Since both natural and artificial lights have the power to influence your employees’ productivity, changing out your office lighting could result in a favorable atmosphere for efficient work.
For best results, the lighting in your workplace should be installed strategically. Ideally, it should rely on the human brain’s natural response to light. At the same time, you should consider the cost-efficiency of that lighting for your business.
That’s why you want to choose your office’s lighting based on:
- Type of bulb
- Color
- Energy-efficiency
- Brightness
In this article, we’ll dive into each of those factors.
Type of Bulb
You might be tempted to install any old CFL or incandescent bulb you have within reach. However, those bulbs might be the culprits of unproductivity in the office.
Preferably, you should light up your office space with LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting. LED bulbs aren’t only the way of the future, but they’ve also become the “human-centric” approach to lighting. That means LED creates the ideal ambience in places where people come first.
Besides, if you care about your employees’ health, you would avoid CFL light bulbs altogether. CFL bulbs contain highly toxic mercury, which can negatively affect a person’s health even with low exposure. LED lights, on the other hand, contain no mercury or other toxic metals.
Color
If you’re familiar with color temperatures, you know that a typical chart (measured in Kelvins) looks like the following:
A new research from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in South Korea studied different light intensity scenarios and reported their findings. The results suggested that the 6500 K intensity (ultra daylight) was more favorable for increased learning performance and alertness.
However, since we’re talking about human-centricity, we need to think of lighting as a substitute for sunlight. Throughout the day, subtle shifts in lighting are necessary to regulate the human circadian rhythms and the production of melatonin – known as the sleep hormone. Increased melatonin levels will help your employees sleep better at night and stay productive throughout the day.
As a rule of thumb, the lighting in your office should be cooler when the workday begins, and gradually warm up as the day progresses.
Energy-Efficiency
LED bulbs produce an effective lighting source for a real bargain. So, if you’re looking to combine cost-efficiency with high-quality lighting, LED bulbs will bring the long-term savings you’re looking for. Here’s why.
While an LED light bulb costs more than a CFL bulb upfront, LEDs generally last about 3 to 5 times more than CFLs. What’s more, LED bulbs emit focused light in one specific direction, making them extremely potent for task lighting.
To say nothing of how you could chop your monthly energy bill to around $120 – while also dramatically increasing lighting quality in your office!
Brightness
One employee might complain that the overhead lights give them a headache, while another might complain about poor lighting leaving them unable to concentrate. Is it possible to strike a healthy balance?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, as different people and spaces have different needs. As another rule of thumb: the brighter the light, the better the focus.
Of course, there are exceptions to that rule.
Depending on the size of your office and your employees’ requirements, you’ll need custom LED lighting solutions. So that your employees can work productively, you can cut costs, and everyone is happy.
Give Victory Lights a Call!
Fast-growing companies are already using strategic lighting to increase productivity and save on energy bills. At Victory Lights, we’re proud to offer you cutting-edge LED lighting technology that can reduce your electric costs by up to 50%.
If you have commercial LED lighting needs in Nashville, Raleigh, or throughout the continental United States, please give Victory Lights a call at (800) 443-0870 or use our online request form. We’ll send a lighting expert to your workplace and let you know exactly how we can deliver the best office lighting solutions.
