Much like our recent blog post about the different types of lighting for the hospitality industry, the retail industry requires just as much attention when it comes to the products you sell and the environment you are creating for your customer.

 
It’s safe to say that just about every manager or business owner is looking for ways to save.  Energy costs from HVAC and lighting are no exception.  The most common options are energy saving compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and LEDs.  Both can produce quality light with the CRI needed for retail locations. 

In the past, CFLs did not perform as well as they do today.  Light quality, color temperature and average rated life of the bulb have all made significant improvements over the years.  Still, it is a wise choice to purchase a reputable brand as there are some very inexpensive CFLs that often fail to meet their claim. Here is a great post if you would like to delve deeper into CFLs as an option.  There are even dimmable options for spiral CFLs and CFL reflectors.  Tip: Speak with one of our Lighting Specialists as some lighting controls (dimmers, occupancy sensors) are not always compatible with dimmable CFL lamps. Additionally, if you are currently using a large quantity of halogen lamps to light your space, CFLs are a great solution as they produce very little heat.

LED lamps are becoming more popular by the minute!  The good news is that this technology is rapidly improving and in turn, the cost is decreasing.

Yes, LEDs can be expensive, but consider this:

• Reduced energy costs-LEDs use 75-90% less energy than halogen and incandescent lamps.
• Reduced labor costs-Long life means you don’t have to change your bulbs as often.
• Reduced HVAC costs-Halogens put off high amounts of heat, make the switch and turn down you’re AC!
• Rebates for being an Energy Saver-check with your local utility provider for offers.

Is LED right for you?

LEDs are available for a number of different lamp types including: A-style, MR16, Reflector, Decorative, Sign and Undercabinet.  Again, this is a constantly improving technology- so if you’ve tried one in the past and it wasn’t bright enough- try again!  Quality LED lamps will have a life of 30,000-50,000 hours, low wattage energy savings and a CRI perfect for selling your products.  

If you are currently using halogen lamps throughout your location, there is an upcoming change that you should be aware of. 

A few months ago we posted a blog entry about the “incandescent bulb phase-out” for January 2012.  We looked at the schedule  for 2012 through 2014 and explored the new Lighting Facts label that now appears on new bulb packaging.

In addition to the phase-out of these commonly used incandescent bulbs, there are a number of halogen lamps that are due for scheduled phase-out in July 2012. The new standards will affect many PAR and BR lamps.

We are working closely with our top manufacturers to provide you with more information on PAR and BR halogen replacement options as they become available.  If you need assistance choosing energy efficient replacement options that are now available, please contact our Lighting Specialists at 888-455-2800.   

Parking garages were once thought to be dirty and poorly lit.  Nowadays, with new construction, design improvements and renovations, those negative views have mostly been left behind.  Designers and owners have come to realize the importance of a better looking facility with quality lighting.  They have learned that proper lighting can create a safe and secure environment and attract new customers.

Because no two facilities are the same, it is difficult to give a general assessment. Instead, we will take a look at the most common types of lighting for garage lighting applications as explore how they compare to each other.

Of course, before we begin exploring what type of lighting is best for your garage, you must first decide upon how much light you need.  While there are standard levels recommended for garages, most opt to light beyond those levels to reach better uniformity ratios that create a safer environment. Footcandles are the preferred unit of measurement for parking garages and a good rule of thumb is to reach five foot candles per square foot both horizontally and vertically.  Also note that vertical lighting is actually more important than the horizontal.

Levels can be measured with the use of a light meter or with the assistance of a lighting professional and some basic facility information to calculate.  The chart below has recommended light levels as suggested by The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA). Note: IESNA does not set the standards, but are often followed by those that do.

High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps and Fluorescent lamps are most commonly used in parking garages and other commercial outdoor facilities.  Both have their share of benefits and again, it is important to identify what type of lighting technology is best for your individual location.  A safe, brightly lit garage is important, but so is keeping within your operating budget. 

High Pressure Sodium (HPS), Metal Halide and Fluorescent are the most common types of lamps used for parking garages.  HPS and Metal Halide Lamps are a part of the High Intensity Discharge (HID) family and both produce the high levels of light output commonly needed for outdoor Commercial lighting and garage facilities.  Fluorescent lamps are considered energy efficient, as they produce a high light output (lumens) while using very little energy because of their low wattage.

High Pressure Sodium

While a HPS lamp has the longest rated life, its trade-off is poor color rendering.  A CRI in the low 20’s will provide an orange-like glow and little differentiation between colors.  Low CRI may present some safety issues for your location.

HPS lamps also have a high lumen per watt rating and are typically used in larger commercial garages with high ceilings. These lamps are ideal for garages that require a high number of fixtures as they are a cost effective option.  If labor costs weigh heavier and the application calls for it, a longer rated life of 20,000-24,000 hours may take precedence. 

Metal Halide

Metal Halide lamps are a popular choice for parking garage facilities as they can produce a bright, white light and have a higher CRI than HPS lamps.  These lamps do a better job of rendering color with their CRI ranging from 60-93.  As the CRI get closer to 100, the light produced becomes closer to the light and color rendering from the sun. 

Generally speaking, Metal Halide lamps have an average rated life of 10,000-15,000 hours.  Again, there is a trade-off; short lamp life vs. high color rendering.  If you operate a smaller facility, the shorter life of these lamps may not be the most economical decision. However, if quality is your goal and there is available budget to warrant more frequent lamp replacements, Metal Halide lamps are an excellent choice.

Fluorescent Lamps

If energy efficiency is your goal, fluorescent lamps are the way to go.  Overall, they have high color rendering ranging from 70’s-90, high lumen per watt efficiency and a long average rated lamp life, usually 20,000 hours.  High Output fluorescent lamps are recommended as most parking garages tend to be partially exposed to the elements and standard fluorescents will not perform as well in colder conditions.     

Fluorescent lamps offer huge energy savings as they consume the least amount of energy while still producing a high light output.  They are reasonably priced and are an excellent choice for energy savings and keeping to a budget.    

LED & Induction

LED and Induction lighting are becoming a more popular option for parking garages; however, there are a number of factors to be considered.  LED fixtures provide energy savings and clean white light with high color rendering and a very long life.  Many have a rated life of 50,000 hours and are an efficient replacement for HPS and Metal Halide lamps.  Induction will offer the same benefits with a rated life of 100,000 hours.  Induction is certainly a technology to use for locations that are difficult to access such as parking lot pole lights and very high ceilings. 

Both types of lighting are investments with higher than normal upfront costs, but rebates may be available from your energy provider and of course, energy savings and very minimal replacement concerns make them attractive.   We recommend that you speak with a lighting professional to decide if these may be viable options for your facility.     

Quality of light, cost and the size of your garage will also play a role is this decision.  Each type of lighting comes with its own advantages and not all will be right for your business.  If you have questions about your commercial lighting options, please contact one of our LS1 certified Lighting Specialists at 888-455-2800 or e-mail us at customerservice@bulbs.com

Recently, I sat down at one of those “fast-casual” restaurants for a quick meal and coffee.  I chose this location for the atmosphere and quality of food. As I walked up to the counter to place my order, my nose was filled with smells of hearty soups, fresh breads and coffee.  There was soft music playing in the background and the walls, tables and chairs were all muted coffee house type colors.  These were all deliberate choices by the creators of this restaurant concept.  There are so many aspects involved when designing a dining environment and all the senses should be engaged. 

Once the concept for this restaurant was developed, the lighting designers began working. They created a lighting layout, decided on fixtures and mapped out each space based on what they wished to evoke; privacy, spaciousness, etc.

The lighting at this restaurant was well thought out. It was bright enough in the employee work areas but dimmed slightly in the dining areas. Also, accent lighting was used on the artwork.  They created an inviting environment that invites many customers to return to on a regular basis. 

Proper lighting completes the restaurant concept.  However, it seems that the value of well-designed lighting often goes unnoticed.  Sure, there is a lot to know and it can sometimes be confusing, but with some basic lighting education (and perhaps a lighting design professional) this task may not be as daunting as you think. 

As an owner or manager, it may be difficult to see your restaurant in a new light.

Are you fixtures out-of-date? Are you using efficient lighting technology? What IS the most efficient lighting technology? How can I make my food look better? Can my guests see their food?

Before we get too far ahead, let’s take a few steps back and look at the different types of light within a space.  They are most commonly referred to as Ambient,  Task and Accent Lighting. 

 
For lighting just about any space, a good rule of thumb is to use all three types for style and function. While these concepts are commonly used within restaurant lighting design, keep them in mind as all of these suggestions can easily be applied to your home or any other type of business.

A restaurant will have a number of different public and private spaces including a foyer, hostess station, dining room, bar, take-out stations, kitchen and offices  where this rule would apply. 

Ambient Lighting

Ambient Lighting, also known as general lighting provides an area with overall illumination.  It is typically, the first light you see when entering a room.  In some applications, such as a take-out station, it may also serve as task lighting.

 
It may take the form of ceiling-mounted or recessed can fixtures as well as wall sconces, track lighting or chandeliers.  Ambient Light should be your first consideration when planning the layers of light in your space.  However, in some instances, this may not be the case.  There may be a task-oriented room or   perhaps a hallway where accent lighting could take precedence.

Task Lighting

Task Lighting, as you might imagine, is for performing specific tasks. Front of the house task lighting is extremely important for your managers, host staff, bartenders and servers. Point of sale terminal areas, service stations and host stands all require proper task lighting. Poor lighting in these locations may cause errors in food and drink preparation as well as inaccurate guest checks.  Additionally, your restaurant will require house lights.  During off hours, bright task lighting will have to take over for cleaning purposes.  These may be fluorescent ceiling mounted fixtures, or bringing your dimmed lighting to full brightness…we’ll go over dimming in a future post from this series. 

   
Back of the house: your kitchen, storage, walk-ins and offices are the areas where task lighting should be the first consideration as opposed to ambient lighting. 

Common fixtures for task lighting are undercabinet, linear fluorescent strip fixtures, pendants, recessed cans and track lighting.  Remember, task lighting should be bright enough to perform the needed task and not produce glare or shadows that may cause distractions or interfere with your accent lighting.

Accent Lighting 

       
The purpose of Accent Lighting is to highlight particular objects or textures.  In a restaurant, these objects may be artwork, sculptures or plants. You may also use accent lighting to draw attention to interior stone design, water features, textiles or window treatments.

Recessed cans, track lighting and wall-mounted picture lights are most common for accent lighting. Generally speaking, accent lighting requires three times as much light at the focal point to stand out from the surrounding light.  The area or objects you wish to highlight will blend with the ambient light if there is not a higher saturation of light output from your accent lighting.

In addition to lighting interior spaces, accent lighting is often used in outdoor landscape lighting.  This is a perfect opportunity to hightlight beautiful trees, shrubs, water features or specific areas that flank your entrance.  While we're on the topic, make sure your restaurant appears open!  Proper use of exterior lighting can make all the difference.  There are a number of options available and we'll get to the various types of bulbs in a future post.

You’ve made it through Part One!

Be sure to follow The Light Source in the coming weeks for Part Two, Part Three and a Case Study to wrap up this series.  Our next post will explore types of fixtures, followed by light bulb options and finishing with our case study about a Massachusetts restaurant interested in replacing 200 halogen bulbs throughout their location with LEDs.  We’ll look at difficulties with dimming, our solution and some before and after images.

To make sure you don't miss out on the rest of this series; sign up below to receive our e-mails filled with lighting industry news, promotional offers, special discounts and coupons for all your essential lighting needs.

Back in 2008, the Department of Energy (DOE) launched the Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prize (L Prize) competition, as instructed by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The L Prize challenged the lighting industry to develop an efficient LED to replace the common 60 watt incandescent bulb. Any entries received were put through rigorous short-term and long-term performance testing. The winning bulb was required to produce more than 900 lumens and also have a 25,000 hour life. In addition, it must also have a Color Rendering Index (CRI) higher than 90 and a Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) between 2700K and 3000K-all while using less than 10 watts of electricity!

For some time after the competition was launched, Philips was the only manufacturer with in entry. Their September 2009 entry went through 18 months of testing addressing everything from product life to extreme conditions. A few other manufacturers expressed interest in the competition, but were unable to produce an entry within the window of time needed for testing.

On August 3, 2011, the DOE announced Philips Lighting North America as the winner of the L Prize competition. As the winner, Philips has received a $10 million cash prize and additional promotions and incentives from L Prize partners.

Here at Bulbs.com, we are equally proud to offer their prize winning LED to you. It's here!

On December 16th, Congress passed a new spending bill that contained a provision that would block the Department of Energy (DOE) from enforcing new energy-efficient standards for certain types of light bulbs.  As you might recall, the "incandescent bulb phase-out" stems from the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007).  A section of this Act has adopted the title of "Incandescent ban" over the last few years, except it is not really a ban at all.  It simply states that certain classes of lamps will be phased-out to meet new energy efficiency standards mandated by law.  We have outlined the new standards in our Learning Section, if you need a refresher.

The passing of this bill has caused a lot of confusion regarding the phase-out.  The truth is, the 100 watt incandescent will still begin it's scheduled phase-out starting January 2012. The EISA of 2007 efficiency standards have not been repealed and are still the law.  The only effect that the bill has on the DOE is that they do not have funding to enforce the law until October 2012.   

Since EISA was signed into law in 2007, lighting manufacturers have invested heavily in R&D and production line modifications to develop products that will meet the new efficiency standards come January. 

A few have also created a new type of product called a "halogen incandescent" bulb. It looks and provides almost the same type of light as a typical incandescent but meets the new standards. You can learn all about these new bulbs in this video.  As you will see, it is the closest match  to a traditional incandescent, followed by the compact fluorescent and the LED bulb. The passing of the spending bill two weeks prior to the start date of the phase-out is not going to stop reputable lighting manufacturers from sticking with their original plan. 

If you are thinking about stocking up on these 100 watt bulbs now, you will still be able to purchase from many retailers after January. But keep in mind, this will only be until the existing supply is sold-out. 

Here's something else you should know for 2012: 

With new incandescent replacements out there now, the way you shop for a bulb is changing.  To make this task easier for the consumer, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) now requires manufacturers to include the new "Lighting Facts" label on their packaging.  Instead of referring to the wattage, or energy usage (as the main product specification), lumens is now becoming the term to know.  It refers to the light output and the higher the number, the brighter the bulb.  Another helpful addition to the bulb packaging in the Correlated Color Temperature (CCT), this measure the light color.  The numbers are taken from the Kelvin Scale and can range from 2700K (Warm White) all the way to 6500K (Daylight).  The warmer end of the scale is closest to incandescent light.

The "Lighting Facts" label will become a very helpful tool as consumers start to explore replacement options.  Currently, options include the Halogen Incandescent (available in a variety of wattages), CFLs (have really come along way over the last few years) and LEDs (expected to account for more than half of the lighting market by 2020). 

It's that time of year again. Yes, time for many of us to begin decorating for the holidays (if you haven't started already).  If your last name is Griswold, please pay attention.  If not, still pay attention, as it is very important to take your lighting seriously this holiday season. According to the National Fire Protection Association, thirty per cent of all home fires occur during December, January and February.  In addition, nearly 6,000 people a year are treated in hospital emergency rooms for falls associated with holiday decorations. More than half of these injuries involve falls from ladders or roofs while decorating outdoors. We could tell you about all the injuries, but instead, here are some of the most common holiday decoration and lighting tips to keep you safe!

 

Preparation  

Before you start rigging up the lights, run your decorations through a quick check.  Inspect your string lights. Are they frayed, cracked or have damaged sockets? Do you see any broken wires or loose connections? These are hazards and may cause electrical shock or start a fire. Discard and replace damaged items

Also, check that all electrical products, this includes indoor and outdoor are certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as UL, CSA, or ETL.

Indoor & Outdoor Decorations

DO NOT connect more string lights than the manufacturer recommends.  Typically, it is no more than three light strings for one extension cord.  Light strings with stacked plugs can usually accommodate longer lengths than end-to-end connections.

"If one goes out"... unplug the entire set and then replace the bulb.  Replace burned-out bulbs promptly.  An empty socket can cause the entire string to overheat.

Use lights and extension cords designed for outdoor use if using them outside. Seems simply enough, keep in mind, lighting intended for outdoor use will be too hot for interior use.  Here's a interior lighting tip: Try LED string lights, they are cool to the touch and are as energy efficient as you can get!

Don't attach light strings with nails or staples.  Use UL-approved hangers.

Breakdown

Take exterior lights down within 90 days.  The longer they are up, the more likely they are to suffer damage from weather and even the chance that a small critter might chew on them. 

Store your lights safely.  Be sure to untangle lights before putting them away.  Tangled lights can result in damaged cords and broken sockets.  Wrapping them around a piece of cardboard and then wrapped in paper or fabric to protect the bulbs is your best bet. Also, keep your lighting in a study container for years of continued use. 

Do you have any Holiday Lighting Tips?

Wishing you a safe and enjoyable holiday season,

Bulbs.com

As many of you already know, the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) will result in some incandescent bulbs no longer being manufactured. The end result of this is that many standard A-shape incandescent bulbs will no longer be available in certain wattages.

When it’s time to replace the incandescent bulbs you have, you have a few different options: The two primary choices people seem to have been making are to stockpile as many incandescent bulbs as possible, or to switch to a more efficient technology. Many of our customers are moving to compact fluorescent and LED bulbs, and there are a number of great reasons to do so. However, if you are one of the people who has reasons to hold steadfastly to the traditional incandescent, allow us to introduce another option you may not be aware of- the halogen incandescent.

If you’ve watched the news recently, you may have heard the controversy surrounding China’s export restrictions on a number of resources, including rare earth elements. What may not be fully clear is how this affects you as a consumer of electronics, and lighting products in particular. We’ve put this together as a quick overview to let you know what’s happening, and what to expect going forward.

First, let’s look at what rare earth elements are, and what they’re used for: Rare earth element is the common name for a set of 17 chemical elements. They are critical in the production and operation of a wide range of consumer electronics, and are also used in the phosphors that create light in a number of different light bulb types, including fluorescent, LED, and mercury vapor.

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If you’re still using T12 bulbs to light your business, you’re not alone. However, you may be in for a surprise: The magnetic ballasts used to light many of these bulbs are being phased out and many manufacturers have already discontinued their production, meaning that you’ll need to upgrade sooner rather than later.

The technology that lit the first T12 bulbs over 70 years ago remains basically unchanged today, and there are many ways to light your space more efficiently. T8 and T5 systems can give you similar or even better light output and quality of light, all while saving you a substantial amount in energy costs.

There’s probably a good reason that you’ve stuck with your T12’s. Perhaps the lighting scheme you’re using works well and you’ve never needed or wanted to change your fixtures. Maybe you’ve been concerned about the cost of buying new fixtures, or the disruption to business that would result from installing them. One option is to simply replace the ballast and the bulbs, but while you’re already pulling the fixtures apart, it’s worth considering taking one more step that can really help you save on energy costs.

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Lately, a great deal of the discussion around improving general lighting has been focused on LED. This focus is certainly not unwarranted, but it may have come at the expense of a few alternative options that may be better suited for certain applications. One of those options is induction lighting. If you’re lighting a commercial or industrial space and looking for a “set it and forget it” way to save energy, induction is definitely worth considering.

How Induction Works-

Functionally, induction works in a very similar manner to a typical fluorescent bulb. The primary difference is that induction sources do not use electrodes to ignite the lamp. Instead, fluorescent induction bulbs have a large electromagnet, which is usually wrapped around one segment of the bulb. This serves as an induction coil. There is also a pellet of amalgam (composed of solid mercury) inside of the bulb. The induction coil produces a strong magnetic field which travels through the glass and excites the mercury atoms in the amalgam. The mercury atoms emit UV light, which is converted to visible light by the phosphor coating inside of the tube.

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