Integra LED has worked with several libraries to provide modern LED lighting solutions for their facilities. Libraries gain many benefits from upgrading to LED lights beyond the maintenance and energy savings. Lighting quality is extremely important to readers, many libraries still utilize outdated lighting options that create a harsh reading environment for their patrons. Furthermore, libraries commonly have long run hours causing them to consume a large amount of energy for lighting. Continue reading to learn more about how LEDs can benefit your readers and significantly reduce your utility bill!
Better Lighting for Readers
LED lighting offers a close to natural spectrum of light which is easier on the eyes than outdated lighting options such as fluorescent lights. If you look at the spectrum of fluorescent light, you will see several spikes in colors. These spikes can create sensitivity in certain people that can cause headaches, grogginess and decreased focus. LED lighting not only offers a smoother source of light but is aesthetically pleasing making the facility appear more modern and comfortable.
From our experience working with libraries, we have found that a warmer color temperature is the best option for library lighting. It creates a more comfortable feel for the readers and is less straining on the eyes then a cooler color temperature. Color temperature is a value generally between 2,000-6,000K that measures how “warm” or “cool” a light source appears. The higher the value, the cooler the light will appear and the lower the value, the warmer it will appear. For example, a 2,500K LED light will be amber in color while 5,000K will produce a white-blue light. Overall, we recommend using a color temperature between 3,000 – 4,000K for general library lighting.
Lighting Control Systems
Smart control systems are the future of lighting. They enable facilities such as libraries to customize their lighting and increase the amount of energy they save with their lighting system. Modern control systems offer a variety of features ranging from occupancy sensing to daylight harvesting.
Daylight harvesting is a feature that tracks the amount of natural light entering a space then adjust the fixtures light output accordingly. For example, if a room has a lot of natural light, the control system will automatically dim the fixtures to create an optimal amount of light while reducing energy consumption. This not only makes the facility more efficient, but it allows it to better utilize natural light creating a more comfortable space for patrons.
Dimming is a core capability for any lighting system especially libraries. In libraries, dimming is a great feature to have for presentations or films. LED’s installed with dimming drivers offer precise and seamless dimming that allows the user to select the perfect amount of light for their needs.
Energy Savings
Run hours is one of the most important components when assessing how much a facility can save when upgrading to LED lighting. Libraries commonly have long hours making them a perfect space to harness the energy-saving power of LED lights. On average, our customers reduce their lighting costs by up to 70%. Furthermore, since LEDs last significantly longer, the cost of maintaining your lighting system is greatly reduced. LEDs commonly last 5x longer than outdated options saving you money on purchasing replacement lamps. Considering LEDs last around 5x longer than fluorescent tubes, you could avoid purchasing and replacing your facilities lighting 3 times by upgrading to LED.
Integra LED offers turnkey LED lighting upgrades covering everything from securing incentives on product to installing the new lighting system. We offer a complimentary lighting assessment to any interested customer. This assessment enables you to see the potential savings and incentives you could receive from upgrading to LED lighting.
