Improving Business Operations with Lighting and Controls in Office Envir
Christian Schraft, CEO, Sylvania, discusses why when thinking about ways to improve business operations, fully controlled LED lighting should be at the top of the agenda.
Business owners, operators and facilities managers are constantly looking for ways to improve business operations and the bottom line. One area that can be adapted to positively contribute towards profitability and performance is the built environment – one of a business’ most valuable assets – with lighting playing a significant role, especially in office settings. LED lighting has long been acknowledged
as the optimum solution for lowering energy usage, especially when compared to archaic incandescent lighting solutions. However it must be well controlled in order to maximise energy-saving potential. There’s little point having energy efficient lighting if it’s frequently switched on in meeting rooms or areas of the office not in use. There are many options available on the
market that ensure lighting is used efficiently, but they have different levels of ability, complexity and sophistication in delivering that efficiency. Additionally, adopting lighting
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controls can often be a daunting prospect with new wires and complex hardware which require equally complex software programming. This can result in business owners being put off by the associated hassle.
Simple steps to save
Measures of austerity have been implemented across businesses for years and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to find places to save money. However, with a change of focus, there are significant savings still to be had. 39% of electricity consumed by a
commercial property is for lighting . While some may think that the only way to reduce electricity consumption is to switch lights off, there is a better solution to drive this figure down. Incandescent lights consume a massive 75% more energy that LED alternatives. So by simply making the switch from one solution to the other, business can save significant amounts whilst also reducing maintenance costs, as LED lasts up
to 25 times longer than incandescent lamps. By taking the decision to upgrade lighting
to LED, business owners can reap cost saving benefits as well as making their offices more energy efficient too. This is a vital consideration, as legislation such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive with its targets of ‘nearly zero energy buildings’ (NZEBs) looms ever closer.
Taking control of your lighting
The decision to upgrade lighting can be a simple one, especially with all the facts backing up the benefits of LED. However, when thoughts turn to which controls should be implemented, things can begin to feel more complex and confusing. As a result, many default back to the safe haven of a simple switch. And for some, a switch is enough. It is simple and doesn’t cost a lot, but it will remain switched on until human intervention ensures that the lights are turned off. Not the most reliable or
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