But the smarter solution is to invest in an intelligent LED lighting solution. That way, you can double your cost savings and halve your energy consumption.

Switching from incandescent or fluorescent bulbs to LEDs will save you between 40-50% — but retrofitting an intelligent lighting control system can boost that figure to 90%. Here’s how.

What are the Benefits of Intelligent Lighting Control?

Intelligent lighting systems are integrated systems that refine your organization’s energy usage. In addition to the savings realized by switching to LED lamps, intelligent systems can reduce both energy usage and costs.

For example, intelligent sensors can automatically adjust the amount of light they provide at any given time. Say there are typically 20 workers in a given space, but only 5 are in the office one day. The intelligent sensor would automatically activate lighting for those 5 workers, while conserving energy in areas they aren’t using.

Sensors can also integrate with natural light. On dull days, the light will be increased. On bright days, it’s reduced.

An intelligent system can also monitor power usage and keep it within the desired range by adjusting output.  If too much energy is being used — whether it’s with lighting or any of the other energy-consuming functions and features in the building — an intelligent system can locate the exact problem and notify management and maintenance so something can be done about it.

Dimming can shrink the lifespan of an incandescent or fluorescent bulb. But, when using well-designed intelligent LED systems, dimming has no impact on the bulbs’ longevity. It also doesn’t call for any additional attention from your maintenance crew.

Installing an intelligent system is, obviously, more expensive upfront than just changing light bulbs to LEDs. But because the potential savings are so much higher, you can hit your ROI much quicker. Plus, you’ll enjoy higher savings for all the years to come.

Is it worth the expense of an intelligent system for your building or project? There’s only one way to find out — reach out for a complete cost-benefit analysis showing the trade-offs between initial investment and potential energy cost savings.

Perhaps more importantly, it’s provided them with the tools to become more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. LED lamps have the potential to reduce energy usage by more than 80%.

When considering LED lamps, business owners run into two common pitfalls: the first being cost, and the second being lack of knowledge about proper placement. But even considering those roadblocks, LEDs are a worthwhile investment that can have four major benefits to your business.

1) They Last Longer

First and foremost, LED lamps last longer than incandescent lighting. Period. This means fewer replacements, and maintenance workers don’t have to spend as much time changing out lamps. Instead, they can focus on core maintenance tasks, such as making sure the floors are clean and free of debris, which enhances customer experience.

2) Tax Incentives are a Plus

Depending on where your business is located, there is likely an assortment of federal and state tax incentives that you can take advantage of when going green and switching to LED lighting. Check out this article on energy.gov to see the potential tax breaks for becoming more energy-efficient.

3) Fewer Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Compared to traditional bulbs, LEDs emit less carbon dioxide. That spells major environmental benefits and savings for buildings of all sorts.

Take for example Buckingham Palace. Thanks to switching to LED lighting, the queen’s abode uses less energy than it takes to heat up a cup of tea. It’s all thanks to lower carbon dioxide emissions and lowered energy consumption.

4) It’s an Excellent Way to Boost Professionalism

We haven’t even mentioned the “wow” factor that comes with the switch to LEDs.  Imagine all the burnt-out incandescent bulbs you see in retail stores today. Good lighting is often the difference between making a sale and a customer walking out the door. LEDs go a long way to make your space look bright, neat and professional.

Switching to LEDs is an investment, but a worthwhile one. See how CBMC can help you light your space responsibly with LEDs.

Although it’s counterintuitive, very bright light can actually create unsafe conditions while walking through an industrial area at night. Here are the problems overly bright light can cause for the safety of your workers and visitors, and why dim light is the preferred option.

Too Much Contrast and Light Can Actually Disable Your Vision

Think about working on your computer in the dark. Your monitor might be bright enough to see what you’re working on, but it can make it hard to see what’s in the rest of the room — even if the room isn’t anywhere near pitch black.

The same thing happens when you’re outdoors: you can see what’s in the lit area, but it’s tricky to see anything outside of that radius. Very bright light can prevent you from seeing all of your surroundings, especially when there’s glare from shiny surfaces. Navigating a parking lot can be difficult when there’s light reflecting off windshields, shiny paint, and the windows of buildings.

Another potential hazard created by bright light is shadows. Unless the area is entirely lit by floodlights, certain areas will naturally fall into comparative darkness. That leads to scenarios where would-be thieves can hide in the shadows to the side of cars, for example.

It’s true that the human eye adapts fairly quickly to light. But when it comes to the safety of your employees and guests, “fairly quick” isn’t good enough.

Industrial Outdoor Lighting and the Environment

When figuring out the right configuration and amount of light, many fail to take into consideration the environment immediately outside your own space. How are the streets lit? What about the alleys, or green spaces?

The areas outside of your industrial space might have much poorer lighting than your own. Outside of your heavily trafficked area, people may only have the occasional lamppost to light the way.

Again, the issue here is the creation of shadows. If your lighting is much brighter than your surroundings, it can create areas for no-gooders to lurk and put your people at risk.

If you’re building in an industrial area or need to upgrade your lighting, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Lean on CBMC’s lighting professionals to find the right lighting for your space. Get in touch, and start lighting your space the safe and efficient way.

Creative Commons Attribution: Permission is granted to repost this article in its entirety with credit to CBMC Lighting Solutions and a clickable link back to this page.

There are a few roadblocks associated with LED lamps, including the fact that initial expenses can be quite costly. Additionally, in retail stores, many store owners are unaware of how to best position the lamps so that optimal retail presentation is achieved. Furthermore, the transitioning process to this type of lighting is sometimes uncertain.

Still, there are solutions to each of the roadblocks presented by LED lamps. It’s thanks to these solutions that businesses can enjoy the four following benefits of commercial LED lighting.

1) They Last Longer

First and foremost, LED lamps last longer than incandescent lighting. This means maintenance workers don’t have to spend as much time changing out lamps. Instead, they can focus on core maintenance tasks, such as making sure the floors are clean and free of debris, which enhances customer experience.

2) Tax Incentives are a Plus

Depending on where your business is located, there is likely an assortment of federal and state tax incentives that you can take advantage of when going green and switching to LED lighting.

3) Fewer Carbon Dioxide Emissions

It’s also with LED energy-efficient commercial lighting that fewer carbon dioxide emissions are taken in. In turn, LED lamps can light up large retail stores for practically nothing. Take for example Buckingham Palace, which now uses LED lighting. Illuminating this structure uses less energy than what it takes to make a cup of tea, and it’s all because of fewer carbon dioxide emissions and lowered energy consumption.

4) It’s an Excellent Way to Boost Professionalism

When customers walk into your building or store, they should be ‘wowed’. If your ceiling and lighting fixtures are dotted with incandescent lamps that have burnt out, this is sure to leave a bad impression because it makes your company look as if it can’t afford good lighting. But with commercial LED lighting, your business will appear much more professional because the lamps distribute the light in a more even manner.

Creative Commons Attribution: Permission is granted to repost this article in its entirety with credit to CBMC Lighting Solutions and a clickable link back to this page.

Light pollution not only affects our pocketbook, but also it’s very hard on our health, the earth, and all living things.

The Effects of Light Pollution on Health

Have you ever lived near a parking lot or brightly lit commercial or industrial center? Chances are there were many nights you didn’t sleep as well as you should have because your bedroom was too light. You may not have noticed it, and might not have known sleep was a problem for you, but unless you have virtually complete darkness (you should even turn off the bedroom TV with those little red and blue lights), sleep cannot do what it’s supposed to – repair tissue, grow new tissue, restore energy, release hormones that regulate the entire endocrine system, and so on. Lack of proper sleep can cause sleep disorders, headaches, workers fatigue, stress, anxiety, and obesity. It is currently even being linked to cancer.

Some animals hunt only at night. In fact, their daytime vision can be so bad that it’s impossible for them to hunt at any other time. Not only is their survival threatened when they can’t do their night hunting, the survival of other animals for which they are prey is also at risk. And things snowball from there. We also risk being overridden by animals the nocturnal hunters would normally eat.

Plants also suffer. Those flowers that open in the morning and close at night do so for a reason. Light pollution inhibits their natural processes. That, in turn, inhibits their growth, the activities of bees and birds that pollinate the planet, and so on.

The Effects of Light Pollution on Savings and the Sky

When it comes to effects on the pocketbook, it’s not just one pocketbook being drained. Lighting is responsible for at least one-fourth of the energy consumption around the world, and it has a huge effect on the carbon footprint.

If light pollution had been going on longer than it has – it wasn’t a problem 100 years ago – we may never have been graced with Vincent van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ and many other paintings that depict the night sky. And would we have ever reached the moon if we had been unable to study the stars?

At CBMC Lighting Solutions, we ensure your commercial or industrial site’s exterior lighting doesn’t pollute. We save you a lot of money, and you get to exercise your philanthropic tendencies as you help save the planet.

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Dynamic Lighting Controls

Lighting is a crucial part of setting the mood in a restaurant. Luckily, this doesn’t all have to be done manually anymore. Dynamic lighting controls exist that can automatically change the brightness, color, and intensity of the lighting in your establishment.

This gives you far more control over how you present your establishment at different times of day. If you serve both lunch and dinner, you can choose to have your lights transition in the evening to a more romantic atmosphere, while keeping it open and bright for lunch.

Restaurants are even more interesting when it comes to lighting because of what you are selling. Food has to look appetizing or no one is going to eat it. That’s why dimmable yellow glow bulbs can be a more appropriate option when it comes to lighting choices.

Hanging Pendants

It seems the newest restaurant trend is to have an industrial but chic vibe. Of course, lighting can take this to the next level. By choosing the right light fixtures your look can really come across looking enticing. Hanging pendant lights are the perfect addition.

There are a few things to consider when using these light fixtures though. First, it’s important you have ample space. If an are is too small then the lighting will become crowded. They also need to be up high if hanging over an area where people will be standing. Therefore, ample ceiling space is important.

These bulbs are also going to be closer to your guests since they are hanging, so it’s important that they are dimmable. This also goes back to transitioning between lunch and dinner. By having dimmable lights, you can give off two different vibes in the same day with just the push of a button.

Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting is where creativity can fly. Not only are they great for the people eating at your restaurant, but they also add curb appeal. Those who walk by may be enticed by quality outdoor lighting – even if they plan to eat indoors.

As far as the actual fixtures, outdoors usually need dimmer ambiance and require less harsh bulbs. Generally, a good mix of floor lighting with string lights will give off a romantic outdoor vibe.

It’s important to consider the paths your customers will be taking as well. The path from the restaurant to the dining area, the dining area to the restroom, and the dining area to the parking lot all need to have adequate light so your customers and your staff don’t trip.

Ready to take your restaurant lighting to the next step? Contact us and we will chat with you about upping your restaurant lighting game.

What’s the Shopping Center Plan in Cocoa?

Errol Beckford, the Senior Pastor at Celebration Tabernacle Church, is determined to revitalize Cocoa.

At first, his focus was primarily on helping those who might otherwise turn to crime – or have already. He started businesses that employ the homeless and those with criminal records, and he built housing to help the needy get back on their feet.

But since 2011, he’s also been renovating Cocoa buildings to give Cocoa citizens a city they can be proud of. His latest, and largest, project is a shopping center. He started by changing its name from Pineridge Shopping Center to Celebration Shopping Center.

Part of the shopping center plan includes improving the lighting. Not only will the lighting help make the center bright and attractive, it will also cut down on crime – one of the city’s major problems.

The Correlation between Crime and Lighting

The effect of improved lighting on crime rates has been well documented. When California implemented new lighting standards some years ago, Oakland, among other cities, complied. Oakland started using what was then energy-efficient bulbs, capped lampposts to curb energy usage by lighting the target area instead of the sky and so on – but the homicide rate went up 25% from the previous year. Citizens filed for an exemption to the lighting restrictions in the dangerous areas of the city to resolve the problem.

A housing complex in the Bronx saw the crime rate drop 54%, with serious crime down 62%, after improving the lighting and upgrading the surface of buildings in the area.

A review of studies about lighting projects in the US and UK showed that 10 of 13 areas where lighting was improved saw reduced crime rates, more than half of which were quite significant.

Similar studies in this and other countries have shown similar results.

Some researchers note that the effect doesn’t seem to be limited to the inability of potential criminals to hide under cover of darkness. It’s also a matter a pride. A well-lit, upgraded area encourages people to hold their heads high – exactly what Pastor Errol Beckford is trying to accomplish in Cocoa.

“Renovation projects like ours give neighborhoods a morale boost,” Jean Shuford, philanthropist, fundraiser and daughter of a former Cocoa mayor said in a recent interview with Florida Today. “It makes people in the community feel like someone cares about them and their area. It makes them feel good when they see nicer buildings. A lot of people here feel like they’re forgotten because they’re poor…. What matters is the people of the neighborhood seeing that there’s a better way of life on the horizon.”

Upgrading your shopping center lighting isn’t just good for business – it’s good for the whole community.

Creative Commons Attribution: Permission is granted to repost this article in its entirety with credit to CBMC Lighting Solutions and a clickable link back to this page.