The past week we have had several customers contact us because they have moved from one office space to another or have completed a remodel and the existing lighting doesn’t work for their needs.
We begin the process with them to determine what is not working with the lighting, it may be casting shadows now because of different furniture placement, in one case the previous tenant didn’t want much light and had removed fluorescent tubes from the fixtures. In another situation the lens was missing from the fixtures so there was glare and the light wasn’t focused where they needed it. Sometimes the lighting can be a relatively easy fix – replacement of lamps and tubes, or ballast, sometimes new fixtures are needed. In any case, lighting is not a one size fits everyone’s needs, each business and person is unique as to their goals and how the lighting can help to accomplish that.
With all of the excitement and amazing options and energy savings available with LEDs there may be a downside, the ability to dim them. There are many reasons people like dimming their lights, ambiance, a warmer light and energy savings. With most LEDs when dimmed they do not change to a warmer color (there are new ones coming out that will be able to change), also incandescents when dimmed drop about 24% or more in light output, LEDs light output diminishes 10% or less. For both light sources there is an increased life when dimmed although with the extended life of LEDs this is not an important factor. Be aware that LEDs may not work with your current dimmer, it is recommended that you replace your dimmer when switching to LEDs and be sure that it is compatible with the LED you are choosing to install.
