From architects to zoos: Lighting A to Z

When's the last time you thought about lighting at your shop, office, or retail outlet?

Lighting can have a big impact on your business - it affects everything from how your products are perceived by your customers to the safety and security of your staff members and clients. Lighting can also represent a significant portion of your electricity costs, which is why it's a good idea to re-assess whether or not your current lighting system is really meeting your requirements.

Increase The Curb Appeal Of Your Business
If you've ever approached a dimly-lit bar, a shop with poor exterior lighting, or an office that's located down a dark hallway, you already know that lighting can play a critical role in how your customers perceive you and your company.

A warm, well-lit parking lot lets your visitors know that you're open for business, while bright signage and window displays draw people in to your building. Just like with your home, the right outdoor lighting goes a long way towards increasing the curb appeal of your company.

Improve Safety and Security With Better Business Lighting
Keeping yourself, your clients, and your staff members safe is another important consideration when operating a business. Well-placed, reliable lighting both inside and outside of your building is one of the most affordable, effective tools you can use to deter crime, decrease accidents, and create a safer environment for everyone.

Increase ADA Compliance and Accessibility
The National Federation of the Blind estimates that close to 9 million Americans are visually impaired, and approximately 1.3 million more are legally blind. Studies also show that thanks to the aging population, these numbers are expected to double over the next 30 years.

Lighting plays an important role in making your business more accessible to people living with visual impairments - the right lights help to reduce the risk of injuries, increase traffic to your business, and create a barrier-free environment.

Be aware that in some cases, brighter lights aren't necessarily better for people living with conditions that impact their vision, and in fact, some overly-bright lights can actually cause vision loss.

Energy-Efficient LED Lighting Options
With the advent of light emitting diodes, better known as LEDs, it's now possible to create a completely customized lighting installation that delivers exceptional illumination without spiking your utility bills.

When compared to traditional incandescent (a.k.a. 'Edison-style') lighting, LEDs "use at least 75% less energy, and last 25 times longer" according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Better yet, commercial-quality LEDs have an average bulb life of 25,000 hours and they emit significantly less heat than other types of lighting like halogen and fluorescent, meaning that LEDs have the potential to save you on installation and air conditioning costs as well.

And because LED lights come in a wide array of colors that can be changed with a touch of a button, LEDs let you illuminate everything from counter tops to cars and bathroom mirrors with colorful lights that reflect your brand.