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Many businesses could vastly increase their profits simply by taking steps to cut their energy usage. Furthermore, reducing energy bills will equate to a far smaller carbon footprint, and in turn those that take the time to refocus their reliance on electricity and gas will also find that they are helping the environment at the same time, potentially attracting greater levels of custom in the process.
Whilst installing insulation, utilising more efficient heating solutions and changing gas suppliers could all serve to reduce business overheads, choosing new light fittings and fixtures may help businesses to achieve the very same end, and may vastly improve the aesthetics of the workplace in the process.
One of the most important parts of any interior design will be lighting, and not only will the right fixtures and fittings have a major impact on how attractive a space is, but the right solutions will also make a workplace safer and more productive.
Choosing the right fittings
When choosing light fixtures and fittings, it will be important to bear a number of things in mind. Firstly, whilst it may be cheaper in the short run to buy a few larger fittings, these will often do very little to boost productivity or increase safety. In turn, whilst buying numerous smaller fittings may require a greater initial investment, it may also mean that businesses become more efficient and that individual lights can be powered up as and when they are needed rather than every single light needing to be on within a premises at times when only very specific areas need to be lit. Fluorescent strip lights are the worst offenders, and not only might these cause headaches amongst staff, but such lights are also likely to waste far more power, especially when they are quite literally on the blink.
When purchasing new lighting solutions it may also be well worth investing in motion sensors and daylight sensors. Again, whilst these will undoubtedly require a greater initial outlay, such intuitive solutions could save businesses a fortune in the long term by ensuring that lights are only ever used as and when they are needed.
Next, you will need to make sure you choose fittings that will easily house the right bulbs. If the only bulbs available for a certain fitting are not energy-efficient, you will be throwing money away as certain bulbs will be extremely inefficient, with some giving off predominantly heat only and as little as 10% of the energy that is used to power them going towards producing light.
Savings
Once you have the right fittings and the right sensors, there will be many other ways to reduce your outgoings whilst keeping your space safe and attractive. Firstly, if sensors are not being used, putting up simple reminders for staff to turn lights off could help businesses save a fortune. Using the right strength of bulbs (try different watt lamps in your light sockets to see which you really need) and ensuring that all bulbs used are of the energy-saving variety will also make a huge difference. Again, whilst the best energy-saving bulbs may cost a little more initially, they will last far longer, and in turn fewer replacements will equate to significant savings.
Author bio: Alan Holmes is a freelance writer and blogger. He regularly writes articles about home improvements and lighting solutions, using sites such as The Lighting Superstore to stay up to date with all the latest industry news and developments.
