We are in the most revolutionary time for lighting since the age of Edison. Advances in technology, which is an often-overlooked topic compared to self-driving cars, are moving so quickly (at light speed?) that it can be challenging to keep up. LED lighting (Light Emitting Diode) has not only become the primary way to illuminate, but it’s also grown and become “human-centric.”

Human-centric LED creates an effective and efficient light for people and the space they are occupying. This is done in a variety of ways. For example, it auto-adjusts according to circadian rhythms to remove blue light in the evening hours, which is known to disrupt sleep cycles but helps people feel more alert during the day.

Occupying lighting is another way LED has become human-centric. You’ve probably experienced walking into a bathroom at a Starbucks or a department store and had the light automatically switch on. Lights dim or brighten, turn on or off, depending on the occupation of a space.

LiFi was invented by 2014 Nobel Prize winner and physicist Shuji Nakamura. It’s an upgraded version of Wi-Fi internet connectivity using light rather than radio waves with an ability to transfer data at speeds up to one hundred times faster! Having LiFi integrated into LED lighting creates an alternate path for internet connectivity. Signify, which was Phillips Lighting, owns this development.

Other big companies have jumped into the mix with new lighting innovations as well. GE released C by GE Sol, a table lamp powered by smart speaker Amazon’s Alexa. You don’t have to actually “clap on, clap off.” Just say it.

Acuity Brands is creating an energy-efficient sensory network (using human-centric occupying lighting, among other fascinating advances) which they hope to integrate into an entire smart city.

Lighting will always remain crucial. Not everyone needs the latest phone or a self-driving car. But light is necessary in today’s world.

LED lighting. “What exactly is it?” you may ask. Well, the technical definition of LED (light-emitting diode) is a two-lead, semiconductor light source, which emits light through an effect called electroluminescence. Does that sound like a mouthful? Let’s take a closer look at how LEDs work and some questions you may have about converting.

Is LED lighting safe?

If you have ever looked closely at a traditional light bulb, you know that it works by sending electricity through two prongs with a thin strand of wire between them. This is a costly process, which emits more heat than light. In LED lights, this apparatus’s size is in the form of a p-n junction that is reduced to about 1-2 mm in size, using a reflector cavity to produce light. The amount of heat generated in the bulb is significantly reduced b. LEDs are a far safer choice for business and home lighting.

How do LEDs affect the environment?

One aspect of LED lighting you will find appealing is the carbon footprint left behind for the environmentally conscious. The typical 40-watt household light bulb will generate around 200 pounds of Co2 emissions per year. The LED equivalent, a 6-watt bulb, only produces around 30 pounds. That is 85% less harmful effects on our planet! Considering that LEDs are also Mercury-free, they are the superior choice from an ecological perspective.

How long will LEDs last?

An important issue for all business owners is saving money. While prices are still considerably higher than current lighting options, as with any technology, LEDs are becoming more affordable every day. If you choose a standard 4-pack of With 60-watt incandescent lights at around $18, you can expect each bulb to last around 1,200 hours. An 8 watt LED, purchased at around $14 each, has a life span of around 50,000 hours! The comparison is uncanny when it comes to which is the better deal.

In addition to the longevity of LEDs, they are also extremely reliable. Gone are the days of flipping on a light switch and hearing that tell-tale ‘POP” and the flash of a bulb blowing. When LEDs are approaching the end of their lives, there will be a gradual decrease in the light’s brightness over time.

Will I see a difference in my monthly power bill?

Let’s face it, the bottom line matters. Knowing how any decision will impact your budget will always be a leading factor in any improvement or upgrade decision. On average, about 25% of your monthly bill is attributed to light bulb use. This translates into about $1,000 a year based on the average rate of kilowatt-hours (around 12 cents an hour) using only standard bulbs. When replaced with LED lights, this cost drops dramatically to around $120. When we look at the yearly savings of over $800, it becomes even more apparent that LED lighting pays off in the long run.

When looking for ways to stretch your dollar, it often pays to spend more now to ensure long-term savings. In today’s world, where the cost is continuously rising, any investment that saves money by a margin can be seen as the superior choice.

Parking garages are a great way to maximize parking spaces, especially for large buildings or limited parking opportunities on the street. As a customer who uses a parking garage, you want it well lit for safety. As a parking garage owner, you want it well lit but in a way that doesn’t cost an absorbent amount of money. If you are still lighting your garage with old school lighting such as fluorescents or incandescents, you are already spending too much on your energy bill.

Parking garage lighting has come a long way over the decades. A place that used to be dark and scary can now be as bright as day. No longer can a criminal hide in the shadows waiting for his next victim because there are no shadows with LED lighting. The brightly lit parking garage and lack of shadows also improve visibility for both drivers and pedestrians.

When it comes to cost, LED lighting is decades ahead of halogen and Florence the lighting. These bulbs can burn longer and brighter than their traditional counterparts, which means it could be years before you need to change any bulbs in your garage. Many parking garages need to be lit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This could put a strain on your bank account if you are still using old lighting. LEDs are better for your wallet and the environment because they also emit harmful Infrared or UV rays, use less energy, and be recycled.

LED lighting is the lighting of the future. LEDs are used in many different applications and can be programmed to change colors, and are dimmable. These lights can withstand extreme environments and temperatures. This is very valuable when you need lights to run every moment of the year without fail.

Deciding to switch to LED parking lot lighting is simple. For many owners, the cost savings alone is enough to make the change. However, it is nice not to have to worry about which light is out today or that your garage is unsafe in any way. After keeping customers safe is the number one priority for all business owners.

Victory Lighting can help you quickly make the switch to LED lighting for your parking lot in Nashville, TN & Raleigh, NC; contact our team today to get started.

Have you ever wondered what your office’s environmental aspects could be changed to improve your employee’s mood and productivity? Well, the answer might be just over your head!

I may be time to change out the lighting in your business to improve your employees’ and customers’ productivity, moods, and health. Here some commercial office lighting ideas that can achieve this goal.

As American office workers, we spend at least one-third of each weekday in the office. While everyone’s goal is to have a successful and productive workday, often something as simple as lighting impedes our ability to do so. A study conducted by the American Society of Interior Design disclosed that 68 percent of employees complain about their offices’ lighting situation. This substantial number implies that many employers could be making the same mistakes.

While natural lighting is the most desirable solution, we can’t all grab our desks and work outside every day. However, we can implement the science of the human mind’s response to light to improve mood, productivity, and success.

The temperature of light, measured in Kelvin (K), is a numerical measurement of the emitted color when an object is heated to a high enough temperature. As the temperature increases, the object changes colors and emits specific colors of that light.

Higher color temperatures (4,600K or more) appear blue-white and are called cool or daylight colors. A typical sunny day is about 5,000K or 5,500K and is considered a cool color.

Mid-range color temperatures (3,100K–4,600K) appear cool white. Sunset is about 4,000K and is considered a cool white color.

Lower color temperatures (up to 3,000K) range from red to yellowish-white in tone and warm colors. The glow-from-the-fire lighting is about 2,000K and is considered a warm color. (/)

Studies show that working under “blue-enriched” light bulbs that are 17,000K increases work performance by supporting mental acuity, vitality, and alertness while reducing fatigue and daytime sleepiness.

Researchers at the University of Greenwich found in a two-month study that the workers they put under “blue-enriched light bulbs” reported feeling “happier, more alert and had less eye strain.”

Other benefits of blue light include lowering melatonin, which is created in our glands and puts us to sleep. This lower level of melatonin keeps people alert in the same way coffee does.

According to the article, with so many brainpower benefits, blue or cooler light should be kept in brainstorming rooms where you want people to feel invigorated and excited to share their ideas.

On the other hand, since warmer tones tend to create a sense of comfort. Use this kind of lighting in more intimate settings where you want workers to feel calm and relaxed, perhaps in a meeting room where you want to emit trust.

Conference rooms should have middle tones that produce a friendly and inviting environment and cool enough tones to keep workers alert and motivated.
Throughout the day, the light also needs to change since space acts as a working organism, according to Felderman and Keatinge. Earlier in the day, lighting in the office should be cooler and blue. It should gradually change to a warmer, yellow color as the day progresses.

The most innovative companies are already discovering the power of strategic lighting.

The next time you find yourself eager to get into the office in the early hours and a better mood, it’s possible that new lighting has changed your rhythm and given you a slight advantage.

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The benefits of having a well-lit parking lot or parking garage cannot be exaggerated. In business, the way all of our offices indoors are lit effects how our customers feel coming in, and the outdoor lighting will make or break a customer’s decision to visit our business after dark.

At Victory Lights, we have kept your customer’s needs in mind and are ready to provide you with an array of solutions to choose from when deciding on your parking lot lighting requirements.

Parking lot and parking garage lighting needs to make customers and employees feel safe after dark while saving your business the cost associated with added security.

And our services aren’t limited to just parking lot lighting! Hard to reach wall sconces, LED retrofits, and pole lights are also easy work for us!

We know your interest in your customers’ needs doesn’t end when they walk out your front door, which is why it’s important to go with Victory Lights. Let us ensure professional parking lot lighting installation, timely parking lot lighting repair or maintenance, and customer service that is a leader in the electricity industry.

If you’re seeking professional service from expert electricians who care about our customers’ safety, then Victory Lights is the right choice. Our bucket truck service goes above and beyond the industry standard to ensure even the most out of reach service calls are performed with everyone’s safety in mind.

Our bucket trucks (boom lifts or cherry pickers) reach high. Our technicians are trained to work on utility poles, parking garage lights and wiring, large industrial and commercial structures, and any other job that requires an added lift.

With our customers’ safety and our technicians in mind, our bucket trucks were designed to reach waist height. Hence, there is no risk of a fall and easily moved in dangerous weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Our bucket trucks have space to hold all of our equipment so that even in jobs that require going up high, we are always prepared.

The world in 2020 has been an interesting year. Coronavirus has forced our society to rethink how we live, work, learn, and play. Nothing is simple anymore, and we always need to be mindful of our actions and keep the spaces around us as cleaned and sanitized as possible. In a sense, COVID-19 has created an entire population of OCD cleaning fanatics, out of necessity.

While cleansers and sanitizing sprays are the goto for attempting to mitigate virus and bacteria spread, UV germicidal light technology is the high tech approach to the cleansing battle.

Ultraviolet light history as a virus, bacteria, and germ sterilizer dates back to the treatment of tuberculosis in the 20th Century. Today, it’s used to sterilize hospitals, food during processing, and water and air supplies. Germicidal UV lamps can make your home’s environment purer and the air cleaner and more comfortable to breathe without constant work and monitoring.

A UV lamp can clean HVAC systems and enhance your home’s air quality by killing mold, bacteria, viruses (including coronaviruses) after seconds of UV light exposure. For asthma and allergy sufferers, this means relief from symptoms, especially in hot, humid areas where mold and bacteria prosper. It also means peace of mind for everyone breathing the air in your home or business, that the air circulating in your inside is as clean as possible. Your HVAC equipment might also have a lengthened life, since they keep system components clean, saving you money.

The benefits of UV sanitizing light in HVAC systems to mitigate the spread of germs, bacteria, and viruses, such as coronavirus, are numerous. If you live in the Raleigh, NC, or Nashville, TN area, upgrade your system today with UV germicidal lights; contact the experts at Victory Lights.

Regardless of your church’s size, strategic lighting is crucial to executing a successful worship service. Lighting a church presents many unique challenges, including vaulted ceiling heights and unique architectural features with complex control systems. Thankfully, some solutions offer churches the opportunity to quickly upgrade to LED light bulbs and at a low cost.

LED light technology is riding a massive surge of popularity and for a good reason. LED lights compact, power-saving capabilities offer your church way more “bang for your buck” and solve a wide variety of problems. It won’t be too long before everything with a light source is powered by LED.

LED lighting options expand your church’s sanctuary lighting capacity by up to 500% and help you realize a notable cost saving on your electric bill. Also, LED Church lighting requires a lot less maintenance than conventional bulbs with a bulb lifespan of 10 years or more. Your congregation will enjoy less heat from your LED lighting than traditional lighting while using less wattage. LED lighting is also available in recessed can lighting options as well.

LED Church Lighting solutions include:

• FRONT LIGHTING: LED ellipsoidal fixtures
• TOP or BACKLIGHTING: PAR fixtures
• BACKGROUND or SET LIGHTING: LED stage lighting
• Stage lighting controls

To view a detailed church lighting case study and for more information on church lighting options available, please visit our services page on House of Worship Lighting Options.

If your church needs a lighting upgrade in the Raleigh, North Carolina, or Nashville, Tennessee area, please contact Victory Lights for a consultation and bring light into your church.

Until recently, high-intensity discharge (HID) light fixtures were the standard luminaires for open warehouse lighting, but they present several challenges. Because they have a long re-strike time, they can’t easily be switched off when areas are temporarily unoccupied. They are fragile when compared to newer technologies and need frequent replacement. That entails bringing in a lift, which is costly and disruptive to a warehouse’s workflow. HIDs are also much more energy-hungry than newer technology.

If high-intensity discharge (HID) light fixtures are still providing your warehouse lighting, a retrofit could provide multiple benefits. They include lower energy consumption, lower utility bills, reduced maintenance costs, and better quality lighting throughout the warehouse. Better lighting will, in turn, improve aesthetics, safety, security, and quality control.

Victory Lights can help with LED warehouse lighting. LED’s use much smaller watts of power than other lights and do not heat up when they are on. They are resistant to damage and maintenance-free. There has been a great deal of improvement in their color rendering and brightness in recent years and are environmentally friendly. A 400-watt metal halide can be replaced by an LED consuming a little over 200 watts, while an 80-watt LED can replace a 250-watt metal halide. And both will maintain over 90 percent of their output at 60,000 hours. LED fixtures have an extremely long life of an LED fixture, which translates into significant reductions in maintenance costs, especially in hard-to-access areas. Also, generous rebates are available for LEDs from some utilities. Victory Lights can walk you through what rebates are available from your utility company.

Warehouse Lighting Controls

In addition to specifying luminaires, a warehouse lighting design may also include some control system. One type reduces lighting when areas are unoccupied and can work in several different ways. Switching systems turn lights on and off by connecting or removing lighting sources from the power supply. This system is simple, cost-effective, and useful in areas where an abrupt change in light levels will not be frequent or noticeable to occupants. Dimming systems adjust light output and power input over a specified range. A third option is “step-switching.” This is where multiple lamps in a single light fixture can be switched on and off independent of each other. This allows for a couple of steps between full and zero light output.

Daylight Harvesting Increases Efficiency

Another type of control system to consider is daylight harvesting, which involves installing photosensors near windows and skylights. Daylighting control systems dim or shut off lights when there is a sufficient amount of ambient light available.

Determining the energy savings potential of any control strategy depends on a building’s space and lighting characteristics. But properly installed and adjusted, most control systems reliably save a substantial amount of energy.

If your warehouse lighting needs an upgrade, contact Victory Lights for a complete lighting consultation.

With the coronavirus threat still very much a part of our lives and affecting everything our lives, we can’t help but think of ways to protect ourselves from the virus and keep ourselves and our families safe.

UV lights are used in hospitals and health clinics to sterilized equipment and exams and operating rooms. You would think a business or homeowner can do the same. In theory, it seems like it would be safer to use light to sterilize than messy, irritating chemicals. However, UV light is not safe and practical for everyday use in businesses and homes.

Human skin can be severely damaged by UV light and even cause extensive injury to softer parts of the human body, like our eyes. Hospitals and labs ensure there are no people around when UV light is used to clean rooms and equipment. To achieve maximum sterilization, the light needs to be extremely bright, and if any human being were in the room, it would cause permanent damage and could even cause blindness.

PPE and medical equipment can be sterilized with UV lights if safety precautions are practiced, such as wearing protective gear. Many companies are trying to capitalize on UV light products such as UV wands that claim to disinfect anything it hovers over. Long-lasting injury can occur if these devices are misused.

Sunlight can be an excellent PPE disinfectant. Experts suggest putting PPE gear such as masks in a glass jar for several hours at a time in the hot sun. Other surfaces can be wiped down with bleach, alcohol, and other household disinfectants.

Every day, we learn new ways to live in the age of Covid-19 and creative ways of staying healthy and safe. For now, the UV light as a sanitation method should be left to the experts.

In the old days, hospitals and doctors’ offices were brightly lit with bright fluorescent lighting throughout the facility. No consideration was given to the lights’ productivity or its effects on health professionals and patients. There have been incredible breakthroughs in every kind of lighting. Each situation is unique and requires creative lighting to get the job done.

The old fashion lights can cause a myriad of unseen health problems and don’t sufficiently light facilities in a way that helped medical professionals. CFL light bulbs contain mercury – a highly toxic metal that poses serious health risks, while LED lights contain no such toxic chemicals or metals. Studies performed by the United States Department of Energy and scientists from Carnegie Mellon both found that LED lights are as efficient to manufacture as CFL lights and LEDs will become even more effective in the future.

With a market that’s rewarding businesses for going green by offering incentives for energy-saving methods, LED lighting could benefit your medical facility in more ways than one!

LED lights give off a whiter light than traditional compact fluorescent bulbs- resulting in less strain on your eyes when trying to read or focus. This is such a great benefit to reduce the strain your eyes already undergo during a day of staring at a computer monitor, charts, and of course, patients. LED provides you with a clearer view of what you are looking at. Doctors and nurses must see their patients in true colors to help make the proper diagnosis. Compact Fluorescent bulbs cast objects in a yellow glow, and light that is focused in one direction.

Lights in a medical facility need to reflect the kind of procedures being done and to be flexible in brightness and hue. LED lighting can be manufactured in endless ways to help improve the care health facilities give their patients. Victory Lights can help you create the perfect lighting system for your practice. Contact our lighting experts today.