if you have dichroic lamps in your premises you are wasting substantial amounts of energy.
There are literally millions of these fittings installed across the UK and provide one of the biggest opportunities to reduce energy consumption.
LED technology has advanced to such a degree that LED-powered downlights can now achieve superb light levels using a fraction of the energy.
LED downlights can achieve superb light levels using as little as 8W – a massive reduction of over 80% on a standard 50W dichroic lamp.
4. Using High Wattage SON or Metal Halide External Lighting
The traditional approach to floodlighting a building or providing security lighting has been to use high powered SON or Metal Halide fittings which can range from 70-250Watts.
These energy-sapping luminaires are costing your organisation thousands of pounds every single year in running and maintenance.
The introduction of advanced external LED lighting have seen new products enter the market which can achieve excellent light levels whilst consuming as little as 40Watts – again delivering superb energy savings.
As well as an extended life cycle of over 15 years, LED fittings also offer several additional benefits over SON lighting with brilliant white light, an instant restrike and the option for the entire lighting installation to be controlled via a PIR sensor for even further energy savings.
5. Believing that Replacing Lamps is Cheaper than Re-evaluating your Lighting System
The biggest sin of all is to stick to what you know and not explore the true costs of your existing lighting. Whilst it is guaranteed to be cheaper to buy a replacement lamp than installing new equipment such as lighting controls, LED lighting or an energy reducing device, the long term cost to your organisation will be considerably more.
With a range of incentives available from organisations such as the Carbon Trust, Business Enterprise Partnership and Salix Financing as well as tax benefits under the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme, there has never been a better time to re-evaluate your existing lighting.
The return on investment could be as little as 12 months depending on which solution is right for your organisation.
Copyright (c) 2008 Sean Kennedy
As energy prices soar, companies across the UK are finding their annual energy bills are increasing by as much as 50% on previous years. With no end in sight to the rise in energy costs and faced with the challenge of slashing carbon dioxide emissions, we explain the 5 cardinal energy sins that which companies should avoid with their lighting.
1. Not using Voltage Reduction Devices
The UK’s electrical supply has been harmonised with European Standards to deliver 230V however there is an accepted tolerance of +10% to -6% which means that the power delivered could be as much as 253V.
Strangely most electrical products manufactured for the European market are optimised to run at 220V and lighting technologies such as High Intensity Discharge lighting (HID), such as Sodium, Mercury Vapour, HQI (Metal Halide) and Fluorescent lamps can operate at as little as 207V.
Not only is this a waste, the problem is compounded by the fact that running equipment at a higher than optimum voltages can increase energy usage and decrease the life expectancy of a lamp.
By simply installing a Voltage Reduction Device, businesses and organisations could save up to 25% instantly and increase the life cycle of lamps by as much as 300%.
2. Not using lighting controls
Lighting controls have been a proven technique to reduce energy consumption for many years however many businesses and organisations have yet to invest in this technology.
Lighting controls go much further than simple dimming to include motion sensors, daylight sensors, light level sensors as well as timing systems.
These control systems can be programmed to an organisation’s individual requirements controlling all aspects of the lighting from internal offices, stairwells, toilets, storage areas and external lighting.
Taking external lighting of a building, an effective lighting control system can reduce light levels and the associated energy usage by as much as 90% during inactive periods and immediately switched up to 100% when motion is detected.
3. Using Diochroic lamps in downlights
The simple truth is that if you have dichroic lamps in your premises you are wasting substantial amounts of energy.
There are literally millions of these fittings installed across the UK and provide one of the biggest opportunities to reduce energy consumption.
LED technology has advanced to such a degree that LED-powered downlights can now achieve superb light levels using a fraction of the energy.
LED downlights can achieve superb light levels using as little as 8W – a massive reduction of over 80% on a standard 50W dichroic lamp.
4. Using High Wattage SON or Metal Halide External Lighting
The traditional approach to floodlighting a building or providing security lighting has been to use high powered SON or Metal Halide fittings which can range from 70-250Watts.
These energy-sapping luminaires are costing your organisation thousands of pounds every single year in running and maintenance.
The introduction of advanced external LED lighting have seen new products enter the market which can achieve excellent light levels whilst consuming as little as 40Watts – again delivering superb energy savings.
As well as an extended life cycle of over 15 years, LED fittings also offer several additional benefits over SON lighting with brilliant white light, an instant restrike and the option for the entire lighting installation to be controlled via a PIR sensor for even further energy savings.
5. Believing that Replacing Lamps is Cheaper than Re-evaluating your Lighting System
The biggest sin of all is to stick to what you know and not explore the true costs of your existing lighting. Whilst it is guaranteed to be cheaper to buy a replacement lamp than installing new equipment such as lighting controls, LED lighting or an energy reducing device, the long term cost to your organisation will be considerably more.
With a range of incentives available from organisations such as the Carbon Trust, Business Enterprise Partnership and Salix Financing as well as tax benefits under the Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme, there has never been a better time to re-evaluate your existing lighting.
The return on investment could be as little as 12 months depending on which solution is right for your organisation.
Commercial LED Street Lights and Architectural Security Lighting
R. Neal asked:
Commercial LED lighting creates a number of competitive advantages for to the contractor developing a proposal for a school, municipality, church, non-profit organization, corporate headquarters, or resort location. Regardless of fixture type, all commercial LED lights use less electricity than comparatively priced fluorescent fixtures. Because they are the most energy efficient lights in the world, commercial led lights are an excellent investment for any organization strapped with high power bills that needs to immediately begin reducing overhead. As the sophistication of led white light continues to evolve, commercial led lights have now worked their way into every major outdoor lighting application. New developments in diode technology allow light and color levels to be customized to the environment and directed with greater precision than metal halide and high-pressure sodium equivalents. This offers the added benefit of not only lower lighting costs, but also less light pollution.
RLLD Commercial Lighting works with lighting designers and commercial contractors from Coast to Coast as a multi-manufacturer distributor of commercial led lighting fixtures available for major outdoor lighting applications.
LED Street Lighting
Many cities across the US are experimenting with led streetlights. They are quickly discovering that these fixtures provide a much more controllable and efficient form of lighting than incandescent sources. LED street lights allow for more precise control of the light beam itself, making it possible to light streets and sidewalks without excess spill light creeping into yards and shining into windows. LED street lights can be shifted toward either the red or blue end of the spectrum in order to match different wavelengths of light to the different lighting requirements of specific times of day and night.
Commercial led streetlights could potentially reduce some municipal lighting costs as much as 50% in some cities and towns, and the lifespan of these fixtures (5 times longer than MH and HPS lamps), offers additional savings by minimizing maintenance and replacement costs.
LED Security Lighting
For organizations that want to create an environmentally friendly campus, commercial led security floodlights offer a light source free of greenhouse gases. Because they burn cooler than other security lights, they are also friendlier to trees, shrubs, and gardens. LED security lights last much longer than HPS and MH lamps, making them the most cost effective option for large university campuses and non-profit centers who must be Spartan in their maintenance budgets. Commercial led security lights are fully dimmable and feature instant on capability with no buzzing noises or annoying flicker. They are also are very difficult to vandalize.
As technology continues to improve lumens to watt efficiency, expect commercial led security lights to become brighter and even more energy efficient than ever, and expect them as well to offer even greater lighting control with almost zero glare and light pollution.
Architectural LED lighting
As more buildings ornate and eclectic architectural designs, the need increases for architectural lights to reflect the uniqueness of structural geometry in a highly customized fashion. LED commercial architectural lights can be obtained not only in power saving, low voltage fixture designs, but also in a full spectrum of special colors that can be combined to create entire lighting themes on building walls and rooftops
For organizations looking for exceptional sign lighting and architectural corporate branding, these led building lights offer both a cost savings and a versatility that no other architectural lighting fixture can deliver with as much variety and precision lighting control.
For connecting walkways, portable buildings, or high-profile outdoor break or entertainment areas, led commercial lights can also provide highly versatile, energy efficient, and pollution free general area lighting. They also work exceptionally well for outdoor country club lighting, where stray balls from nearby course ways can easily break incandescent or fluorescent fixtures. Municipal headquarters, civic centers, and large churches are additional examples of clients who can benefit from this highly customizable and cost effective form of general area lighting.
LED commercial landscape Lighting
Many corporations are approaching the current recession with a sense of cautious determination. They realize that certain investments have to be made, but at the same time, they will only invest in contractors who can predict within reason an estimated return on investment. LED commercial landscape lights offer not only the power saving features of solid state technology, but they also feature a full range of low voltage lighting options that can further reduce energy consumption to only 8% of what is used by incandescent equivalents. This super efficiency allows you to put a dollar amount in savings next to your line items and to win the contract in the most competitive bidding situations.
Commercial LED lighting creates a number of competitive advantages for to the contractor developing a proposal for a school, municipality, church, non-profit organization, corporate headquarters, or resort location. Regardless of fixture type, all commercial LED lights use less electricity than comparatively priced fluorescent fixtures. Because they are the most energy efficient lights in the world, commercial led lights are an excellent investment for any organization strapped with high power bills that needs to immediately begin reducing overhead. As the sophistication of led white light continues to evolve, commercial led lights have now worked their way into every major outdoor lighting application. New developments in diode technology allow light and color levels to be customized to the environment and directed with greater precision than metal halide and high-pressure sodium equivalents. This offers the added benefit of not only lower lighting costs, but also less light pollution.
RLLD Commercial Lighting works with lighting designers and commercial contractors from Coast to Coast as a multi-manufacturer distributor of commercial led lighting fixtures available for major outdoor lighting applications.
LED Street Lighting
Many cities across the US are experimenting with led streetlights. They are quickly discovering that these fixtures provide a much more controllable and efficient form of lighting than incandescent sources. LED street lights allow for more precise control of the light beam itself, making it possible to light streets and sidewalks without excess spill light creeping into yards and shining into windows. LED street lights can be shifted toward either the red or blue end of the spectrum in order to match different wavelengths of light to the different lighting requirements of specific times of day and night.
Commercial led streetlights could potentially reduce some municipal lighting costs as much as 50% in some cities and towns, and the lifespan of these fixtures (5 times longer than MH and HPS lamps), offers additional savings by minimizing maintenance and replacement costs.
LED Security Lighting
For organizations that want to create an environmentally friendly campus, commercial led security floodlights offer a light source free of greenhouse gases. Because they burn cooler than other security lights, they are also friendlier to trees, shrubs, and gardens. LED security lights last much longer than HPS and MH lamps, making them the most cost effective option for large university campuses and non-profit centers who must be Spartan in their maintenance budgets. Commercial led security lights are fully dimmable and feature instant on capability with no buzzing noises or annoying flicker. They are also are very difficult to vandalize.
As technology continues to improve lumens to watt efficiency, expect commercial led security lights to become brighter and even more energy efficient than ever, and expect them as well to offer even greater lighting control with almost zero glare and light pollution.
Architectural LED lighting
As more buildings ornate and eclectic architectural designs, the need increases for architectural lights to reflect the uniqueness of structural geometry in a highly customized fashion. LED commercial architectural lights can be obtained not only in power saving, low voltage fixture designs, but also in a full spectrum of special colors that can be combined to create entire lighting themes on building walls and rooftops
For organizations looking for exceptional sign lighting and architectural corporate branding, these led building lights offer both a cost savings and a versatility that no other architectural lighting fixture can deliver with as much variety and precision lighting control.
For connecting walkways, portable buildings, or high-profile outdoor break or entertainment areas, led commercial lights can also provide highly versatile, energy efficient, and pollution free general area lighting. They also work exceptionally well for outdoor country club lighting, where stray balls from nearby course ways can easily break incandescent or fluorescent fixtures. Municipal headquarters, civic centers, and large churches are additional examples of clients who can benefit from this highly customizable and cost effective form of general area lighting.
LED commercial landscape Lighting
Many corporations are approaching the current recession with a sense of cautious determination. They realize that certain investments have to be made, but at the same time, they will only invest in contractors who can predict within reason an estimated return on investment. LED commercial landscape lights offer not only the power saving features of solid state technology, but they also feature a full range of low voltage lighting options that can further reduce energy consumption to only 8% of what is used by incandescent equivalents. This super efficiency allows you to put a dollar amount in savings next to your line items and to win the contract in the most competitive bidding situations.
The Variety of Roles Fulfilled By Led Lighting Devices
Groshan Fabiola asked:
At present, LEDs are extensively used in many different branches of the industry, taking many different forms and fulfilling a wide range of roles. Miniature LED devices are incorporated in thousands of products, including computer components, VCR, DVD, Stereo, Audio and Video equipments, gaming devices, security equipments, mobile phones, digital cameras, medical instruments, encoders, optical switches, fiber optic communication devices, etc.
While miniature LEDs play a set of crucial roles when they are integrated into small-sized technological products, larger scale LEDs can be successfully used as sources of illumination. LED lighting devices have proved to be the best alternative to traditional light sources (particularly incandescent and fluorescent light devices) and have already replaced such illuminating devices in many segments of the industry. LED lighting devices are nowadays commonly used for emergency / police vehicle lighting, traffic and rail lighting, accent lighting pathways, marker lights, emergency lighting exit signs, architectural lighting and signage channel letters, etc.
LED lighting devices have evolved considerably over the last few years and nowadays offer a wide range of benefits (energy efficiency, impressively long life span, durability, wide range of colors, no UV emissions, flexible design, silent operation, low-voltage power supply, easy to maintain) that render them superior to traditional, obsolete sources of light. Thanks to their advantages, LED lighting devices have become very popular and at present they are in great demand, being produced for both industrial and private, household use. Although LED illuminating sources such as LED bulbs, LED pods and LED tubes are already extremely reliable, economical, safe and durable, scientists claim that future designs will be substantially more efficient and a lot more affordable, incorporating high tech, innovative materials.
The great features of LED lighting devices (especially the wide range of colors and the economical character of LEDs) have caught the attention of many advertising companies and agencies that have rapidly started to use various designs for commercial purposes. Thus, LED bulbs, LED tubes, LED pods and various other LED lighting devices are nowadays included in most advertising panels and commercial signs, producing a multitude of vivid, bright colors. In addition, through inventive, imaginative combinations of colored LEDs, breathtaking color-changing effects can be produced by dynamically activating various arrays of LED lighting devices.
Some existing fixtures utilizing variable-intensity LEDs can produce more than 16 million colors, generating remarkable effects such as color washing, cross fading, random color changing, strobing and variable strobing. Such fixtures are easy to install and can be easily controlled via a PC or digital device. Multicolor LEDs can be used for lighting signage, decorative interiors, art exhibition interiors, simple and complex architectural structures, or the interior of different entertainment venues (clubs, discos, etc).
Both simple and complex LED lighting devices nowadays fulfill many different roles inside public and private institutions, industrial establishments, art and entertainment venues or simply private residences. While more complex LED lighting devices are more expensive, simple LED lighting devices such as LED bulbs, LED pods, LED displays and LED tubes have become increasingly more affordable. Such products come with long-term warranty certificates and can be purchased from a wide variety of offline and online specialized stores.
So, if you want to find out more about LEDs or even about LED Lighting, you should visit these links.
At present, LEDs are extensively used in many different branches of the industry, taking many different forms and fulfilling a wide range of roles. Miniature LED devices are incorporated in thousands of products, including computer components, VCR, DVD, Stereo, Audio and Video equipments, gaming devices, security equipments, mobile phones, digital cameras, medical instruments, encoders, optical switches, fiber optic communication devices, etc.
While miniature LEDs play a set of crucial roles when they are integrated into small-sized technological products, larger scale LEDs can be successfully used as sources of illumination. LED lighting devices have proved to be the best alternative to traditional light sources (particularly incandescent and fluorescent light devices) and have already replaced such illuminating devices in many segments of the industry. LED lighting devices are nowadays commonly used for emergency / police vehicle lighting, traffic and rail lighting, accent lighting pathways, marker lights, emergency lighting exit signs, architectural lighting and signage channel letters, etc.
LED lighting devices have evolved considerably over the last few years and nowadays offer a wide range of benefits (energy efficiency, impressively long life span, durability, wide range of colors, no UV emissions, flexible design, silent operation, low-voltage power supply, easy to maintain) that render them superior to traditional, obsolete sources of light. Thanks to their advantages, LED lighting devices have become very popular and at present they are in great demand, being produced for both industrial and private, household use. Although LED illuminating sources such as LED bulbs, LED pods and LED tubes are already extremely reliable, economical, safe and durable, scientists claim that future designs will be substantially more efficient and a lot more affordable, incorporating high tech, innovative materials.
The great features of LED lighting devices (especially the wide range of colors and the economical character of LEDs) have caught the attention of many advertising companies and agencies that have rapidly started to use various designs for commercial purposes. Thus, LED bulbs, LED tubes, LED pods and various other LED lighting devices are nowadays included in most advertising panels and commercial signs, producing a multitude of vivid, bright colors. In addition, through inventive, imaginative combinations of colored LEDs, breathtaking color-changing effects can be produced by dynamically activating various arrays of LED lighting devices.
Some existing fixtures utilizing variable-intensity LEDs can produce more than 16 million colors, generating remarkable effects such as color washing, cross fading, random color changing, strobing and variable strobing. Such fixtures are easy to install and can be easily controlled via a PC or digital device. Multicolor LEDs can be used for lighting signage, decorative interiors, art exhibition interiors, simple and complex architectural structures, or the interior of different entertainment venues (clubs, discos, etc).
Both simple and complex LED lighting devices nowadays fulfill many different roles inside public and private institutions, industrial establishments, art and entertainment venues or simply private residences. While more complex LED lighting devices are more expensive, simple LED lighting devices such as LED bulbs, LED pods, LED displays and LED tubes have become increasingly more affordable. Such products come with long-term warranty certificates and can be purchased from a wide variety of offline and online specialized stores.
So, if you want to find out more about LEDs or even about LED Lighting, you should visit these links.