Blog - Starbeam Lighting

Lighting Considerations for Commercial Entrances and Lobbies

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 16:19:31 GMT

The entrance to a commercial building needs a lot of work. It welcomes employees, customers, clients, vendors, and other visitors, helping them transition from outside the building to the spaces inside.

Lighting plays an important role in making that transition successful.

A thoughtfully lit entrance can make doors, walking areas, reception desks, signage, and other important features easier to identify. It can also contribute to a greater sense of safety and security, particularly in the early morning, evening, or other periods when natural light is limited.

At the same time, entrances and lobbies often provide the first introduction to a commercial interior. Effective lighting should support safety and navigation while also complementing the character of the space.

Start With How People Move Through the Space

Good entrance lighting begins with understanding how people actually use the area.

Consider the path someone takes from the exterior of the building through the entrance and into the lobby. Along the way, there may be sidewalks, steps, doors, vestibules, reception desks, waiting areas, elevators, corridors, or stairs.

Lighting should help people recognize these different areas and comfortably navigate from one point to the next.

Instead of evaluating individual fixtures in isolation, consider the entire experience. Where do people pause? Where do they change direction? Which features need to be easy to identify?

Looking at these areas together can create a more cohesive approach to entrance lighting.

Well-Lit Entrances Support Safety and Security

Safety is another important consideration, especially at commercial entryways that may be used outside normal daylight hours.

Adequate lighting can make walking surfaces, steps, doorways, curbs, and other features easier to see. It can also reduce dark areas around an entrance and improve general visibility as people approach or leave the building.

There is a comfort component as well. A bright, clearly visible entrance can help employees, customers, and visitors feel more secure when arriving or leaving after dark.

This becomes particularly important during times of year when employees may arrive before sunrise or leave after sunset. Evaluating both the exterior approach and the interior entrance can help create a more consistent experience throughout the property.

Consider the Transition Between Outdoors and Indoors

Commercial entrances experience dramatically different lighting conditions depending on the time of day.

During daylight hours, large windows and glass doors may introduce significant natural light into a lobby. After sunset, artificial lighting takes on a much greater role.

That makes it important to consider how the space performs under different conditions.

The relationship between exterior and interior lighting also deserves attention. Moving immediately between very different light levels can make the transition less visually comfortable.

Evaluating the entrance at multiple times of day can provide a better understanding of how the complete lighting environment performs.

Give Reception & Wayfinding Areas the Attention They Need

For someone entering an unfamiliar commercial building, one of the first questions is usually simple: Where do I go?

Lighting can help visitors quickly identify important destinations such as reception desks, directories, elevators, hallways, waiting areas, and signage.

That does not mean every part of a lobby needs identical illumination. Thoughtful lighting can help visually distinguish important areas while creating a natural progression through the space.

The goal is to support the way people navigate the building without making the lighting itself distracting.

Use Lighting to Support the Character of the Space

Entrances and lobbies frequently include architectural and design features intended to represent the property or organization.

Materials, finishes, signage, artwork, furniture, and architectural details all contribute to the overall appearance. Lighting can help those features read clearly and work together.

This is where functional lighting and visual design need to complement one another. An entrance should provide the necessary illumination for everyday use without overlooking the lobby's role in introducing visitors to the facility.

Look at the Entrance as One Complete Environment

Commercial entrances integrate exterior and interior lighting, daylight, navigation, architecture, safety, and appearance. Treating each element separately can make it easier to miss how they interact.

Viewing the entire entrance as a single connected environment can help create lighting that supports the many ways people experience the space.

If you are evaluating the lighting in an entrance, lobby, reception area, or other commercial environment, our team at Starbeam Lighting can help develop a solution designed around your facility, operational needs, and the people who use the space.

Common Signs Your Facility Has a Lighting Design Problem

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 18:31:14 GMT

Many facilities assume their lighting is performing well as long as the lights turn on and employees can see their surroundings. While basic visibility is important, effective commercial lighting is about much more than simply illuminating a space.

The design of a lighting system can affect productivity, safety, employee comfort, energy consumption, and the overall functionality of a facility. In some cases, organizations may continue to replace lamps or add fixtures without realizing that the underlying issue lies in the lighting design itself.

Recognizing the signs of a lighting design problem can help facility managers identify opportunities for improvement and create environments that better support day-to-day operations.

Employees Frequently Complain About Visibility

One of the most obvious warning signs of a lighting design issue is recurring employee feedback about visibility.

Workers may mention difficulty reading labels, seeing fine details, or performing tasks accurately. Others may find themselves moving to different locations or adjusting their work positions to compensate for inadequate lighting conditions.

When these complaints become common, the problem is not always that the facility lacks sufficient lighting. In many cases, the issue stems from how light is distributed throughout the space. Bright areas combined with dim work zones can create inconsistent visibility, making tasks more difficult than they should be.

A successful lighting design ensures that the right amount of light is delivered where work is actually being performed.

Glare Is Creating Discomfort

Many people associate lighting problems with spaces that are too dark. However, excessive brightness can be just as disruptive.

Glare occurs when light reflects off surfaces or shines directly into a person's field of vision. It can lead to eye strain, headaches, fatigue, and reduced comfort throughout the workday.

Common signs of glare include:

Employees squinting while performing tasks
Reflections on computer monitors
Bright hotspots in work areas
Frequent adjustments to workstation positions
Complaints about eye fatigue

Simply adding more fixtures is rarely the solution. Effective lighting design involves balancing illumination levels while minimizing unwanted glare that interferes with occupant comfort.

Some Areas Feel Bright While Others Feel Dark

Uneven lighting is another common indicator of a design problem.

Many facilities have spaces where employees move from brightly lit areas into noticeably darker sections of the building. Warehouses may have dark aisles, offices may contain shadowed workstations, and industrial facilities may have poorly lit corners or equipment areas.

This inconsistency can affect both productivity and safety. Employees often struggle to adapt to changing lighting levels, and important details may be harder to see in underlit spaces.

A well-designed lighting system provides more uniform illumination while still meeting the specific needs of different work areas. Rather than treating every space the same, effective designs account for how each part of the facility is actually used.

Energy Costs Seem Higher Than Expected

When organizations evaluate lighting performance, they often focus on fixture condition and lamp technology. However, lighting design can also significantly impact energy consumption.

Some facilities operate with more fixtures than necessary. Others continue using layouts that no longer reflect how the building functions today. In some cases, lights remain active in areas that receive little traffic or occupancy.

As facilities evolve over time, an older lighting design may become less efficient and less effective. The result is increased energy consumption without corresponding operational benefits.

If lighting expenses seem disproportionately high, it may be worth examining whether the current design is supporting the facility's needs as efficiently as possible.

The Space Has Changed, but the Lighting Hasn't

Commercial facilities rarely remain unchanged over their lifespan.

Office layouts are reconfigured. Warehouse racking systems are expanded. Production equipment is relocated. Departments grow, shrink, or move. New technologies change how work is performed.

Unfortunately, lighting systems do not always evolve alongside these changes.

A lighting design that worked perfectly ten years ago may no longer meet the demands of the current facility layout. Areas that now support critical tasks may lack adequate illumination, while other sections receive more light than necessary.

Whenever a facility undergoes significant operational changes, it is worth evaluating whether the lighting system still aligns with how the space is being used today.

Safety Concerns Continue to Surface

Lighting plays an important role in workplace safety, but its impact is often overlooked.

Poor visibility can contribute to near-miss incidents, make hazards more difficult to identify, and create challenges in areas where employees move frequently or operate equipment. Stairs, loading docks, storage areas, corridors, and workstations all rely on appropriate illumination to support safe operations.

If safety concerns repeatedly emerge in specific locations, lighting should be part of the conversation. While it may not be the sole cause of an issue, inadequate lighting design can contribute to conditions that increase risk.

Evaluating lighting as part of broader safety initiatives can help organizations identify opportunities for improvement before small concerns become larger problems.

Looking Beyond Burned-Out Fixtures

Not all lighting problems are caused by aging fixtures or burned-out bulbs. In many facilities, the lights are functioning exactly as designed, but the design itself no longer supports the needs of the space.

Recurring visibility complaints, glare issues, uneven illumination, excessive energy costs, changing facility layouts, and ongoing safety concerns can all indicate a lighting design problem that warrants attention.

Taking a closer look at how lighting is performing throughout your facility can help uncover opportunities to improve efficiency, comfort, productivity, and safety.

If you’re evaluating your current lighting system, our team at Starbeam Lighting can help assess your facility and identify solutions that better align with your building’s needs and occupants. Contact us today!

More Fixtures Doesn’t Always Mean Better Lighting

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:24:00 GMT

When businesses begin evaluating their lighting systems, one of the first questions that often comes up is, "How many fixtures do we need?"

It sounds like a logical place to start. After all, adding more fixtures should result in a brighter, better-lit space, right?

Not necessarily.

While fixture counts are one factor in a lighting design, they tell only part of the story. Two facilities may have the same number of fixtures and experience completely different lighting results. Factors such as fixture output, placement, ceiling height, layout, and use of the space all influence lighting performance.

Ultimately, the goal of a commercial lighting system is not to install the greatest number of fixtures. It is to provide the right amount of light in the right places to support safety, productivity, comfort, and efficiency.

Why Fixture Counts Can Be Misleading

A common misconception is that lighting quality can be measured simply by counting fixtures.

In reality, today's commercial lighting technology offers a wide range of fixture types, outputs, and designs. Two fixtures that look nearly identical may produce significantly different amounts of usable light. Likewise, a newer LED fixture may provide better illumination than an older fixture while using less energy.

The layout of a space also makes a significant difference. A room with poorly placed fixtures may contain plenty of light sources but still suffer from dark areas, shadows, or uneven illumination.

Ceiling height, shelving, machinery, walls, and room configuration can further affect how light is distributed throughout a facility. This is one reason why commercial lighting projects require a thoughtful design approach rather than a simple fixture-count calculation.

What Are Light Levels?

When lighting professionals evaluate a space, they focus on light levels rather than fixture quantities.

Light levels refer to the amount of usable illumination reaching the areas where people actually perform tasks. In other words, the goal is not simply to create brightness but to provide adequate visibility for the work being done.

A warehouse employee locating inventory, an office worker reviewing documents, and a technician performing detailed work all have different lighting requirements. What feels perfectly adequate in one environment may be insufficient in another.

By focusing on light levels, businesses can better understand whether their lighting system is effectively supporting daily operations.

Different Spaces Have Different Lighting Requirements

One reason a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works is that every commercial environment has unique needs.

Warehouse aisles often require lighting that helps workers identify products, read labels, and navigate safely. Manufacturing environments may require higher light levels to support detailed work and quality control processes.

Office spaces typically prioritize occupant comfort while reducing glare and eye strain throughout the workday. Retail locations often use lighting to highlight products, improve the customer experience, and create an inviting atmosphere.

Exterior areas introduce another set of considerations, including visibility, security, and pedestrian safety.

Because each environment serves a different purpose, the appropriate lighting strategy may vary significantly from one facility to the next.

More Light Is Not Always Better

Another common misconception is that brighter automatically means better.

While insufficient light can create visibility challenges, too much light can create problems of its own.

Excessive brightness may contribute to glare, visual discomfort, and unnecessary energy consumption. Occupants can experience eye strain when lighting is overly intense or poorly balanced. In some settings, bright fixtures may even reduce visibility by creating harsh contrasts between illuminated and darker areas.

Effective lighting design focuses on providing the appropriate amount of light rather than simply maximizing brightness.

Uniformity Matters as Much as Brightness

One of the most overlooked aspects of lighting design is uniformity.

Imagine walking through a warehouse where some areas are brightly lit while others remain noticeably darker. Or consider an office where workstations near windows receive abundant light while other sections of the room feel dim.

Even when overall light output appears sufficient, uneven lighting can affect visibility, safety, and comfort.

A well-designed lighting system distributes illumination consistently throughout a space, helping reduce shadows, eliminate dark spots, and create a more comfortable environment for occupants.

Why Lighting Audits Focus on Performance

When businesses evaluate their current lighting systems, the most important question is not how many fixtures are installed. It is about whether the existing lighting meets the facility's needs.

A lighting assessment typically examines factors such as light levels, fixture placement, energy usage, operating conditions, and how the space is actually being used.

In some cases, the solution may involve adding fixtures. In others, it may involve replacing outdated technology, improving layout, adjusting controls, or reducing unnecessary lighting in overlit areas.

By focusing on performance rather than quantity, businesses can make more informed decisions about future improvements.

Better Lighting Decisions Start with Better Measurements

Commercial lighting should support the people, processes, and goals within a facility.

That is why successful lighting projects often begin with measuring existing conditions and understanding operational requirements rather than simply counting fixtures. The right lighting strategy focuses on light quality, distribution, efficiency, and functionality.

Whether the goal is to improve warehouse visibility, enhance office comfort, support manufacturing operations, or reduce energy costs, lighting performance matters far more than the number of fixtures installed.

Focus on Results, Not Just Fixture Numbers

A higher fixture count does not automatically produce better lighting. What matters most is how effectively a lighting system supports the space and the people using it.

By focusing on proper light levels, uniform distribution, occupant comfort, and operational needs, businesses can create lighting environments that improve safety, efficiency, and overall performance.

Starbeam Lighting helps businesses evaluate light levels, identify opportunities for improvement, and design lighting systems that support safety, efficiency, and long-term performance.

Warehouse Lighting Challenges (and How to Address Them)

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:15:29 GMT

Warehouses are designed to keep products moving efficiently, support inventory management, and maintain safe working conditions. While many factors contribute to a warehouse’s overall performance, lighting is often one of the most overlooked.

A lighting system that struggles to meet the demands of the space can affect productivity, employee comfort, safety, and operating costs.

Unlike office buildings or retail environments, warehouses present unique lighting challenges. High ceilings, tall storage racks, large floor areas, and changing operational needs all require thoughtful planning.

Understanding these common challenges can help facility managers make informed decisions that improve both day-to-day operations and long-term efficiency.

Why Warehouse Lighting Requires a Different Approach

Warehouse environments place very different demands on lighting systems than other commercial spaces. Employees must safely navigate aisles, locate inventory, operate equipment, read labels, and complete detailed tasks throughout the day.

In some facilities, operations continue around the clock, making reliable visibility even more important.

Because warehouses combine large open areas with specialized work zones, a single lighting solution may not effectively serve the entire building. Successful warehouse lighting strategies account for how the facility operates rather than simply focusing on overall brightness.

Challenge: High Ceilings and Uneven Light Distribution

Many warehouses feature ceilings that can reach 20, 30, or even 40 feet high. While these expansive spaces provide valuable storage capacity, they can create challenges for lighting performance.

Poor fixture placement or outdated lighting systems may result in uneven light distribution throughout the facility. Some areas may appear overly bright while others remain dim. These inconsistencies can make it more difficult for workers to complete tasks efficiently and may create visibility concerns in busy operational areas.

Addressing this challenge often begins with evaluating the lighting layout. Fixtures should be selected and positioned to provide consistent coverage throughout the warehouse rather than concentrating light only in certain locations. A well-designed system helps eliminate dark spots and supports more reliable visibility across the entire floor.

Challenge: Shadowing Between Racks and Shelving

Storage racks are essential for maximizing warehouse space, but they can also create significant shadowing issues. Tall shelving systems may block light from reaching lower levels or narrow aisles, making it more difficult for employees to locate and manage inventory.

Poor visibility within storage areas can slow workflows, increase the likelihood of picking errors, and create frustration for employees. As inventory layouts evolve over time, lighting systems that once performed well may no longer provide adequate coverage.

To address this issue, lighting should be designed with the warehouse layout in mind. Aisles, shelving heights, and storage configurations all influence how light reaches work areas. Regular lighting evaluations can help ensure that changing warehouse operations do not create new visibility challenges.

Challenge: Balancing Safety and Energy Efficiency

Most warehouse operators are looking for ways to control energy costs, but reducing energy consumption should never come at the expense of safety.

Warehouses often contain forklifts, pallet jacks, conveyor systems, and pedestrian traffic operating within the same environment. Employees need adequate visibility to navigate these spaces safely and perform their work accurately.

The goal is not simply to use less light. Instead, the focus should be on providing the appropriate amount of light where it is needed most. Modern lighting technologies and control systems can help facilities improve efficiency while maintaining safe working conditions throughout the building.

By taking a strategic approach, warehouse managers can support both operational goals and employee safety.

Challenge: Lighting Maintenance in Active Facilities

Maintaining lighting systems in a warehouse can be more complicated than it is in many other commercial buildings. Replacing fixtures mounted high above the floor often requires specialized equipment, careful scheduling, and coordination to avoid disrupting operations.

When facilities rely on aging lighting systems, maintenance demands can increase significantly. Frequent lamp replacements, unexpected failures, and service interruptions may create unnecessary costs and downtime.

A proactive maintenance approach can help reduce these disruptions. Regular inspections and performance evaluations allow facility teams to identify issues before they affect daily operations.

Investing in longer-lasting lighting solutions may also reduce the frequency of maintenance activities and improve overall reliability.

Challenge: Supporting Worker Comfort and Productivity

Warehouse lighting affects more than visibility. It also influences how comfortable employees feel throughout the workday.

Workers often spend long shifts under artificial lighting. Poor lighting conditions can contribute to eye strain, fatigue, and reduced concentration, especially in areas where employees perform detailed tasks such as packing, sorting, or quality inspections.

Improving light quality can help create a more comfortable working environment. Facility managers should evaluate not only brightness levels but also how lighting supports the specific tasks being performed throughout the warehouse.

When employees can see clearly and work comfortably, productivity, accuracy, and overall job satisfaction often benefit as well.

Evaluating Your Warehouse Lighting System

Warehouse operations rarely remain static. Inventory levels change, storage configurations evolve, and workflows shift as businesses grow. Because of this, lighting systems should be evaluated periodically to ensure they continue supporting facility goals.

A simple evaluation might include questions such as:

Are there dark spots between racks or shelving?
Is lighting consistent throughout the facility?
Have employees reported visibility concerns?
Are maintenance costs increasing?
Do certain areas appear significantly brighter or dimmer than others?
Is the current system supporting both safety and energy-efficiency objectives?

Regular assessments can help identify opportunities for improvement before they become larger operational challenges.

Contact Starbeam Lighting Solutions

By taking a proactive approach to lighting design and maintenance, warehouse operators can create environments that better support employees, improve workflow efficiency, and position their facilities for long-term success.

If you're evaluating the performance of your warehouse lighting system, contact our lighting experts today to discuss lighting strategies designed to improve visibility and long-term facility performance.

Reducing Energy Costs During Peak Summer Months with Smarter Lighting

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:06:43 GMT

As temperatures rise during the summer months, energy usage tends to follow. Cooling systems work harder, buildings stay active for longer, and utility bills often reflect the increased demand.

While HVAC systems usually get the most attention when it comes to summer energy costs, lighting plays a larger role than many businesses realize.

With the right approach, smarter lighting can help reduce energy consumption, improve comfort, and enhance performance throughout your space.

Why Energy Costs Increase During Summer

Summer brings a combination of factors that contribute to higher overall energy usage. Air conditioning systems run more frequently to offset rising outdoor temperatures, especially in buildings with large windows or high occupancy levels.

Lighting adds to this demand in two ways. First, it contributes directly to energy consumption. Second, certain lighting systems generate heat, which can increase the load on cooling systems.

In buildings with older or inefficient lighting, this added heat can compound the challenges of maintaining a comfortable indoor environment.

Understanding how these systems interact is the first step in identifying opportunities for improvement.

How Lighting Impacts Energy Usage

Not all lighting systems operate at the same level of efficiency. Traditional lighting options often consume more energy and produce more heat than modern alternatives. When these systems are used throughout the day, especially in large commercial spaces, the impact on utility costs can be significant.

In some cases, lighting is left on in areas not in use, resulting in unnecessary energy waste. In others, buildings may be over-lit due to outdated layouts or a lack of strategic planning.

These inefficiencies are not always obvious at first, but over time, they can contribute to steadily rising operational costs.

The Benefits of Upgrading to Energy-Efficient Lighting

Upgrading to energy-efficient lighting is one of the most effective ways to reduce energy usage without sacrificing performance. LED lighting, for example, uses less energy than traditional systems while producing consistent, high-quality light.

Another key benefit is reduced heat output. Lower heat generation means less strain on cooling systems, which can translate into additional energy savings during peak summer conditions.

Energy-efficient lighting also tends to have a longer lifespan. This reduces the need for frequent replacements and ongoing maintenance, helping businesses manage both time and cost more effectively.

Beyond savings, these upgrades can improve visibility and create a more consistent lighting environment, supporting both productivity and overall experience within the space.

Using Lighting Controls to Reduce Waste

Lighting does not need to operate at full output at all times. With the right control systems in place, businesses can adjust lighting levels based on actual usage and conditions throughout the day.

Options such as occupancy sensors, scheduling systems, and daylight-responsive controls allow lighting to adjust automatically when spaces are unoccupied or when natural light is available.

This level of control helps reduce unnecessary energy use without requiring constant manual adjustments. It also creates a more responsive environment in which lighting supports how the space is actually used.

For many businesses, implementing lighting controls is one of the fastest ways to achieve measurable efficiency improvements.

Making the Most of Natural Light

Summer provides longer daylight hours, which can be an advantage when managed effectively. Natural light can reduce the need for artificial lighting and contribute to a more comfortable, inviting environment.

However, excessive direct sunlight can pose challenges, including glare and higher indoor temperatures. Without a plan, these conditions can offset potential energy savings by increasing the demand on cooling systems.

A thoughtful lighting strategy considers both artificial and natural light. By balancing these elements, businesses can maintain consistent lighting levels while reducing overall energy consumption.

Planning a Lighting Upgrade for Summer Efficiency

Improving lighting efficiency starts with understanding your current setup. A lighting audit can provide insight into how energy is being used and where adjustments can have the greatest impact.

From there, decisions can be made based on the building's layout, how different areas are used, and when lighting is needed throughout the day. This approach helps ensure that upgrades are aligned with both operational needs and long-term goals.

In some cases, rebates or incentives may be available to help offset the cost of upgrading to more efficient systems. Taking advantage of these opportunities can make it easier to move forward with improvements while managing upfront costs.

Connect With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Energy costs often rise during the summer, but they are not beyond your control. Lighting plays a key role in overall energy use, and with the right strategies in place, it can be an opportunity rather than a source of excess costs.

Starbeam Lighting Solutions helps businesses evaluate their current systems and identify opportunities to improve efficiency with smarter lighting. From audits to upgrades and control systems, our team works with you to reduce energy costs and create lighting solutions that perform year-round.

Upgrading Lighting in an Existing Office Building: What to Consider First

Thu, 14 May 2026 17:58:47 GMT

Lighting upgrades in office buildings often seem straightforward at first glance. Swap out old fixtures, install new LEDs, and enjoy lower energy bills…right?

In reality, upgrading lighting in an existing office space comes with unique challenges that don't always arise in new construction.

Office buildings are typically occupied during normal business hours, consist of varied workspaces, and are built around layouts that may have changed multiple times over the years.

Before choosing fixtures or scheduling installation, it's important to step back and plan carefully. A thoughtful approach can help avoid disruptions, reduce rework, and deliver better long‑term results.

Start by Defining the "Why"

Before any lighting upgrade begins, clearly define what you want the project to accomplish. Some office upgrades focus primarily on reducing energy costs, while others aim to improve employee comfort, reduce maintenance calls, or bring consistency to spaces that feel uneven or outdated.

Common goals include improving light quality at workstations, eliminating glare on computer screens, lowering operating costs, or creating a more uniform look throughout the building.

Identifying the top priorities early helps guide later decisions and prevents upgrades that technically work but don’t fully resolve the underlying issues.

Take Stock of Existing Conditions

Many office buildings have a mix of fixture types and control systems, sometimes even within the same floor. Before planning upgrades, it's important to understand what's already in place.

This includes reviewing fixture condition, ceiling heights, light levels, wiring access, and any existing lighting controls. Some spaces may be overlit while others remain dim.

Hallways, conference rooms, break areas, and individual offices often behave very differently from a lighting standpoint.

Documenting current conditions creates a useful baseline and helps identify which areas need attention first.

Consider How Each Space Is Used

Offices are not single‑purpose environments, and lighting needs vary by space. A successful upgrade recognizes these differences rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

Workstations typically require uniform lighting that minimizes glare and eye strain. Conference rooms often benefit from flexible lighting that adapts to presentations, video conferencing, or collaboration.

Lobbies and reception areas need lighting that feels welcoming without being harsh, while corridors and stairs require consistent visibility for safety.

Viewing the office as a collection of zones helps ensure that lighting supports how people use the space every day.

Decide on the Right Upgrade Approach

There are several ways to upgrade office lighting, and the right choice depends on existing conditions and project goals.

Retrofitting may allow existing fixture housings to remain in place while updating internal components, reducing installation time in occupied spaces. Full fixture replacement may be better when fixtures are outdated, inefficient, or visually mismatched.

In some cases, a partial redesign makes sense, especially if the office layout has changed significantly over time.

Each option carries different costs, timelines, and levels of disruption, so it's important to align the approach with building operations and occupancy needs.

Factor in Controls from the Start

Lighting controls play a significant role in office efficiency and comfort. Yet they are often added as an afterthought.

Offices tend to have varied usage patterns throughout the day. Conference rooms may sit empty for hours, while work areas follow predictable schedules.

Incorporating controls such as occupancy sensors, scheduling, and dimming can help reduce wasted energy while providing occupants with greater comfort and flexibility.

Planning controls early to ensure they integrate smoothly with the overall lighting design, rather than feeling bolted on later.

Plan for Installation in an Occupied Building

One of the biggest considerations in office lighting upgrades is minimizing disruption. Employees still need to work, meetings still happen, and safety must remain a top priority.

Successful projects often rely on phased installation schedules, after‑hours or weekend work, and clear communication about timing and expectations. Access challenges, such as furniture, ceilings, or limited lift space, should be identified in advance to avoid delays.

Thoughtful planning helps maintain high productivity while the upgrade is underway.

Don't Overlook Compliance and Safety

Lighting upgrades can intersect with code requirements, particularly in corridors, stairwells, and exit paths. Reviewing emergency lighting and exit signage during a project can prevent compliance issues down the road and eliminate the need for repeat work later.

Addressing these elements while fixtures are already being updated is often more efficient than revisiting them separately.

Build a Realistic Budget

Office lighting projects involve more than just fixture costs. Installation complexity, access challenges, disposal of old equipment, and control systems all factor into the total investment.

In some regions, incentives or rebates may be available, but these programs can change over time. They should be treated as potential benefits (not guarantees) and verified before being included in planning decisions.

A Smarter Starting Point

Upgrading office lighting doesn't have to be disruptive or complicated. Starting with a clear understanding of goals, existing conditions, and space usage lays the foundation for a smoother project and better results.

For organizations planning an office lighting upgrade and seeking a clear starting point, Starbeam Lighting Solutions can help evaluate existing systems and identify practical upgrade options that fit the space and schedule.

When Is It Time to Upgrade Commercial Lighting? Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:17:09 GMT

Commercial lighting is one of those building systems that often goes unnoticed until something starts to feel off. The lights turn on, the space is visible, and daily operations continue, so upgrading lighting rarely feels urgent.

But, outdated or poorly performing lighting can quietly drive up costs, reduce safety, and limit how well a space functions.

Knowing when it's time to evaluate your lighting can help businesses avoid wasted energy, constant maintenance, and larger disruptions down the road.

Here are some key signs your commercial lighting may be due for an upgrade.

Rising Energy Bills Without Major Changes

If energy costs keep rising even though your building's usage hasn't changed, lighting may be part of the problem.

Older fixtures and lamps tend to consume significantly more energy than modern alternatives, especially when they run for long hours each day.

Because lighting systems operate in the background, inefficiencies often go unnoticed for years. When energy bills rise without a clear explanation, outdated lighting is one of the first areas worth reviewing.

Uneven, Dim, or Uncomfortable Light Levels

Spotty lighting, shadows, glare, or areas that feel noticeably dim can indicate that a lighting system is no longer serving the space well. These issues don't just affect comfort; they impact safety, visibility, and productivity.

In warehouses, offices, retail spaces, and industrial facilities, poor lighting can make tasks harder, increase eye strain, and create avoidable hazards. If employees frequently adjust tasks to compensate for lighting shortcomings, that's a strong signal that something needs to change.

Frequent Maintenance and Lamp Replacements

When bulb replacements and fixture repairs become routine, maintenance costs add up quickly. Older lighting systems often require more hands‑on attention, resulting in downtime, increased labor costs, and disrupted operations.

Modern lighting solutions are designed to last significantly longer than traditional lamps. If maintenance feels constant instead of occasional, upgrading can often reduce both operational headaches and long‑term costs.

Your Space Has Changed, But the Lighting Hasn't

Many commercial spaces evolve over time. Layouts shift, equipment is added, workflows change, and new types of work are introduced. Unfortunately, lighting systems are often left exactly as they were when the building was first set up.

Lighting that no longer aligns with how a space is actually used can limit efficiency and comfort. An upgrade allows lighting to be tailored to current needs rather than outdated assumptions.

Safety and Compliance Concerns Are Growing

In some environments, lighting plays a direct role in safety and compliance. Exterior areas, emergency lighting, stairwells, and high‑traffic spaces all rely on proper visibility.

If certain areas feel under‑lit, inconsistent, or unreliable, safety risks increase. Over time, these issues can also raise concerns during inspections or audits.

Even when systems technically work, aging components may no longer meet the reliability standards modern systems expect.

Missed Opportunities for Efficiency and Incentives

Lighting technology has advanced rapidly in recent years. Businesses that haven’t updated their systems may be missing opportunities to improve efficiency while reducing operating costs.

In many cases, upgrades can also be supported by utility rebates or incentive programs, helping offset initial investment. Companies that delay evaluation often miss out on these opportunities simply because they don’t realize what’s available.

Upgrading Doesn't Always Mean Starting From Scratch

One common misconception is that improving lighting requires a full, disruptive replacement. In reality, upgrades can take several forms depending on the building and goals.

Some spaces benefit from retrofitting existing fixtures, while others see the most value from selective replacements or minor layout adjustments.

The key is to evaluate the current system and identify where improvements will have the greatest impact.

Acting Early Saves Time and Money

Lighting issues tend to develop gradually, making them easy to ignore until costs and frustrations pile up. Addressing problems early allows businesses to plan upgrades on their own timeline rather than reacting to failures or rising costs.

A thoughtful evaluation can reveal whether lighting is supporting operations—or silently working against them.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

For businesses ready to understand where their lighting stands and explore smarter solutions, the Starbeam Lighting Solutions team helps commercial and industrial facilities assess, plan, and implement lighting upgrades that align with performance goals, efficiency needs, and long‑term value.

Ready to talk about your project?

Get in touch with us today.

Why One‑Size‑Fits‑All Lighting Doesn’t Work for Commercial Spaces

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:15:39 GMT

When it comes to commercial lighting, it's tempting to look for a simple solution: pick a fixture, install it everywhere, and move on.

After all, lighting is just about making a space bright enough to see, right?

In reality, commercial lighting plays a much bigger role. It affects safety, productivity, energy use, and how a space feels to the people who use it every day.

Because no two commercial environments operate the same way, a one‑size‑fits‑all lighting approach often leads to wasted energy, poor performance, and costly corrections down the road.

Different Spaces Use Light in Different Ways

Lighting is all about how light supports the function of a space. A warehouse, an office, and a retail store may all fall under the "commercial" umbrella, but each relies on lighting for very different reasons.

When lighting is treated as a generic utility rather than a strategic design element, it often fails to meet the space's real needs.

Understanding how each environment uses light is the first step toward making smarter decisions.

Warehouses and Industrial Facilities

In warehouses and industrial facilities, lighting is directly tied to safety and efficiency. Workers need clear visibility to operate equipment, read labels, and navigate aisles without strain or shadowing.

Uniform illumination is critical in these environments. Poorly placed fixtures can create dark spots, glare, or harsh contrasts, increasing the risk of accidents and slowing operations.

Durability also matters: industrial spaces often demand fixtures that can withstand vibration, dust, and long operating hours.

Using office or retail lighting in a warehouse setting can lead to inadequate coverage, higher maintenance costs, and safety concerns.

Office and Administrative Spaces

Office environments have very different lighting needs. Instead of high‑output illumination, the focus shifts to comfort, focus, and visual balance.

Lighting that is too harsh or too dim can contribute to eye strain, fatigue, and reduced productivity. Factors like color temperature, glare control, and even fixture placement all influence how comfortable a space feels throughout a workday.

Applying the same lighting approach used in industrial spaces to offices often results in lighting that feels overwhelming or uncomfortable, even if it technically meets brightness requirements.

Retail and Customer‑Facing Environments

In retail and other customer‑facing spaces, lighting becomes part of the experience. It influences how products are displayed, how customers move through a space, and how the brand is perceived.

Retail environments often rely on a layered lighting approach, combining general illumination with accent and display lighting. Generic lighting solutions can make a space feel flat or uninviting, while thoughtfully designed lighting can highlight products and create a more engaging atmosphere.

Using the same fixtures throughout a retail space without considering purpose and layout can limit flexibility and reduce visual impact.

Exterior and Parking Area Lighting

Exterior lighting serves a different set of priorities altogether. Safety and visibility after dark are the primary goals, along with consistency and reliability.

Parking areas and building exteriors require lighting that minimizes shadows, improves wayfinding, and enhances security. These spaces also face environmental exposure, making fixture selection and placement especially important.

Applying interior lighting strategies outdoors or treating exterior lighting as an afterthought often leads to uneven coverage and unnecessary maintenance challenges.

Why Copy‑and‑Paste Lighting Designs Fall Short

When the same lighting solution is used across multiple environments, it rarely performs well in all of them.

Mismatched lighting can lead to higher energy use, increased maintenance, and dissatisfaction from the people who rely on the space.

In many cases, the cost of correcting lighting issues after installation exceeds the cost of planning properly from the start. What seems like a shortcut often turns out to be an expensive lesson.

The Value of a Tailored Lighting Approach

A tailored lighting strategy considers how each space functions today, and how it may change in the future. It looks beyond fixtures and wattage to consider layout, controls, operating hours, and long‑term goals.

By designing lighting around how a facility is actually used, businesses can improve performance, reduce waste, and create spaces that work better for everyone.

Making Smarter Lighting Decisions

Smarter lighting decisions start with asking the right questions. How is the space used? Who occupies it? What safety, efficiency, or experience goals matter most?

Working with professionals who understand commercial lighting design helps ensure that each space gets the lighting it truly needs.

Contact Starbeam Lighting Solutions

If your facility's lighting feels underwhelming, inefficient, or mismatched to how your space operates, it may be time for a more tailored approach.

Starbeam Lighting Solutions works with commercial clients to design lighting systems that align with real‑world use, long‑term goals, and future growth.

Retrofit, Replace, or Re‑Design? Choosing the Right LED Upgrade Strategy for Your Business

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:21:55 GMT

Upgrading your business lighting is one of those improvements that seems simple until you start asking the right questions.

Do you keep your existing fixtures and retrofit them?

Replace everything one for one?

Take the opportunity to redesign the lighting layout entirely?

The best choice depends on your building, your goals, and what success looks like for your operation. That may include lower operating costs, better light quality, fewer maintenance calls, improved safety, or all of the above.

At Starbeam Lighting Solutions, our team brings over 100 years of combined lighting experience and specializes in LED retrofit technology, helping businesses make smart upgrades without expensive missteps.

Let's break down your three main upgrade paths so you can choose the option that fits your space, timeline, and budget.

LED Retrofit: Keep the Fixture, Upgrade the Performance

Best for: Businesses that want modern performance but prefer to keep existing housing or layouts.

A retrofit typically means keeping the existing fixture body while upgrading internal components such as lamps, boards, optics, or drivers so the fixture performs like a modern LED system.

Why Businesses Choose Retrofits

Minimizes disruption to daily operations
Often faster than a full replacement
Makes sense when fixture housings are still in good condition

When Retrofit Makes Sense

Retrofits are ideal when your current fixtures are structurally sound, your lighting layout still works, and your goal is to improve efficiency without reworking the ceiling or electrical layout.

One-for-One Replacement: Modern Fixtures, Same Locations

Best for: Facilities that want a clean, consistent upgrade with predictable results.

One-for-one replacement removes outdated fixtures and installs new LED fixtures in the same locations.

Why Businesses Choose Replacement

Fresh, modern fixtures with improved optics and longevity
More consistent light levels across the facility
Opportunity to correct glare, discoloration, or uneven illumination

When Replacement Makes Sense

Replacement is often the best option when fixtures are aging, yellowed, damaged, or frequently failing, or when a more modern appearance is important for customers or employees.

Full Lighting Redesign: Optimize the Entire System

Best for: Businesses that want the best long-term performance and flexibility.

A lighting redesign goes beyond fixtures and focuses on how light is delivered throughout the space. This approach considers layout, ceiling height, task requirements, and control systems to create a more efficient and effective lighting plan.

Why Businesses Choose Redesign

Improves visibility and uniform light coverage
Reduces over-lit or under-lit areas
Aligns lighting with how the space is actually used
Supports advanced lighting controls and future changes

When Redesign Makes Sense

Redesign is ideal when your space has changed, you've experienced ongoing lighting issues, or you want to maximize efficiency, safety, and performance long term.

Questions to Ask Before You Upgrade

Before choosing an upgrade path, consider several factors to guide your decision.

Are my existing fixtures in good physical condition?
Do I need better coverage, visibility, or consistency?
Are maintenance calls becoming more frequent?
Has the layout or use of my space changed?
Do lighting controls or automation make sense for my operation?
Am I planning future expansions or renovations?

Answering these questions upfront can help you avoid unnecessary costs and ensure your upgrade delivers real value.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Upgrading your business lighting is easier with the right partner.

With over 100 years of combined lighting experience and deep expertise in LED retrofit technology , Starbeam Lighting Solutions helps businesses make smart, efficient lighting upgrades with confidence.

From evaluating your space to recommending the right products and solutions, their team is here to support your project from start to finish.

Lighting Trends for Retail Stores in 2026

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Retail environments are evolving faster than ever, and in 2026, lighting is taking center stage as one of the most powerful tools for shaping customer experience and reinforcing brand identity. With shoppers expecting immersive, personalized environments, store designers are turning to innovative lighting solutions that blend ambiance, technology, and energy efficiency.

Below are the top lighting trends redefining modern retail spaces this year, and how they’re helping stores stand out in a competitive marketplace.

Ambient Lighting That Sets the Mood

Retailers are moving beyond simple overhead lighting and embracing ambient lighting as a core design element. Ambient illumination now plays a key role in shaping a store’s emotional tone, helping customers feel calm, energized, or inspired, depending on the brand’s personality.

Soft, diffused lighting is becoming increasingly popular for fashion boutiques, beauty retailers, and luxury stores. These environments use warm color temperatures and indirect fixtures to create a sense of comfort and elegance.

On the other hand, activewear and tech retailers are gravitating toward cooler, brighter tones that convey energy and innovation.

Lighting as a Branding Tool

Branding has always been about visual identity, and lighting has become a major part of that story. Retailers are using lighting to express who they are, from palette choices to how light interacts with products on the shelf.

Colored accent lighting is an area seeing huge momentum. Brands are using signature colors through subtle hues in coves, perimeter lighting, or display fixtures. Some retailers even program dynamic lighting scenes that shift throughout the day to reflect brand mood or seasonal campaigns.

Exterior lighting is also evolving with a stronger focus on recognizability. Architectural lighting is being used to make storefronts stand out after dark, with façade washes and edge‑lit signage increasing visibility and drawing foot traffic.

Advanced LED Solutions for Precision and Efficiency

LED innovation continues to accelerate, and this year is all about refined performance and smart integration.

Retailers are seeking LEDs with improved color rendering (CRI) to ensure products look vivid and true to life. This is essential for any color-critical decision, such as apparel, cosmetics, or fresh foods. The latest LEDs can highlight texture, depth, and detail with unparalleled accuracy, helping customers make confident purchase decisions.

Tunable white technology is becoming more mainstream as well. With tunable LEDs, retailers can adjust color temperature throughout the day or tailor the lighting to specific collections or promotions. For example, a display of natural fabrics might benefit from warm tones, while futuristic tech products might shine under cooler light.

Smart, Sensor-Based Lighting Controls

Smart lighting is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity in modern retail environments. In 2026, retailers are adopting intelligent systems that optimize energy use and elevate the customer experience.

Occupancy sensors, for example, adjust lighting levels based on foot traffic. This is especially valuable in fitting rooms, stockrooms, and low-traffic zones. Many retailers are also using daylight-harvesting controls to maintain consistent brightness while reducing energy use when natural light is available.

Smart controls also enable retailers to create dynamic lighting scenes for events, product launches, or seasonal changes, keeping the store environment fresh and engaging.

Display Lighting That Enhances Visual Merchandising

Product presentation continues to play a major role in retail success, and lighting is the most effective way to highlight the features that matter. In 2026, retailers are upgrading their display lighting with adjustable beams, mini spotlights, and highly focused fixtures that create contrast and draw the eye.

Track lighting with precision optics is especially popular because it allows for flexibility as products move or displays change. Retailers can quickly adapt their visual merchandising strategies without major infrastructure changes.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

The retail landscape is becoming more experiential, and lighting plays a critical role in shaping that experience. From ambiance and branding to energy-efficient LED innovation, the trends of 2026 offer exciting opportunities for retailers to enhance both aesthetics and performance.

At Starbeam Lighting Solutions, we are dedicated to helping commercial property owners optimize their lighting solutions.

Through lighting audits and tailored recommendations, our lighting experts can help you achieve the perfect lighting setup for your property.

Invest in the right lighting solutions today and experience the positive impact they can have on your business.

The post Lighting Trends for Retail Stores in 2026 appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Choosing the Right Lighting Controls for Your Commercial Space

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 22:00:00 GMT

Commercial lighting has evolved significantly from its simple on-and-off switches. Today, lighting controls play a critical role in how efficiently a building operates, how comfortable it feels for occupants, and how much businesses spend on energy each month.

For many commercial spaces, choosing the proper lighting controls can make a noticeable difference in both performance and cost savings.

Understanding your options is the first step toward smarter, more efficient lighting.

What Are Lighting Controls?

Lighting controls are systems that manage when lights turn on, how bright they are, and where they’re used throughout a facility. Rather than relying solely on manual switches, controls help automate lighting based on occupancy, available daylight, or scheduled use.

When paired with modern LED lighting, controls allow businesses to fine-tune their lighting systems to match actual usage, reducing waste while maintaining comfort and safety.

Common Types of Commercial Lighting Controls

Not all lighting controls are the same, and different environments benefit from various solutions. Fortunately, several options are available for business owners.

Occupancy and Vacancy Sensors

These sensors detect movement and automatically turn lights on or off. They’re especially effective in spaces like restrooms, private offices, conference rooms, and storage areas.

Occupancy sensors ensure that lights aren’t left on in empty rooms, while vacancy sensors require manual activation but automatically shut off lights when the space is unoccupied.

Daylight Harvesting Controls

In spaces with windows or skylights, daylight harvesting adjusts artificial lighting levels based on the amount of natural light available. This maintains consistent lighting throughout the day while significantly reducing energy consumption, particularly in offices, retail spaces, and common areas.

Time Scheduling and Automated Controls

Scheduling allows lights to operate according to a predefined timetable. This is ideal for warehouses, parking areas, and office buildings with set operating hours. Automated schedules help eliminate unnecessary lighting during nights, weekends, or holidays.

Dimming Controls

Dimming systems allow light levels to be adjusted manually or automatically. Beyond energy savings, dimming improves visual comfort, reduces glare, and supports task-based lighting. Dimming is especially useful in conference rooms, collaborative spaces, and customer-facing environments.

Centralized and Smart Lighting Systems

For larger facilities, centralized control systems enable the management of multiple lighting zones from a single interface. Many smart systems integrate with building management platforms or mobile apps, offering real-time control, monitoring, and scalability across multiple locations.

Benefits of Lighting Controls for Commercial Buildings

The advantages of lighting controls go beyond convenience. When implemented correctly, they offer meaningful benefits for businesses.

Lower energy costs by reducing unnecessary lighting usage
Improved occupant comfort through consistent, appropriate lighting levels
Extended fixture lifespan by minimizing run time
Better operational oversight for facility managers
Potential rebates or incentives for energy-efficient upgrades

Over time, these benefits can accumulate to significant cost savings and enhanced building performance.

How to Choose the Right Lighting Controls

The best lighting control system depends on your specific space and operational needs. Key factors to consider include:

The size and layout of your facility
Your business type and daily activities
Hours of operation
Existing lighting infrastructure
Budget and long-term return on investment goals

A warehouse may benefit most from scheduling and occupancy sensors, while an office environment might prioritize daylight harvesting and dimming controls. Taking a strategic approach helps ensure your system delivers real value rather than unnecessary complexity.

Common Mistakes Businesses Make with Lighting Controls

While lighting controls offer many advantages, poor planning can limit their effectiveness. Some common pitfalls include:

Installing controls without proper placement or commissioning
Choosing systems that are overly complex for staff to use
Failing to ensure compatibility with existing fixtures
Focusing only on upfront cost rather than long-term performance
Skipping training or documentation for facility teams

Avoiding these mistakes helps maximize both usability and savings.

Why Professional Design and Installation Matter

Lighting controls work best when they’re thoughtfully designed and professionally installed. Proper sensor placement, calibration, and system integration are essential for reliable performance.

Working with experienced lighting professionals ensures that your controls are tailored to your space, compliant with applicable standards, and optimized for efficiency. A well-designed system also allows for future adjustments as your business grows or changes.

Brighter Lighting Starts with the Right Controls

Lighting controls are no longer a luxury; they’re a practical investment in efficiency, comfort, and operational control. By selecting the right system for your commercial space, you can lower energy costs, enhance the occupant experience, and gain a deeper understanding of how your building operates.

At Starbeam Lighting Solutions, we are dedicated to helping commercial property owners optimize their lighting solutions.

Through lighting audits and tailored recommendations, Starbeam can help you achieve the perfect lighting setup for your property.

Invest in the right lighting solutions today and experience the positive impact they can have on your business. Contact us today!

The post Choosing the Right Lighting Controls for Your Commercial Space appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Passing Your Next Fire Inspection: A 60‑Minute Emergency Lighting Checklist

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:28:00 GMT

When the fire marshal arrives for your annual inspection, will your emergency lighting system pass with flying colors? Or, will it result in costly delays and citations?

For commercial and industrial properties in Missouri and Illinois, fire inspections are more than a regulatory hurdle; they’re a vital safeguard for your people, your business, and your reputation.

One of the most common reasons facilities fail these inspections is the oversight or poor maintenance of emergency lighting .

At Starbeam Lighting Solutions, we’ve guided hundreds of businesses through successful inspections.

Here’s a tactical, hour-long checklist to ensure your emergency and exit lighting is ready, so you’re never caught off guard on inspection day.

Why Emergency Lighting Matters (and What Inspectors Look For)

Emergency and exit lighting systems are not just about compliance; they’re about life safety. In the event of a fire or power outage, these fixtures illuminate exit routes, reduce panic, and help first responders do their jobs efficiently.

That’s why codes like NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), OSHA 1910.37 , and the International Building Code (IBC) require illuminated exit routes and doors, backup power for at least 90 minutes, clear and visible signage, unobstructed paths, and regular testing with proper documentation.

Failing to meet these standards can result in fines, delayed occupancy, or even legal liability in the event of an incident.

The good news is that a focused, 60-minute walkthrough can help you catch and correct most issues before the inspector arrives.

The 60-Minute Emergency Lighting Inspection-Day Checklist

Visual Walkthrough (15 Minutes)

Begin your inspection at every exit door, ensuring each is marked with a clearly illuminated “EXIT” sign. These signs must be visible from any direction of approach, with no obstructions such as décor, shelving, or displays blocking the view.

As you follow the exit routes through hallways, stairwells, and corridors, pay close attention to the spacing and orientation of emergency lights. They should eliminate dark spots and aim to illuminate the path, not the ceiling or walls.

Don’t forget high-risk areas, such as storage rooms, restrooms, and interior spaces without windows, as these also require emergency lighting. Mechanical rooms and large open areas should be included in your check.

While inspecting, look for any signs of damage, such as cracked lenses, missing covers, or water intrusion. Damaged units must be repaired or replaced promptly.

Finally, verify that all signage is clear and legible, with directional arrows pointing to the nearest exit if the route isn’t obvious. Letters should be at least six inches high to meet code requirements.

Functional Testing (20 Minutes)

Monthly, you should test each emergency light and exit sign by pressing the test button. The fixture should immediately switch to battery power and remain illuminated for at least 30 seconds, revealing any weak batteries or faulty units that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Annually, and ideally before your scheduled inspection, simulate a complete power outage by cutting power to the emergency lighting circuit. All units must remain lit for a full 90 minutes. If any fixture dims or fails, replace the batteries or the entire unit as needed.

Throughout this process, it’s essential to record the results, noting any failures, repairs, or replacements. Immediate action should be taken to address any non-functioning lights or signs, ensuring compliance and safety.

Documentation & Compliance (10 Minutes)

Maintaining a thorough test log is crucial, as inspectors will ask for proof of your monthly and annual tests. Your log should include the date and time of each test, the location and ID of each unit, the results (pass or fail), any actions taken such as repairs or replacements, and the name or signature of the person performing the test.

It’s best practice to keep these records for at least four years, or as required by your local Authority Having Jurisdiction . Digital templates are available to streamline this process and ensure your documentation is always inspection-ready.

Final Readiness Check (15 Minutes)

Before the inspection, clear all exit routes of any obstructions (such as boxes, furniture, or seasonal displays) that could block egress or impede visibility of signage. Double-check for any recent code updates to ensure you’re following the latest NFPA, OSHA, and IBC standards.

If you’ve identified any failed units or batteries during your walkthrough, schedule repairs immediately rather than waiting until after the inspection is complete.

For ongoing peace of mind, consider a service contract for regular maintenance and compliance support.

Pro Tips for a Smooth Fire Inspection

Labeling each unit with a unique number can simplify tracking and documentation, especially for larger facilities.

Training multiple staff members on monthly testing procedures ensures continuity and prevents lapses if someone is unavailable. Using a digital checklist or app to capture photos, signatures, and test results makes retrieval easy and keeps your records organized.

For annual load testing, upgrades, or compliance questions, partnering with a lighting specialist like Starbeam Lighting Solutions can provide added assurance and expertise.

Don’t Leave Safety to Chance

Passing your next fire inspection doesn’t have to be stressful. With this 60-minute checklist, you’ll not only meet the code, but you’ll also protect your people and your business.

For expert help with emergency lighting upgrades, repairs, or compliance audits, contact our experts for a consultation.

Stay safe. Stay compliant. And let your emergency lighting lead the way when it matters most.

The post Passing Your Next Fire Inspection: A 60‑Minute Emergency Lighting Checklist appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Why Good Lighting Makes Your Business Look More Professional

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:30:00 GMT

When customers walk into your business, they instantly form an impression.

Every detail influences how professional your space appears, from the layout and décor to the cleanliness and color scheme. Yet one often overlooked factor can make or break that first impression: lighting.

The quality, color, and placement of your lighting can completely transform how people experience your business.

Whether you manage an office, retail store, restaurant, or warehouse, lighting is more than just a way to see. It shapes mood, enhances safety, highlights design features, and communicates professionalism.

Here’s how good lighting can help your business look and feel more polished, trustworthy, and modern.

Create a Strong First Impression

Lighting is one of the first things people notice when entering a space. Bright, evenly distributed light feels clean, welcoming, and organized. Dim, flickering, or outdated fixtures can instantly make a space seem neglected or dated.

Good lighting sets the tone for professionalism from the start. It tells clients and customers that you care about the details and take pride in your environment.

For example, a well-lit lobby or reception area immediately feels more inviting, while a poorly lit one can leave visitors feeling uncertain or uncomfortable.

If your goal is to make customers trust your services or feel confident in your products, lighting plays a significant role in creating that sense of credibility.

Highlight the Best Parts of Your Space

Strategic lighting draws attention to what matters most. In a retail setting, accent lighting can highlight displays, products, or branding elements. In an office, layered lighting can emphasize architectural details or artwork that reinforce your company’s image.

By using different types of lighting, ambient, task, and accent, you create depth and visual interest. This balance makes your business appear more dynamic and well-designed.

Proper lighting also helps direct attention to key areas, such as check-out counters, product shelves, or meeting rooms, without overwhelming the overall space.

When lighting complements the layout and design, it subtly guides how people move through and experience your business. The result is a space that feels more intentional and high-quality.

Enhances Employee Productivity and Morale

Professionalism isn’t just about appearances. It’s also about how efficiently and comfortably your team can work. Proper lighting supports both.

Poor lighting can cause eye strain, headaches, and fatigue, which lower morale and productivity. On the other hand, bright, balanced lighting improves focus and energy levels.

Natural light or lighting that mimics daylight can help employees stay alert and engaged throughout the day.

Employees who feel good in their workspace tend to perform better and treat customers more enthusiastically. That positive energy contributes to the professional atmosphere that your clients notice when they walk through the door.

Improves Safety and Comfort

No one feels confident doing business in a dimly lit environment. Adequate lighting increases visibility, prevents accidents, and helps customers and employees move safely throughout your building.

This extra layer is especially important for exterior lighting. Well-lit parking lots, entryways, and walkways make your business appear safer and more secure, especially after dark. Customers are more likely to visit, and employees feel more comfortable leaving late at night.

Clear lighting in stairways, hallways, and work areas prevents trips and falls. It also reduces shadows that can make spaces look smaller or less inviting. Safety and comfort are key to a professional atmosphere, and lighting supports both.

Reinforces Your Brand Image

Every brand has a personality, and lighting helps express it.

A high-end boutique might use warm, soft lighting to create a luxurious feel. A tech startup might choose cooler, brighter lighting to reflect innovation and energy. A restaurant might blend both to create distinct moods between the dining area and the bar.

Choosing the right lighting color temperature, brightness, and fixture style can make your brand identity clear before you say a word. It’s a subtle way to show who you are and what your business stands for.

Increases Perceived Value

Lighting not only makes your business look better, but it can also make your products and services seem more valuable. Bright, flattering light enhances colors and textures, making everything from merchandise to materials appear higher quality.

In contrast, poor lighting can make even premium products look dull or less appealing. If you invest in quality lighting, customers subconsciously associate that attention to detail with professionalism and reliability.

When people believe your space is well cared for, they’re more likely to think your business is too.

A Worthwhile Investment

Upgrading your lighting might seem like a small change, but it can have a significant impact on your business.

Energy-efficient LED lighting improves the look and feel of your space and reduces your electricity costs and maintenance needs.

It’s a simple, long-term investment that pays off in both appearance and savings.

See the Difference with Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Lighting is more than a design choice. It’s a communication tool that tells your customers who you are. It reflects your attention to detail, commitment to safety, and care for both clients and employees.

By investing in good lighting, you’re investing in your business’s reputation, comfort, and long-term success.

Ready to elevate your business with better lighting? Contact the experts at Starbeam Lighting Solutions to explore energy-efficient, professional lighting solutions that make your space shine.

The post Why Good Lighting Makes Your Business Look More Professional appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

How Commercial Lighting Can Affect Our Health and Wellbeing

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:30:00 GMT

When most people think of lighting in the workplace, they see it as purely functional: a way to brighten a space so people can see what they’re doing.

Lighting is much more than that. The type, quality, and design of commercial lighting significantly impact our health, safety, and overall well-being.

The right lighting choices can transform a commercial space into a healthier and more productive environment, from reducing eye strain to improving mood and preventing accidents.

Explore how commercial lighting affects physical health, mental well-being, and safety, and how businesses can make thoughtful lighting decisions that benefit everyone.

The Link Between Lighting and Physical Health

Lighting plays a direct role in supporting our bodies’ natural rhythms. Exposure to natural or artificial lighting mimicking daylight helps regulate our circadian rhythm , which controls sleep and wake cycles.

When lighting is too dim, harsh, or poorly designed, it can disrupt this rhythm, leading to fatigue and lower energy levels throughout the day.

Poor lighting can also cause eye strain and headaches , particularly in offices and commercial settings where people spend long hours reading screens or paperwork. Adequate brightness and well-placed fixtures reduce glare and shadows, minimizing discomfort and protecting vision health.

For physical well-being, businesses should prioritize full-spectrum or LED lighting systems that balance brightness, color temperature, and placement to keep employees and visitors comfortable throughout the day.

Lighting and Mental Health

The psychological effects of lighting are often overlooked but extremely powerful. Bright, natural-feeling light can elevate mood, reduce stress, and improve focus. On the other hand, dull or poorly lit environments can feel draining, making people less motivated and more prone to anxiety or fatigue.

Lighting that mimics daylight has been shown to help combat seasonal affective disorder (SAD) , a form of depression triggered by a lack of natural sunlight during the darker months. In retail or office environments, lighting design creates spaces where people feel energized and supported.

Simply put, the right lighting design can boost morale, encourage collaboration, and make commercial environments more inviting.

Safety and Accident Prevention

Lighting is also one of the most essential tools for safety in commercial spaces.

Poorly lit hallways, staircases, or work areas increase the risk of slips, trips, and falls , among the most common causes of workplace injuries. Bright, evenly distributed lighting helps staff and visitors move safely and confidently through a space.

Good exterior lighting is equally important, especially in parking lots or around loading docks. It improves visibility, reduces the chance of accidents, and deters vandalism or theft.

Additionally, emergency and exit lighting systems are vital for helping people evacuate safely during a fire, power outage, or other emergency.

A well-lit commercial property is healthier and far safer for everyone who enters.

Lighting and Productivity in Commercial Spaces

Beyond health and safety, lighting also plays a significant role in workplace performance. Studies have shown that employees working in well-lit environments are more focused, less fatigued, and more productive .

In fact, even minor improvements in lighting can lead to better accuracy, fewer mistakes, and a higher overall quality of work.

Proper lighting enhances customer comfort and can even influence buying behavior in retail settings by making displays more attractive and creating a welcoming shopping environment. In restaurants or hospitality settings, lighting sets the tone: bright for energy, warm for relaxation, and dim for comfort.

The key is finding the right balance: too much brightness can cause harsh glare, while insufficient lighting leads to eye strain and sluggishness. Thoughtful design ensures spaces are both practical and comfortable.

Designing Health-Conscious Lighting Systems

The good news is that businesses have more options than ever regarding health-conscious lighting. LED technology offers energy efficiency while also providing a wide range of color temperatures that can mimic natural light.

Adjustable lighting systems allow daily changes, supporting circadian rhythms and personal comfort. Smart lighting controls can dim, brighten, or shift tones based on time of day, natural light availability, or occupancy, ensuring energy savings without sacrificing comfort or safety.

Businesses that want to prioritize employee well-being should work with lighting professionals to design solutions that suit their specific space, whether it’s an office, retail store, warehouse, or hospitality venue.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Lighting is more than just a way to see: it’s a critical factor in how we feel, work, and stay safe. By choosing thoughtful, health-conscious commercial lighting, businesses can protect physical health, support mental well-being, and reduce safety risks, all while boosting productivity.

At Starbeam Lighting Solutions, we are dedicated to helping commercial property owners optimize their lighting solutions.

Through lighting audits and tailored recommendations, Starbeam can help you achieve the perfect lighting setup for your property.

Invest in the right lighting solutions today and experience the positive impact they can have on your business. Contact us today!

The post How Commercial Lighting Can Affect Our Health and Wellbeing appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Picking the Right LED Color Temperature for Your Space

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:30:00 GMT

Many people assume that all LED lights are created equal, but a light’s color temperature can completely change the look and feel of a space.

However, “color temperature” does not refer to the colors in a rainbow. Instead, color temperature refers to how warm or cool the light appears, which is measured in degrees Kelvin (K).

On one end of the spectrum, lower temperatures (around 2700K-3000K) give off a soft, golden glow similar to candlelight or a cozy lamp. On the other hand, higher temperatures (5000K-6500K) produce a crisp, blueish-white light that mimics daylight.

The following breakdown explores the science of LED color temperatures and explains how to identify the ideal match for any space.

What is Color Temperature?

Color temperature is the way of describing the visual “tone” or light. Rather than focusing on the hue of the light, color temperature reflects whether the light feels warm and inviting, balanced and neutral, or cool and energizing.

To put it in perspective, lighting on the lower end of the scale (2000K-3000K) creates a cozy atmosphere, while midrange tones (3500K-4100K) showcase a professional balance ideal for the workspace. Higher Kelvin values (5000K-6500K+) mimic the brightness of daylight, enhancing alertness and visibility.

A simple analogy to help illustrate this concept is to imagine the difference between the relaxed glow of a coffee shop and the sharp clarity of a warehouse floor.

Modern technology allows LEDs to replicate the full spectrum of lighting environments. Older systems, like fluorescents or incandescents would not be able to achieve the same precision as LEDs .

Why Does Color Temperature Matter?

Choosing the right color temperature isn’t just about aesthetics. It directly influences how people feel and function within a space.

Mood and Atmosphere

Warm lighting creates comfort and relaxation, ideal for hospitality and dining.
Cool lighting promotes focus and alertness; thus, it is best for offices, classrooms, and industrial facilities.

Perception of Space

Bright, cool lighting makes spaces feel modern, clean, and professional.
Warm tones foster an inviting, intimate atmosphere.

Health and Productivity

Lighting affects circadian rhythms , influencing daytime alertness and restfulness at night.
The right color temperature can boost productivity, concentration, and overall well-being.

Ultimately, selecting the right color temperature ensures that a lighting system saves energy and enhances how people experience the space.

Breaking Down Color Temperature by Environment

Selecting the correct color temperature plays a bigger role in the space than you might imagine.

Balanced neutral white lighting (3500-4100K) promotes focus in commercial and office spaces without harshness. This helps employees avoid fatigue without overly warm or cold lighting.

Retail spaces often have mid-tone lighting (3000K-5000K). Cooler lighting (4000K-5000K) enhances product colors, making displays ‘pop.’

High CRI ( Color Rendering Index ) ensures that products and displays appear vibrant and true to life. When paired with the right color temperature, it enhances visibility, creates the desired ambiance, and improves the overall customer experience.

Bright, cool lighting in industrial and warehouse spaces improves visibility and helps reduce accidents. By mimicking natural daylight, it also keeps workers alert and focused during long shifts.

Common Mistakes When Choosing Color Temperature

Choosing the wrong color temperature can undermine both comfort and functionality.

Using overly warm light in workspaces can make employees feel drowsy, while harsh, cool lighting in hospitality settings often creates an uninviting atmosphere.

Another common oversight is ignoring CRI; even a warm light can dull colors if its rendering index is low.

Failing to consider layered lighting can limit flexibility. Combining different temperatures for task lighting and ambient light sometimes produces the most effective and comfortable environment.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Selecting the right LED color temperature can completely transform a space, enhancing safety, productivity, sales, and overall ambiance.

With the right approach, lighting becomes more than illumination; it becomes a tool to elevate experiences and outcomes. Don’t just light your space, light it right.

At Starbeam Lighting, we specialize in designing and installing energy-efficient, high-performance lighting systems tailored to your unique space and goals.

Contact our specialists today to schedule a consultation and elevate your organization’s lighting!

The post Picking the Right LED Color Temperature for Your Space appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

5 Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Lighting System

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:00:00 GMT

In today’s commercial environments, lighting does more than illuminate a space—it affects everything from energy efficiency and operating costs to employee productivity and customer experience.

While it’s easy to overlook the lighting system once it’s installed, maintaining an outdated or inefficient setup could be costing your business more than you think.

Here are five clear signs it’s time to upgrade your commercial lighting system—and why making the switch could be a smart move for your business.

Your Energy Bills Keep Climbing

One of the most common—and costly—signs that it’s time to upgrade your lighting is consistently high utility bills. Older lighting technologies like fluorescent, metal halide, or incandescent bulbs consume significantly more electricity than modern LED systems. Over time, this inefficiency becomes a significant drain on your budget.

LED lighting can reduce energy consumption by up to 75% , especially when paired with smart lighting controls such as motion sensors or dimmers. If your facility operates extended hours or around the clock, the savings from switching to energy-efficient lighting could be substantial.

Pro Tip: Compare your current lighting costs with an energy audit or a professional lighting assessment. Many utility companies even offer rebates or incentives for upgrading to LED systems.

Maintenance Is Becoming a Frequent Headache

Are you constantly replacing bulbs or calling in maintenance for lighting issues? This is not only a sign of aging equipment—it’s also a hidden cost that adds up over time.

Older systems typically have shorter lifespans and require more frequent upkeep. LED fixtures, on the other hand, can last 20,000 to 100,000 hours , which means fewer replacements, lower maintenance costs, and less downtime.

If your facility requires lifts, scaffolding, or off-hours labor just to change a bulb, those expenses and inconveniences are additional motivation to modernize your system.

Lighting Quality Is Poor or Inconsistent

Lighting quality has a direct impact on how a space functions. Poor or inconsistent lighting can create safety hazards in industrial settings, affect mood and concentration in offices, and turn off potential customers in retail environments.

There are a few signs of poor lighting quality that may point towards needing an update.

Uneven brightness or dark spots
Flickering or dimming fixtures
Harsh glare or incorrect color temperature
Lights that take time to warm up

Modern LED lighting offers high Color Rendering Index (CRI) ratings, instant-on capabilities, and customizable color temperatures to suit various environments, including warehouses, showrooms, and corporate offices.

Better lighting contributes to improved visibility, employee well-being, and even customer satisfaction.

You’re Missing Out on Smart Lighting Features

If your current lighting system doesn’t include smart controls , you could be missing out on a host of energy-saving and convenience-enhancing features.

Today’s commercial lighting systems can be equipped with several high-end features and customizations.

Occupancy or vacancy sensors
Daylight harvesting controls
Scheduled timers
Zoned lighting control
Wireless management via apps or building systems

These features help ensure that your lights are only on when and where they’re needed. They also provide useful data for optimizing energy use and planning future upgrades.

In some buildings, advanced lighting systems are integrated into broader energy management or building automation systems (BAS), helping to drive even greater operational efficiency.

You Want to Meet Sustainability Goals or Compliance Standards

Sustainability is becoming a priority across industries, and lighting plays a key role. Whether your business is pursuing a LEED certification , aiming to reduce its carbon footprint, or preparing for stricter building codes, upgrading your lighting system can be a major step forward.

Energy-efficient building certifications
Compliance with ASHRAE, Title 24, and other codes
Lower greenhouse gas emissions
Employee and stakeholder expectations for environmental responsibility

Even if sustainability isn’t your top priority, meeting updated energy codes is often a requirement in permitting and inspections. A proactive lighting upgrade ensures you stay compliant and competitive.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Upgrading your commercial lighting system isn’t just about aesthetics or ticking a box—it’s a strategic investment in your facility’s performance, energy efficiency, and long-term cost savings.

If your current system is outdated, underperforming, or simply not meeting your business’s evolving needs, now is the time to consider a lighting retrofit or complete upgrade.

At Starbeam, we specialize in designing and installing energy-efficient, high-performance lighting systems tailored to your unique space and goals.

The post 5 Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Lighting System appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Qualifying for Commercial Lighting Rebates and Incentives

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:15:00 GMT

Energy efficiency has become a priority for many businesses, not only as a way to reduce operating costs but also to meet environmental goals.

One significant opportunity lies in upgrading commercial lighting systems.

Utility companies, government agencies, and energy efficiency programs offer various rebates and incentives to encourage such improvements.

Understanding how to qualify for these rebates can help businesses make informed decisions and maximize potential savings. Below is a comprehensive guide on how to navigate the process.

Understand the Types of Commercial Lighting Rebates

There are several types of commercial lighting rebates, and understanding the differences is crucial.

Prescriptive Rebates : These provide a set amount of money for specific lighting products. They are straightforward and based on a predefined list of qualifying equipment.
Custom Rebates : These are tailored to unique projects and often require pre-approval. Rebates are calculated based on the energy savings achieved compared to existing equipment.
Midstream or Instant Rebates : These are offered at the point of sale through participating distributors. The discount is applied instantly, reducing the upfront cost of qualifying products.
Performance-Based Incentives : These reward businesses based on actual energy savings over time rather than just the equipment installed.

Research Available Programs

The first step in qualifying is identifying what programs are available in your location. Rebate offerings vary widely depending on several factors, namely whether your area’s utility provider is currently offering rebates.

Geography : Utility companies and local governments determine what incentives are available, and these can differ from one region to another.
Utility Provider : Many utility companies administer their energy efficiency programs.
Business Type and Size : Some programs are tailored for small businesses, while others target industrial or institutional facilities.

You can start by visiting your utility provider’s website or using rebate search tools provided by the government or third-party platforms. State energy offices and the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) are also valuable resources.

Check Equipment Eligibility

Most rebate programs have strict requirements regarding the types of equipment that qualify. This often includes:

Energy Star or DLC Certification : Many programs require lighting products to be certified by the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) or ENERGY STAR .
Specific Technologies : LED technology is commonly incentivized due to its energy efficiency, but some programs may also cover advanced lighting controls or occupancy sensors.
Efficiency Ratings : Minimum efficacy (lumens per watt) and other performance criteria must be met.

Before purchasing or installing any equipment, verify that it meets the program’s eligibility criteria. The rebate program often provides product qualification lists.

Follow the Application Process

Each program has its application process, and attention to detail is essential.

Pre-Approval : Some rebates, especially custom or large-scale ones, require pre-approval before project implementation. This may involve submitting project plans, equipment specs, and projected energy savings.
Documentation : Keep detailed records of purchases, installation dates, and energy use data. Invoices, specification sheets, and photos may be required.
Inspections : Some programs may require a site inspection before and/or after installation to verify energy savings and equipment installation.

It’s essential to read the fine print and deadlines. Missing a step or submitting incomplete information can result in the rebate being denied.

Calculate Projected Savings

While not always required, calculating estimated energy savings can help justify your project and ensure it aligns with rebate requirements. These calculations often consider a number of factors.

Wattage Reduction : Comparing existing and new lighting power consumption.
Operating Hours : The number of hours the lights are in use daily or annually.
Control Systems : Incorporation of dimmers, timers, or motion sensors may enhance savings.

Some programs require detailed savings analysis, especially for custom incentives. In these cases, energy audits or consultation with a lighting professional may be beneficial.

Understand Program Timelines

Lighting rebate programs often have specific timelines you must adhere to.

Application Deadlines : Rebates may only be available for a limited time or have annual cycles.
Completion Deadlines : Projects must be completed within a certain timeframe after approval.
Rebate Issuance : Rebate payments may take weeks or months after submission and approval.

Being aware of these timelines ensures that the project remains eligible throughout the process.

Explore Bonus Incentives and Bundled Programs

Some programs offer bonus incentives for combining lighting upgrades with other energy efficiency improvements, such as HVAC or building automation systems. Bundled programs may also provide higher incentives for comprehensive retrofits rather than isolated upgrades.

In some cases, facilities may also qualify for tax deductions or credits through federal programs, which can be combined with local utility rebates.

Stay Informed of Program Updates

Rebate programs are subject to change. Funding levels, eligible technologies, and rebate amounts may shift periodically. Regularly checking for updates from your utility provider or program administrator can help you stay ahead and plan accordingly.

Work With Starbeam Lighting

Qualifying for commercial lighting rebates and incentives involves careful planning, research, and adherence to program guidelines.

By understanding the types of incentives available, confirming equipment eligibility, and following the proper application procedures, businesses can take advantage of opportunities to reduce costs and improve energy efficiency.

Staying informed and organized throughout the process will help ensure a smooth path to qualification and maximize the financial benefits of a lighting upgrade.

The post Qualifying for Commercial Lighting Rebates and Incentives appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Why Your Business Needs Smart Lighting Solutions

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 21:11:00 GMT

In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, efficiency and sustainability are more than buzzwords—they’re essential components of successful business operations.

One area often overlooked in this pursuit is commercial lighting. As companies strive to cut costs, reduce energy use, and create more productive environments, smart lighting has emerged as a game-changer.

But what exactly is smart lighting, and why should your business care?

What Is Smart Lighting?

Smart lighting refers to an advanced lighting system that allows businesses to control light fixtures remotely, automatically, or programmatically using sensors, timers, or mobile and cloud-based systems.

These systems often integrate with IoT (Internet of Things) platforms and can include a plethora of features.

Motion and occupancy sensors
Daylight harvesting (adjusting brightness based on natural light)
Automated schedules
Mobile or desktop control apps
Integration with HVAC, security, and building management systems

At the core, smart lighting replaces outdated lighting systems with LED fixtures. It combines them with intelligent controls to optimize usage, reduce waste, and enhance user experience.

Why Your Business Needs Smart Lighting

Whether you run a warehouse, retail store, corporate office, or multi-use facility, smart lighting delivers several compelling benefits.

Significant Energy Savings

Traditional lighting systems waste energy by staying on when there is no current need—for example, lights left on overnight or in unoccupied conference rooms.

Smart lighting addresses this problem by using sensors and scheduling features to turn lights off automatically when a space is unoccupied or when natural daylight is sufficient.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy , lighting accounts for up to 40% of a commercial building’s energy use. Innovative lighting solutions can reduce energy consumption by up to 70%, especially when combined with energy-efficient LED bulbs.

Lower Operational Costs

Lower energy use directly leads to lower utility bills, but the savings don’t stop there.

Intelligent lighting systems often have longer-lasting components, reducing the frequency and cost of maintenance. LEDs, for example, can last up to 50,000 hours or more compared to traditional incandescent or fluorescent lighting.

Additionally, many utility companies and governments offer rebates and incentives for businesses that upgrade to energy-efficient systems, helping offset the initial investment.

Improved Workplace Productivity

Lighting quality plays a vital role in employee comfort, focus, and overall well-being. Poor lighting can cause eye strain, fatigue, and decreased morale.

Smart lighting systems allow for dynamic control of brightness and color temperature, enabling businesses to tailor lighting conditions to suit the time of day or specific tasks.

Studies show that natural light and adaptive lighting can improve mood and productivity, making smart lighting a subtle yet powerful contributor to a better work environment.

Increased Safety and Security

Smart lighting contributes to a safer workplace by ensuring that areas are well-lit during occupancy and automatically dimmed or turned off when not in use.

Motion-activated lighting provides immediate illumination when needed in parking lots, stairwells, and emergency exits, reducing the risk of accidents and improving employee and visitor safety.

Additionally, smart lighting can integrate with security systems, enabling coordinated responses like increased lighting in areas triggered by alarms or motion detection.

Scalability and Flexibility

Intelligent lighting systems are highly scalable, making them ideal for businesses of all sizes.

Whether you operate a single location or multiple facilities across different regions, these systems can be controlled and monitored from a central dashboard.

The ability to remotely manage and reconfigure lighting schedules means your lighting adapts as your business changes — whether you reconfigure floor plans, expand operations, or move into a new building.

Sustainability and ESG Goals

Incorporating smart lighting into your facility contributes to your company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.

Reducing energy use and carbon emissions aligns with global sustainability initiatives. It can also enhance your public image with customers, investors, and stakeholders.

More companies are being evaluated on their environmental impact; implementing innovative lighting is a proactive way to reduce your carbon footprint and showcase your commitment to responsible business practices.

Is It Time to Upgrade Your Lighting?

While smart lighting can benefit nearly any business, it’s especially relevant in certain use cases.

Your facility still uses outdated fluorescent or halogen lighting
Your energy bills are higher than you’d like
You have large or complex spaces with varying lighting needs
You’re pursuing green building certifications like LEED or WELL
You want to future-proof your building with IoT-enabled systems

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Smart lighting isn’t just about turning lights on and off with your phone — it’s about transforming your commercial space into a more efficient, adaptive, and sustainable environment.

From energy savings to improved employee well-being, the benefits are too substantial to ignore; w ith the right partner by your side, you’ll have expert guidance every step of the way.

At Starbeam Lighting Solutions, our team of lighting experts will help you find the best solutions for your commercial space’s unique needs; c ontact us today to explore your options!

The post Why Your Business Needs Smart Lighting Solutions appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

How to Create a Lighting Maintenance Plan That Saves Money

Mon, 12 May 2025 17:21:00 GMT

Lighting is one of the most overlooked yet essential components in commercial spaces. From warehouses to office buildings, retail stores to manufacturing facilities, proper lighting impacts everything, from productivity and safety to energy consumption and aesthetics.

Installing a lighting system is only half the job, however. To keep it functioning efficiently and extend its lifespan, you need a strategic lighting maintenance plan.

Without proactive maintenance, your lighting system can drain your budget through unnecessary energy usage, emergency repairs, and frequent replacements.

In contrast, a well-designed lighting maintenance plan does more than reduce costs—it ensures your business operates safely, efficiently, and without unexpected disruptions.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to create a lighting maintenance plan that saves money, improves performance, and aligns with your business goals.

Why Lighting Maintenance Matters

Commercial lighting systems operate in high-demand environments. Over time, even the most durable systems suffer from wear and tear, resulting in numerous problems.

Diminished light output
Increased energy consumption
Premature equipment failure
Higher labor costs for unscheduled repairs
Safety and code compliance issues

The cost of neglect often outweighs the price of prevention. A planned, systematic approach keeps lighting systems running efficiently and reduces the likelihood of expensive problems.

Step 1: Start with a Lighting Audit

Before you create a maintenance plan, you need to understand your current setup.

A lighting audit assesses your current setup and identifies areas that need attention or improvement.

An effective audit includes several steps.

A complete inventory of fixtures and controls
The age and type of lamps and ballasts
Mounting heights and accessibility
Locations of high-usage or mission-critical lighting
Notes on any current issues (flickering, outages, outdated technology)

This data forms the foundation of your plan and helps identify whether upgrading to more energy-efficient technology, such as LEDs or smart lighting controls, might reduce long-term maintenance needs.

Step 2: Define Maintenance Goals

The goal of your lighting maintenance plan should be more than “replace bulbs when they burn out.” A truly cost-saving plan should aim to enhance the system across the board.

Maximize energy efficiency
Extend equipment life
Reduce emergency service calls
Improve light quality and consistency
Maintain compliance with codes and safety standards

Your goals should reflect your building’s usage and operational needs. For example, a 24/7 warehouse will require more frequent checks than a low-traffic administrative office.

Step 3: Implement Group “Re-lamping”

One of the most effective cost-saving strategies is “Group Re-lamping”—replacing all lamps in a specific area at once, rather than waiting for each to fail individually.

Lamps tend to fail around the same time, especially if installed together, and spot replacement leads to several issues.

Higher labor costs from multiple service calls
Inconsistent lighting levels across the space
More frequent disruptions to operations

Group re-lamping, on the other hand, will present your organization with several benefits.

- Reduces service trips
- Minimizes downtime
- Maintains consistent light levels
- Allows for bulk purchasing, lowering material costs
Plan group re-lamping intervals based on the rated lamp life, taking into account hours of usage and environmental conditions

Step 4: Schedule Regular Inspections

Like any mechanical system, lighting benefits from routine inspection. Include scheduled visual and functional checks in your plan to catch minor issues before they become costly.

Inspection Items Should Include

Burnt-out bulbs
Flickering or dim lights
Dirty or damaged lenses and reflectors
Corroded or loose fixtures
Malfunctioning motion sensors or dimmers

Use a checklist and log each inspection to monitor trends and recurring issues; this data will help you refine your plan over time.

Step 5: Clean and Maintain Fixtures

Dust, dirt, and grime can significantly reduce the output of lighting systems by up to 30% in some cases.

Regular cleaning of fixtures, lenses, and reflectors not only improves performance but also extends component life.

Depending on your facility’s environment, include fixture cleaning in your plan every 6 to 12 months. High ceilings, production areas, and outdoor lighting may require more frequent attention.

Step 6: Budget for Repairs and Replacements

Unplanned repairs are typically more expensive than scheduled maintenance.

Set aside a portion of your maintenance budget for replacing failed drivers, sensors, or damaged fixtures before they impact operations.

Also, consider setting a threshold for proactive replacement. For example, if a fixture has required repair more than twice in a year, it may be more cost-effective to replace it with a newer, more efficient model.

Step 7: Upgrade Strategically

If your audit revealed outdated or inefficient lighting systems, work on equipment upgrades in your long-term plan.

LED retrofits, smart controls, and energy-efficient ballasts reduce both operating and maintenance costs.

Many upgrades qualify for utility rebates or tax incentives, further improving ROI. Even replacing traditional fixtures with LED can reduce maintenance frequency by up to 80%.

Step 8: Partner with a Professional Lighting Service

Finally, partnering with a qualified commercial lighting company is one of the best ways to save money and ensure consistent lighting performance.

Professional service providers can help with any or all of your lighting requirements.

Conduct the initial audit
Create and manage your maintenance schedule
Offer group relamping and cleaning services
Provide access to rebates, discounts, and product warranties
Respond quickly to emergencies

A good partner takes the burden off your team, ensures compliance, and helps you plan smartly for future growth.

Give Starbeam Lighting Solutions A Call

A lighting maintenance plan isn’t just about fixing broken lights—it’s about building a proactive strategy that saves money, protects your investment, and supports your facility’s productivity and safety.

By conducting an audit, scheduling regular upkeep, and planning for group relamping and upgrades, your business can cut costs and avoid avoidable disruptions.

And, with the right partner by your side, you’ll have expert guidance every step of the way.

Our team of lighting experts will help you find the best solutions for your commercial space’s unique needs.

The post How to Create a Lighting Maintenance Plan That Saves Money appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

How Updated Lighting Aids in Accident Prevention

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 19:37:00 GMT

We often discuss the benefits of upgrading your commercial lighting to LED technology; when you switch, your property will improve aesthetics and save energy costs.

However, one benefit we don’t discuss as often is how commercial lighting upgrades can aid accident prevention.

Whether your property is a warehouse, a retail store, an office building, or any other type of commercial building, updating your lighting systems can help minimize injuries, accidents, and mishaps.

Outdoor Lighting Lowers The Risk of Falls

At best, an employee or customer tripping outside of your building is a bad way to start their day, and at worst, it’s an injury and a potential legal issue.

Commercial building owners should map out all the ways visitors enter the building. Then, consider each pathway: Do you have ample lighting around it and any directional signs?

LED bollards or pathway lights are great for your outdoor lighting setup. Consider using motion-censored lights around the exterior of the building, which can save energy and even deter trespassers.

Helps Prevent Parking Lot Accidents

Parking lots are some of the most common places for accidents involving vehicles and people.

When lighting is dim or nonexistent, visitors may fail to see the parking lot striping or signage and get in an accident. In the Midwest, we also know our volatile weather can cause icy conditions or potholes in the asphalt.

Visitors may trip and fall on such hazards when the lot doesn’t feature appropriate illumination.

Upgrading the lighting in your parking lot is a big undertaking, but it will be worthwhile for your customers and employees.

Lowers the Risk of Electrical Fires

Outdated lighting can be a major contributor to electrical failures and fires.

Common lighting issues in commercial buildings include outdated wiring, circuit overloading, or damaged fixtures. Unfortunately, these issues and loose plugs can be the culprit for an electrical fire or other damage.

Commercial building owners should evaluate their current lighting choices and inspect wiring often. When they upgrade their lighting, they can ensure that the new wiring is sound and meets all safety requirements.

Indoor Lighting Helps in the Fight Against Slips and Trips

Like exterior lighting, interior lighting helps to keep everyone safe from hazards.

Parking garages, stairwells, narrow hallways, and around machinery or equipment are common places inside buildings where slips, trips, and falls can occur.

Switching to LED fixtures for interior spaces will ensure that these areas are safer visibility-wise. Property owners should also decide whether to add additional fixtures beyond what they upgrade. Lighting control systems and motion-sensor lights can also be valuable investments.

Emergency Lighting is Crucial During High-Stress Situations

High-stress situations such as severe weather or power failures call for quick thinking and vigilance to keep everyone safe.

Commercial building owners should familiarize themselves with their backup power and emergency lights. Running safety drills and practicing evacuations is also key so employees know what to do in an emergency.

If the team isn’t prepared, chaos can ensue, leading to further accidents.

The bottom line is to ensure your building is ready for emergencies, big or small!

Catch Structural Damage or Other Issues Sooner

Outdated and dim lighting can hide structural issues or mishaps for specific building types.

For instance, an older building may have some utility closets with dim lighting that have faced neglect over the years. Say there was a material spill, water damage to the wall, or even mold growth in the closet – but without proper lighting, the building owner and maintenance team have missed these signs.

While these occurrences may not happen at the structural level, proper illumination encourages clean spaces. Your team and your visitors will appreciate knowing the space is clean and safe.

Connect with Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Whether you want to upgrade the lighting systems in your commercial building or have a general lighting question, our team is here to help!

If you’re ready to optimize your lighting system and start saving on energy costs, contact our team today for a professional lighting assessment.

Our team of lighting experts will help you find the best solutions for your commercial space’s unique needs!

The post How Updated Lighting Aids in Accident Prevention appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

The True Cost of Outdated Lighting – Why Upgrading to LED Makes Financial Sense

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 19:00:00 GMT

Lighting is essential to any commercial space, impacting everything from employee productivity to operational costs. However, many businesses still rely on outdated lighting technologies like incandescent, fluorescent, or HID (high-intensity discharge) lights.

While these older lighting systems may seem functional, they come with hidden costs that can drain your budget over time. Switching to LED lighting is a wise investment that offers immediate and long-term financial benefits.

Discover why upgrading your lighting makes financial sense.

High Energy Consumption Equals High Utility Bills

Traditional lighting sources consume significantly more energy than modern LED technology.

Incandescent bulbs, for example, convert most of their energy into heat rather than light, leading to inefficiency and excessive energy use.

While more efficient than incandescent bulbs, fluorescent and HID lighting still consume more power than LEDs.

LED Savings

LEDs use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs.
LEDs reduce energy consumption by 50% or more than traditional fluorescents and HID lights.
Lower wattage requirements mean significantly reduced electricity costs, making a noticeable impact on monthly utility bills.

Frequent Maintenance Costs Add Up

Older lighting systems require regular maintenance, including bulb replacements and fixture servicing.

Incandescent and fluorescent bulbs burn out frequently, and HID lamps require expensive ballast replacements over time; this leads to ongoing maintenance expenses and labor costs, especially in commercial settings where large numbers of lights are in use.

LED Savings

LED bulbs last up to 50,000 hours or more, compared to 1,000-2,000 hours for incandescent bulbs and 10,000-15,000 hours for fluorescents.
Reduced maintenance costs mean fewer disruptions to business operations.
Lower replacement frequency leads to savings in labor and materials.

Cooling Costs Increase with Inefficient Lighting

Traditional lighting systems, especially incandescent and HID bulbs, generate excessive heat.

This excess heat forces your air conditioning systems to work harder to maintain a comfortable indoor environment, increasing cooling and energy costs.

LED Savings

LEDs produce very little heat compared to traditional bulbs.
Lower heat emissions reduce the strain on HVAC systems, leading to lower cooling costs.
Improved temperature control enhances workplace comfort and energy efficiency.

Poor Lighting Quality Impacts Productivity and Safety

Outdated lighting often results in dim, flickering, or uneven lighting, negatively affecting workplace productivity and safety.

Poor lighting conditions lead to eye strain, fatigue, and reduced alertness, especially in offices and industrial settings. Flickering fluorescent lights can also cause headaches and discomfort for employees.

LED Benefits

LEDs provide consistent, high-quality illumination with no flickering.
Tunable LED options allow for adjustable brightness and color temperature to enhance comfort.
Improved visibility enhances workplace safety, reducing the risk of accidents and errors.

Missed Opportunities for Energy Rebates and Incentives

Many local governments and utility companies offer rebates and incentives for businesses that upgrade to energy-efficient lighting. Companies that delay upgrading to LEDs may miss valuable financial assistance.

LED Savings

Many energy providers offer rebates that can offset initial LED installation costs.
Businesses that make energy-efficient upgrades may qualify for tax deductions and sustainability credits.
With savings and incentives, the return on investment (ROI) for LED upgrades is often realized within 1-3 years.

The Hidden Environmental Costs of Outdated Lighting

Beyond direct financial costs, outdated lighting systems contribute to environmental degradation. Fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, which poses disposal hazards. High energy consumption also contributes to a larger carbon footprint.

LED Benefits

LEDs are mercury-free and environmentally friendly.
Reduced energy consumption lowers overall carbon emissions.
A longer lifespan means fewer bulbs end up in landfills.

The Cost of Delaying an LED Upgrade

Your business incurs unnecessary expenses every month by continuing to use outdated lighting. The cumulative cost of high energy bills, maintenance, and lost productivity far outweighs the initial investment required to switch to LEDs.

Key Takeaway

While the upfront cost of LED installation may seem significant, the long-term financial savings make it a cost-effective and profitable investment.
Delaying an upgrade means missing out on immediate savings and potential rebates.

Work With Starbeam Lighting

By investing in an LED upgrade now, businesses can benefit from lower operating costs, reduced environmental impact, and improved workplace lighting quality.

Don’t wait until outdated lighting becomes costly—switch today and start seeing the benefits immediately.

If you’re ready to optimize your lighting system and start saving on energy costs, contact our team today for a professional lighting assessment.

Our team of lighting experts will help you find the best solutions for your commercial space’s unique needs!

The post The True Cost of Outdated Lighting – Why Upgrading to LED Makes Financial Sense appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Commercial Lighting and Energy-Saving Tips for 2025

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 20:00:00 GMT

As energy efficiency becomes a top priority for businesses in 2025, commercial lighting is crucial in reducing energy consumption and operational costs.

With technological advancements, companies have more options to enhance their lighting systems while saving money and contributing to sustainability efforts.

Let’s explore the most effective commercial lighting and energy-saving strategies for 2025 to help your business optimize efficiency and lower expenses.

Upgrading to LED Lighting

Switching to LED lighting is one of the simplest and most impactful ways to reduce energy consumption. LEDs remain the most efficient lighting option, offering several benefits for your organization.

Higher Efficiency: LEDs use less energy than traditional incandescent or fluorescent bulbs.
Longer Lifespan: Modern LED bulbs last up to 50,000 hours or more, reducing maintenance costs.
Better Light Quality: Improved color rendering and customizable brightness make LEDs ideal for different commercial settings.

If your business still relies on outdated lighting, transitioning to LED fixtures can yield an impressive return on investment through reduced electricity bills and fewer replacements.

Implementing Smart Lighting Controls

Beyond upgrading to LEDs, implementing smart lighting controls can maximize energy efficiency. These systems optimize lighting usage by adapting to real-time needs. Several innovative products on the market offer key solutions.

Motion Sensors and Occupancy-Based Lighting: These systems automatically turn lights off when unoccupied spaces, reducing waste.
Daylight Harvesting: Sensors detect natural light levels and adjust artificial lighting accordingly to maintain ideal brightness without unnecessary energy consumption.
Automated Scheduling: Smart lighting can be programmed to operate based on business hours, peak usage times, and seasonal daylight variations.

These controls ensure that lighting is only used when necessary, helping businesses reduce energy expenditures.

Leveraging Advanced Lighting Control Systems

Incorporating advanced lighting control systems integrating IoT (Internet of Things) and building management systems (BMS) allows for even more significant energy savings and benefits.

Remote Monitoring and Adjustments: Businesses can control lighting settings from a central dashboard or mobile apps.
Wireless Solutions: Wireless lighting controls make installations more manageable and cost-effective by eliminating extensive wiring.
Adaptive Dimming: AI-driven algorithms can adjust lighting levels dynamically based on usage patterns, further optimizing energy consumption.

While these are some of the more significant benefits, the amount is endless. By integrating lighting with overall building automation, businesses can create a seamless, energy-efficient work environment.

Choosing Energy-Efficient Fixtures

The type of fixtures used in a commercial space significantly impacts overall energy consumption. Some of the best choices for different environments include:

High-Bay LEDs: Ideal for warehouses and large industrial spaces due to their high output and efficiency.
Low-Glare Fixtures: Offices benefit from fixtures that reduce eye strain while providing adequate illumination.
Retail Display Lighting: Energy-efficient track and spot lighting enhance product displays while minimizing energy use.

Selecting fixtures tailored to specific business needs ensures optimal lighting performance and energy conservation.

Regular Maintenance and Upkeep

Even the most energy-efficient lighting systems require regular maintenance to sustain performance. For the best results, businesses should implement the following practices.

Routine Cleaning: Dust and debris can reduce fixture efficiency, so regular cleaning helps maintain brightness levels.
Scheduled Inspections: Periodic audits can identify malfunctioning bulbs, outdated components, or areas that could achieve additional energy savings.
Timely Replacements: Upgrading older fixtures before they fail ensures continuous energy savings without unexpected downtime.

Preventive maintenance keeps lighting systems operating at peak efficiency, reducing energy waste and long-term costs.

Taking Advantage of Energy Rebates and Incentives

Many businesses overlook the financial incentives available for upgrading to energy-efficient lighting. In 2025, various federal, state, and utility rebate programs can help offset the initial investment of new lighting systems. There are several key steps you can take to maximize your potential savings.

Researching Available Programs: Businesses should check local and national rebate programs before upgrading.
Ensuring Compliance: Lighting upgrades must meet specific energy efficiency standards to qualify for rebates.
Working with Experts: Professional lighting consultants can help navigate rebate applications and optimize system upgrades for maximum savings.

Taking advantage of these programs makes it more affordable to transition to energy-efficient lighting solutions.

Future Trends in Commercial Lighting for Energy Savings

The commercial lighting industry continues evolving with new energy-saving technology advancements. Some of these emerging trends include:

AI-Driven Energy Optimization: Artificial intelligence will refine lighting automation in real-time, adapting to usage patterns.
Solar-Powered Lighting Solutions: Businesses will increasingly integrate solar energy into their lighting systems to reduce reliance on the electrical grid.
Stricter Efficiency Standards: New regulations may push businesses to adopt more energy-efficient lighting solutions to comply with sustainability goals.

Staying ahead of these trends will help businesses remain competitive while continuously improving energy efficiency.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Upgrading to energy-efficient commercial lighting in 2025 is more than just a cost-saving measure—it’s a wise investment in sustainability, productivity, and long-term operational efficiency.

If you’re ready to optimize your lighting system and start saving on energy costs, contact our team today for a professional lighting assessment.

Our team of lighting experts will help you find the best solutions for your commercial space’s unique needs!

The post Commercial Lighting and Energy-Saving Tips for 2025 appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

A Guide to Commercial Lighting Safety for Property Owners

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 19:00:00 GMT

Lighting is an essential component of any commercial property.

A well-designed lighting system is indispensable for illuminating workspaces and enhancing security.

However, neglecting lighting safety can lead to severe consequences, including electrical fires, injuries, and costly property damage.

This guide will help property owners understand the importance of lighting safety and how to prevent common hazards.

Electrical Fires

One of the most significant risks associated with commercial lighting is electrical fires. Faulty wiring, outdated fixtures, and improper installations are frequent culprits.

Non-certified lighting products can exacerbate these risks, as they may not meet safety standards. Property owners should prioritize high-quality, certified lighting products and ensure licensed professionals perform installations.

Overheating and Heat Buildup

Improper placement of light fixtures or using the wrong bulbs can lead to overheating.

Heat buildup, especially in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas, can damage fixtures and increase fire risk.

Ensuring fixtures are installed in well-ventilated locations and using energy-efficient options like LEDs can mitigate this hazard.

Electrical Shocks and Injuries

Inadequate grounding, exposed wiring, or DIY installations can result in electrical shocks and injuries.

Commercial lighting systems often involve high voltages, making safety precautions even more critical. Partnering with a professional lighting installer minimizes these risks and ensures systems comply with local safety codes.

Choosing the Right Fixtures

Energy efficiency and safety should go hand in hand when selecting lighting fixtures.

LED lights, for example, produce less heat and consume less energy, making them safer and more cost-effective options.

Always look for certification labels such as UL Listed or ETL Listed to ensure that products meet safety standards.

Avoiding Overloaded Circuits

Overloading electrical circuits with too many devices is a common cause of malfunctions and fires. Proper electrical planning is essential when upgrading or installing new lighting systems.

Circuit protection devices, like circuit breakers and surge protectors, can further enhance safety.

Hiring a Licensed Electrician or Lighting Professional

Professional installation is a cornerstone of lighting safety.

Licensed electricians have the expertise to ensure the proper lighting installation and follow all local regulations.

While cost-saving in the short term, DIY installations can lead to expensive and dangerous outcomes if mistakes happen.

Routine Inspections and Maintenance

Like any other building system, lighting requires regular maintenance to remain safe and functional.

Inspections should focus on identifying faulty wiring, overheating fixtures, and signs of wear and tear.

Promptly addressing these issues can prevent minor problems from escalating into significant safety hazards.

Reducing Energy Use and Risks with Controls

Lighting control systems not only enhance energy efficiency but also reduce safety risks.

Automated controls, such as motion sensors and timers, prevent lights from being left on unnecessarily, reducing the risk of overheating and energy waste.

Remote Monitoring and Alerts

Modern lighting control systems offer advanced features like remote monitoring and alerts. These systems can detect anomalies, such as heat surges or electrical faults, and notify property owners immediately.

Quick response to such alerts can prevent accidents and minimize damage.

Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs

Emergency lighting and illuminated exit signs are critical for safe evacuation during emergencies.

Regular testing and maintenance are vital to ensure these systems correctly function when needed.

You should also test backup power sources periodically, such as batteries or generators, to guarantee reliability.

Taking Advantage of Lighting Rebates

Upgrading to energy-efficient lighting not only improves safety but can also qualify property owners for rebates and incentives.

Many utility companies offer programs that offset the cost of energy-efficient upgrades, making it easier to invest in safer, more sustainable lighting systems.

Reducing Risks Through Upgrades

Modern lighting technologies, such as LEDs and advanced controls, offer significant safety benefits. They reduce heat output, lower energy consumption, and provide longer lifespans, minimizing the need for frequent maintenance and replacement.

Connect With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Lighting safety is critical to maintaining a secure and functional commercial property. Don’t wait for an accident to happen — be proactive and take maintenance seriously.

Invest in the right lighting solutions today and experience the positive impact they can have on your business. Contact us today!

The post A Guide to Commercial Lighting Safety for Property Owners appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Create an Inviting Atmosphere and Highlight Products with Retail Lighting

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 17:43:00 GMT

Lighting plays a critical role in a retail store’s success. It’s more than just a way to illuminate the space; it’s a tool to create an inviting atmosphere, guide customers through the store, and highlight products in a way that drives sales.

Understanding and delivering effective lighting solutions tailored to retail spaces can make all the difference for small commercial lighting companies’ clients.

Here’s a closer look at how to design lighting solutions that transform retail spaces into welcoming and profitable environments.

Why Lighting Matters in Retail

The right lighting design can enhance customers’ shopping experience, influencing their mood and purchase decisions. Studies show shoppers are drawn to well-lit spaces where products are showcased attractively.

Conversely, poor lighting can make a store feel uninviting, causing customers to leave quickly or overlook key items.

In retail, lighting serves multiple purposes:

Creating a welcoming atmosphere encourages customers to spend more time in the store.
Directing attention to specific areas or products, helping customers navigate the space.
Showcasing merchandise in the best light, literally and figuratively.
Reflecting the brand’s identity through the store’s overall ambiance.

Types of Retail Lighting and Their Roles

A comprehensive lighting solution for retail stores often combines different lighting types for a pleasing overall aesthetic.

Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting provides the foundational illumination for the entire store. It should be bright enough to create a comfortable environment but not overpowering.

Retailers can achieve ambient lighting with overhead fixtures like recessed, track, or pendant lights.

A warm and soft ambient light for a small boutique might enhance coziness, while a modern electronics store might benefit from cooler tones for a sleek and futuristic vibe.

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is essential for highlighting specific products, displays, or architectural features.

Spotlights, track, and LED strip lights draw attention to best-sellers, new arrivals, or promotional items.

For example:

A clothing store can use accent lighting to highlight mannequins or featured outfits.
A jewelry store might employ focused beams to make gemstones sparkle and shine.

Task Lighting

Task lighting supports specific activities like checkout counters, fitting rooms, or stock areas.

Bright, shadow-free lighting ensures staff and customers can see clearly and operate efficiently. Adjustable fixtures or LED panels work well in these areas.

Decorative Lighting

Decorative lighting adds personality and complements the store’s branding.

Chandeliers, pendant lights, or neon signs can double as statement pieces while enhancing the overall aesthetic.

For example, a trendy café selling branded merchandise could use warm Edison bulbs to create a cozy, Instagram-worthy vibe.

Designing Lighting to Create an Inviting Atmosphere

Creating an inviting atmosphere involves balancing different types of lighting to match the store’s identity and target audience.

Warm and Welcoming Entrances

The entrance sets the tone for a customer’s shopping experience. Use bright and inviting lighting to make the entrance noticeable from a distance.

Consider decorative fixtures or illuminated signage to communicate the store’s branding.

Layered Lighting for Depth and Comfort

Layering different types of lighting—ambient, accent, and decorative—adds depth and interest to the space. This technique prevents flat, one-dimensional lighting, which can feel uninspired or harsh.

Color Temperature to Match Mood and Merchandise

The color temperature of lighting impacts how a space feels.

Warm white lights (2700K–3000K) create a cozy and intimate environment, ideal for boutique stores or home décor retailers.

Cool white lights (4000K–5000K) are better suited for stores selling electronics or appliances, as they convey cleanliness and precision.

Highlighting Products to Drive Sales

Effective lighting ensures that products are the stars of the show. Here are some strategies for making merchandise irresistible.

Spotlighting for Key Items

Position spotlights on displays, new arrivals, or high-margin items to draw immediate attention. Adjustable track lighting systems are particularly effective, allowing retailers to reconfigure the focus as inventory changes.

Lighting Shelves and Racks

Under-shelf or backlighting can make products on shelves pop, especially in darker areas of the store. This technique is popular in grocery stores, beauty boutiques, and bookstores to make browsing more manageable and appealing.

Enhancing Colors and Textures

The proper lighting enhances the true colors and textures of products. High Color Rendering Index (CRI) lighting is crucial for stores selling fashion, cosmetics, or art, where accurate color representation is a top priority.

Creating Focal Points

Use lighting to create focal points that guide customers through the store. For example, brighter lights at the back of the store can subtly draw people further in, maximizing exposure to more products.

Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

Incorporating energy-efficient lighting solutions, such as LEDs, benefits the retailer and the environment. LEDs consume less energy, last longer, and offer color temperature and brightness versatility.

Encourage clients to adopt smart lighting controls, such as dimmers or motion sensors, to optimize energy use further and reduce costs.

The Role of a Professional Lighting Company

A professional lighting company can transform a retail space by designing tailored solutions that meet the store’s needs and brand identity.

Partnering with a lighting expert ensures the fixtures look incredible and comply with safety and efficiency standards.

Give Starbeam Lighting Solutions a Call

Lighting is a powerful tool in retail design. It influences customer behavior, elevates the shopping experience, and drives sales.

By creating an inviting atmosphere and effectively highlighting products, retail stores can turn casual browsers into loyal customers.

Invest in the right lighting solutions today and experience the positive impact they can have on your business. Contact us today!

The post Create an Inviting Atmosphere and Highlight Products with Retail Lighting appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Lighting Regulations and Compliance for Commercial Buildings

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 19:00:00 GMT

Lighting plays a crucial role in commercial buildings, impacting safety, energy consumption, and the overall environment of a workspace.

However, achieving the proper lighting setup in a commercial space involves more than just picking fixtures and bulbs. Business owners and facility managers must navigate various lighting regulations and standards to ensure their lighting systems are safe, energy-efficient, and compliant with local codes.

This blog explains key lighting regulations and compliance requirements, providing insights into how they impact commercial building projects and why adherence is essential.

The Importance of Lighting Compliance in Commercial Spaces

Lighting regulations help ensure lighting systems are efficient, safe, and sustainable.

Compliance helps businesses avoid penalties and offers benefits such as energy savings, reduced environmental impact, and improved safety and comfort for employees and visitors. Adhering to these regulations can also impact a company’s reputation, as it shows a commitment to best practices in safety and environmental stewardship.

For commercial property owners, understanding and implementing lighting standards is essential to creating a safe and efficient workspace.

Key Lighting Regulations for Commercial Buildings

Energy Codes and Standards

Energy codes set requirements for the energy efficiency of lighting systems and aim to reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings.

These standards focus on limiting the amount of power used for lighting and encourage the adoption of energy-saving technologies like LED lighting, intelligent controls, and daylight integration.

Below are some of the most prominent energy codes that affect commercial lighting.

ASHRAE 90.1

Developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), ASHRAE 90.1 is a widely adopted standard that sets building energy efficiency requirements. It includes lighting power density (LPD), lighting controls, and daylighting provisions.

ASHRAE 90.1 is periodically updated to incorporate new technologies and strategies, so compliance often involves staying current with the latest version.

International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

The IECC is another widely recognized energy code that provides guidelines for energy efficiency in commercial buildings.

This code outlines maximum lighting power densities and mandates the use of lighting controls, such as occupancy sensors and dimmers, to minimize wasted energy.

Title 24 (California)

Title 24 is California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards, which set specific guidelines for designing and installing lighting in commercial buildings. It is known for its stringent energy-saving requirements, especially for lighting controls and daylight integration.

Even if your business doesn’t operate in California, Title 24 can be a useful benchmark, as many other states adopt similar standards based on its principles.

Compliance with these energy codes ensures that a building’s lighting system consumes less power, which can lead to lower utility bills and a reduced carbon footprint. Moreover, it may qualify the business for rebates or tax incentives for using energy-efficient technology.

Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHA)

Safety is a top priority in any commercial setting, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has several standards regarding workplace lighting.

OSHA’s requirements mainly focus on ensuring adequate lighting levels, especially in high-risk environments.

Illuminance Levels

OSHA has specific requirements for minimum lighting levels in workplaces, depending on the tasks performed.

For example, general office spaces require lower illuminance levels than areas where detailed tasks, such as assembly or inspection work, are conducted.

By meeting OSHA’s lighting standards, commercial buildings create a safer work environment, reducing eye strain and the risk of accidents.

Emergency and Exit Lighting

OSHA also mandates that commercial buildings have adequate emergency and exit lighting to ensure safe evacuation during emergencies.

This lighting must be battery-backed or connected to a generator to remain functional during power outages. Regular maintenance and testing of emergency lighting are also required to ensure it is operational when needed.

Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Standards

The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) sets guidelines recommending lighting levels, distribution, and color rendering for various commercial environments.

IES standards, such as RP-1 (for office lighting) and RP-6 (for industrial lighting), provide best practices for lighting design that enhance comfort and visibility in commercial settings. Although adherence to IES standards is not typically mandatory by law, they are widely regarded in the industry and often referenced in building codes and energy standards.

By following IES guidelines, commercial property owners can create effective and efficient lighting systems that enhance the space’s usability and support occupant well-being.

National Electrical Code (NEC)

The National Electrical Code (NEC) governs the electrical wiring and equipment installation in commercial buildings, including lighting systems.

Administered by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the NEC covers electrical safety aspects, such as wiring, fixture installation, grounding, and overcurrent protection.

Compliance with the NEC helps prevent electrical hazards, including fires and shocks and ensures that lighting systems are safe to operate. Local building inspectors typically check for NEC compliance during a project’s permitting and inspection phases.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires commercial buildings to be accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Although the ADA does not explicitly regulate lighting, it does affect how lighting is designed and installed in certain areas, such as hallways, ramps, and emergency exits.

Lighting fixtures must be mounted at appropriate heights to avoid obstructing pathways, and controls should be placed within reach to ensure accessibility.

Benefits of Compliance with Lighting Standards

Enhanced Safety

Adhering to lighting safety standards minimizes the risk of workplace accidents, improving the safety of employees and visitors.

Energy and Cost Savings

Compliance with energy codes often involves using energy-efficient lighting, which can lead to significant cost savings on energy bills and may even make businesses eligible for incentives.

Environmental Impact

By using energy-efficient lighting systems and reducing unnecessary energy consumption, businesses can lessen their environmental footprint, aligning with sustainability goals.

Improved Building Marketability

Buildings that comply with lighting regulations and keep energy-efficient design in mind can attract tenants and buyers looking for modern, sustainable, and safe commercial spaces.

Collaborate With Starbeam Lighting

Navigating lighting regulations for commercial buildings can be challenging, but compliance is essential for creating a safe, efficient, and sustainable environment.

By understanding and implementing key standards like ASHRAE 90.1, OSHA requirements, and the NEC, commercial building owners can ensure their lighting systems are up to code.

Invest in the right lighting solutions today and experience the positive impact they can have on your business. Contact us today!

The post Lighting Regulations and Compliance for Commercial Buildings appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

A Guide to Setting Up a Greenhouse

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 21:14:00 GMT

Setting up a commercial greenhouse can be a game-changer for businesses interested in maximizing plant growth, extending growing seasons, and optimizing yields.

Whether you’re cultivating food, ornamental plants, or cannabis, a well-designed greenhouse provides the controlled environment needed to thrive.

In this guide, we’ll explore the essential elements of setting up a commercial greenhouse and how to make informed choices to ensure success.

Understanding Your Greenhouse Goals

Before diving into the specifics of greenhouse setup, it’s essential to understand your goals. Are you growing vegetables, flowers, or cannabis?

Each type of plant has unique requirements that will affect your decisions throughout the process. By clearly defining your purpose, you can determine the best structure, equipment, and processes to meet your needs.

For example, growing leafy greens may require a different temperature range and light intensity than flowering plants like cannabis.

Understanding these specific needs will allow you to plan effectively and maximize yield and quality.

Selecting the Right Location

The location of your greenhouse is crucial for its efficiency and productivity. Choosing the right site will significantly impact the greenhouse’s ability to capture natural sunlight, maintain a stable environment, and remain accessible for operations.

Consider factors such as sunlight exposure throughout the day, access to utilities like water and electricity, and zoning regulations in your area. A location with good sunlight can reduce the need for supplemental lighting, while easy access to utilities makes it easier to manage your systems efficiently.

Choosing the Greenhouse Structure

Greenhouse structures come in various forms, each suited to different climates and growing needs. The most common types include:

Glass Greenhouses: These structures are known for their high light transmission and are ideal for regions with cooler climates. They can, however, be more expensive and require careful maintenance.
Polycarbonate Greenhouses: These are durable and provide good insulation, making them a popular choice for many commercial growers. They also diffuse light, which can help prevent hot spots and promote even growth.
Polyethylene Greenhouses: These are more affordable and provide growers with flexibility. Polyethylene film is replaceable, making it an economical choice for areas where cost is a significant concern.

Choosing the proper structure depends on your budget, climate, and the type of plants you intend to grow.

For cannabis cultivation, for example, insulation and precise environmental control are often priorities, making polycarbonate a popular option.

Environmental Control Systems

One of the primary benefits of a greenhouse is the ability to create a stable environment for your plants. You need effective temperature, humidity, and CO2 control systems to achieve this.

Temperature Control: Heaters and cooling systems, including fans and vents, maintain an optimal temperature range. Automated thermostats can help achieve consistency, which is essential for plant growth.
Humidity Control: Plants thrive in environments with specific humidity levels, and high and low humidity can pose challenges. Using dehumidifiers and misters can help maintain balance.
CO2 Levels: Increasing CO2 can enhance plant growth, especially in crops like cannabis. For safe and effective use, CO2 supplementation should be monitored and automated.

Lighting Setup

Lighting is one of the most critical aspects of a commercial greenhouse, especially for plant species that require supplemental light for optimal growth.

LED, HPS, and Fluorescent Lights: LED lights are popular for their energy efficiency and ability to provide specific light spectrums tailored to plant needs. High-pressure sodium (HPS) lights are often used for flowering stages, while fluorescent lights are optimal for seedlings.
Choosing the Right Lighting: The type of lighting depends on the plant species and growth stage. Cannabis, for example, requires intense light during flowering, making LEDs or HPS lights ideal for this purpose. To make the best choice, consider your lighting options’ energy efficiency and spectrum control capabilities.
Lighting Installation Tips: To achieve even light distribution, ensure proper spacing and height of fixtures. Utilize reflectors to minimize light loss and maximize energy use. Using smart timers and sensors can help automate the lighting schedule, optimizing energy use and plant growth.

Irrigation and Nutrient Delivery

A proper irrigation system ensures that your plants receive consistent moisture, which is crucial for their health and productivity. Some standard systems include:

Drip Irrigation: This system provides water directly to the roots, minimizing waste and ensuring each plant receives the right amount of moisture.
Hydroponic Systems: Growing without soil allows plants to absorb nutrients more efficiently. It’s popular for commercial greenhouses, especially with cannabis and leafy greens.
Nutrient Delivery: Maintaining the correct nutrient balance is essential for healthy plants. Automated nutrient delivery systems can provide the precise mix needed at each growth stage.

Ensuring Compliance with Regulations

Setting up a commercial greenhouse, especially for cannabis cultivation, requires regulatory requirements—research local regulations regarding greenhouse construction, zoning, and licensing.

Cannabis cultivation often requires specific licenses and adherence to strict safety and security standards. Ensuring compliance from the beginning can save time and prevent costly delays.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Setting up a commercial greenhouse is an exciting venture that requires careful planning and attention to detail. Each step contributes to creating an environment where plants can flourish.

Whether growing vegetables, flowers, or cannabis, the proper greenhouse setup will help you achieve the desired productivity and quality.

Invest in the right lighting solutions today and experience the positive impact they can have on your business. Contact us today!

The post A Guide to Setting Up a Greenhouse appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

A Guide to Emergency and Exit Lighting Commercial Properties

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 18:13:00 GMT

Emergency and exit lighting are critical components of commercial properties. They play a vital role in ensuring the safety of occupants during emergencies such as power outages, fires, or natural disasters.

Properly functioning emergency lighting systems help guide individuals safely out of a building, minimize panic, and comply with safety regulations.

Understanding the requirements and standards for emergency and exit lighting is essential for business owners, property managers, and facility operators.

This article explores the critical safety standards, the importance of reliable systems, and best practices for maintaining emergency lighting in commercial properties.

Why Emergency and Exit Lighting is Essential

Emergency lighting provides illumination during emergencies when the main power supply is cut, ensuring occupants can safely exit the building. This lighting includes exit signs, emergency lights, and backup systems that automatically activate when power fails.

The presence of emergency lighting reduces confusion and panic, provides clear guidance to exits, and helps prevent injuries during evacuations.

Exit lighting specifically illuminates exit paths and doors, highlighting the safest route out of a building. Both emergency and exit lighting systems are not just recommended safety features; they are legally required in most commercial properties.

Regulatory Standards for Emergency and Exit Lighting

Various building codes, fire safety standards, and regulatory bodies govern emergency and exit lighting requirements. Key regulations include:

NFPA 101 Life Safety Code : This code, established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), outlines specific requirements for emergency lighting in commercial buildings.

This code mandates that emergency lights provide at least one foot-candle of illumination (approximately 10.8 lux) along exit routes for a minimum of 90 minutes during an emergency.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards : OSHA’s regulations state that commercial buildings must provide adequate emergency lighting and clear, illuminated exit signs that are continuously lit and visible. The lighting must be reliable and tested regularly to ensure proper operation during emergencies.

International Building Code (IBC) : The IBC sets comprehensive guidelines for installing, testing, and maintaining emergency and exit lighting systems in commercial properties.

The IBC emphasizes that these systems must be independent of the building’s main power supply and capable of providing sufficient light for safe evacuation.

Local and State Codes : Many states and local jurisdictions have additional or more stringent requirements for emergency lighting, often aligning with national standards but tailored to specific regional needs.

It’s essential to consult local codes to ensure compliance.

Critical Components of Emergency and Exit Lighting Systems

A compliant emergency lighting system typically includes the following components:

Emergency Lights : Install these lights throughout corridors, stairwells, and common areas. They activate automatically during power failures to illuminate escape routes.

Exit Signs : These illuminated signs mark the exits and pathways leading to them. They are usually placed above doors and in hallways, with arrows indicating the direction of the nearest exit.

Backup Power Source : Emergency lighting systems must be equipped with backup power, typically in the form of batteries or generators, to ensure that lights remain operational for the required duration during an outage.

Automatic Testing and Monitoring : Modern systems often include self-testing and monitoring capabilities that regularly check the functionality of lights and batteries, alerting maintenance teams to any issues.

Importance of Reliable Emergency Lighting Systems

Reliable emergency lighting systems are critical for several reasons:

Protecting Lives: In an emergency, well-functioning lighting systems guide occupants safely and efficiently out of the building, reducing the risk of injuries and fatalities.

Minimizing Liability: Failure to maintain proper emergency lighting can lead to legal liabilities, fines, and lawsuits if injuries occur during an evacuation. Compliance with safety standards helps protect property owners and managers from legal repercussions.

Ensuring Compliance with Regulations: Adhering to national and local safety codes is mandatory for commercial properties. Regular testing and maintenance ensure that your lighting systems meet these standards, avoiding potential fines and penalties.

Maintaining Business Continuity: In addition to providing safety during emergencies, reliable lighting systems help businesses resume operations quickly by ensuring that evacuations are orderly and minimizing disruption.

Best Practices for Maintaining Emergency and Exit Lighting Systems

To ensure your emergency lighting systems are always in optimal working condition, consider the following best practices:

Regular Testing and Maintenance: Conduct monthly and annual tests to ensure all emergency lights and exit signs function correctly. Testing should include checking the backup power source and confirming that lights activate as intended during simulated power failures.

Keep Exit Paths Clear: Ensure not to obstruct emergency lights and exit signs with furniture, displays, or other items that could hinder visibility during an emergency.

Upgrade to Modern Systems: Consider upgrading older lighting systems to modern LED lights with self-testing features. LEDs are more energy-efficient, have longer lifespans, and provide brighter illumination than traditional incandescent or fluorescent bulbs.

Document Inspections and Repairs: Maintain records of all inspections, tests, and repairs to demonstrate compliance with regulatory standards. This documentation is crucial for passing safety inspections and protecting against liability.

Train Staff on Emergency Protocols: Ensure that employees are familiar with evacuation routes and understand the role of emergency lighting during emergencies. Regular drills can help reinforce these protocols.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Emergency and exit lighting systems are regulatory requirements and essential safety measures that protect lives and property during emergencies.

Ensuring your commercial property complies with safety standards and maintains reliable lighting systems can make all the difference in a crisis.

Invest in the right lighting solutions today and experience the positive impact they can have on your business. Contact us today!

The post A Guide to Emergency and Exit Lighting Commercial Properties appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Top Trends That Have Taken Over Commercial Lighting in 2024

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 16:39:00 GMT

The commercial lighting industry is continuously evolving, with new technologies and trends emerging to meet the needs of modern businesses. As we move closer to the end of 2024, it’s nice to take a moment and reflect on several key trends that have and will continue to evolve throughout the year’s final months.

From energy efficiency to smart technology integration, these trends enhance the functionality and aesthetics of commercial spaces and contribute to sustainability and cost savings. Here are some of the top trends in commercial lighting in 2024.

Energy-Efficient LED Lighting

One of the most significant trends in commercial lighting continues to be the shift towards energy-efficient LED lighting. LEDs have become the go-to choice for businesses due to their long lifespan, reduced energy consumption, and lower maintenance costs than traditional lighting options.

For the remainder of 2024, expect to see even more advanced LED technologies that offer improved performance and significant energy savings. Innovations in LED design also lead to better light quality and color rendering, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, from offices and retail spaces to warehouses and industrial settings.

Smart Lighting Systems

Integrating innovative technology into commercial lighting systems has been another top trend in 2024. Smart lighting allows businesses to control their lighting remotely via apps or centralized systems, offering greater flexibility and control. These systems can adjust lighting based on occupancy, natural light levels, and time of day, optimizing energy use and enhancing comfort.

Features such as dimming, color tuning, and scheduling can be customized to suit specific needs, improving commercial spaces’ functionality and ambiance. IoT (Internet of Things) in lighting systems is also growing, enabling more efficient and interconnected building management.

Human-Centric Lighting

Human-centric lighting (HCL) is an approach that considers the impact of lighting on human health and well-being. While HCL is gaining steam in residential lighting, it should soon gain traction in commercial environments.

By mimicking the natural progression of daylight, HCL systems can help regulate circadian rhythms, improve mood, and boost productivity. For example, cooler, brighter light in the morning can stimulate alertness and energy, while warmer, dimmer light in the evening can promote relaxation and readiness for sleep. This trend is particularly relevant in office settings, where creating a healthy and productive work environment is a priority.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Lighting Solutions

Sustainability is a central concern for many organizations, reflected in the growing demand for eco-friendly lighting solutions. As we continue in 2024, using recyclable materials, energy-efficient technologies, and environmentally conscious designs continues to gain momentum, reflecting a solid commitment to sustainability.

Companies are increasingly looking for lighting solutions that reduce energy consumption and have a lower carbon footprint. Additionally, the trend towards renewable energy sources, such as solar-powered lighting systems, is gaining momentum, providing businesses with more sustainable options.

Enhanced Lighting Controls and Automation

Advanced lighting controls and automation systems are becoming more prevalent in commercial lighting. These systems allow precise control over lighting settings, improving energy efficiency and creating more dynamic lighting environments.

For instance, daylight harvesting systems adjust artificial lighting based on the amount of natural light available, reducing energy use during peak daylight hours. Occupancy sensors ensure that lights are only on when needed, enhancing energy savings.

Throughout 2024, these technologies have become increasingly sophisticated and user-friendly, providing businesses with enhanced control and efficiency.

Customized and Adaptive Lighting Design

As businesses seek to create unique and engaging environments, the trend towards customized and adaptive lighting design is rising; this involves tailoring lighting solutions to meet a space’s specific needs and aesthetics.

Adaptive lighting can change color, intensity, and direction based on various factors, such as the time of day or the activities. For example, a retail store might use bright, dynamic lighting to attract customers during peak hours and softer, warmer lighting for a more relaxed shopping experience in the evening.

Personalized lighting design will continue to be a key trend, helping businesses enhance their brand identity and customer experience.

Integration with Building Management Systems

Integration of lighting systems with broader building management systems (BMS) is becoming increasingly common. BMS allows for seamless control and coordination of various building systems, such as HVAC, security, and lighting.

By integrating lighting with BMS, businesses can achieve higher levels of efficiency and automation, leading to reduced operational costs and improved building performance. The trend towards integrated building management solutions is expected to grow, driven by technological advancements and the increasing demand for intelligent, interconnected buildings.

Work with Starbeam Lighting Solutions

The trends that have taken center stage in commercial lighting this year reflect a growing emphasis on energy efficiency, smart technology, human-centric design, sustainability, and customization. As businesses continue to seek ways to enhance their environments and reduce costs, these trends offer valuable insights into the future of commercial lighting.

Here at Starbeam Lighting Solutions, we are dedicated to helping commercial property owners optimize their lighting solutions. Through lighting audits and tailored recommendations, Starbeam can assist you in achieving the perfect lighting setup for your property. Invest in the right lighting solutions today and experience the positive impact they can have on your business. Contact us today!

The post Top Trends That Have Taken Over Commercial Lighting in 2024 appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Tips for Placing Lights in Commercial Settings

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 19:00:00 GMT

Lighting plays a crucial role in commercial spaces, not only for practical purposes but also to enhance aesthetic appeal and create a welcoming environment. The strategic placement of lights can transform any commercial space, making it more functional, safe, and inviting.

Explore the best places to put lights in and around commercial buildings.

Indoor Commercial Lighting

Entrance and Lobby

Creating a positive first impression is crucial for businesses. Bright, welcoming lights in the lobby ensure safety and visibility. Accent lighting, such as wall sconces or decorative fixtures, enhances the aesthetic appeal. Desk lamps at reception counters improve visibility for staff and visitors, making the space more functional and inviting. Additionally, chandeliers or pendant lights can serve as focal points, adding a touch of sophistication to the entrance.

Office Spaces

Adequate lighting boosts productivity and comfort in work environments. Overhead lighting, like LED panel lights or fluorescent fixtures, provides even, bright light. Adjustable desk lamps reduce eye strain and allow for personalized lighting at workstations. Indirect lighting solutions, such as wall-mounted fixtures or under-cabinet lights, create a comfortable working atmosphere. For open-plan offices, consider using task lighting to focus light where it’s needed most, minimizing glare and shadows.

Conference Rooms

Proper lighting is essential for meetings and presentations. Dimmable ceiling lights or recessed lighting ensure flexibility for different activities. Adjustable spotlights or table lamps for presentation areas improve visibility and focus. Accent lighting, like LED strips or wall sconces, adds a sophisticated touch and highlights important areas, enhancing the room’s functionality and appeal. Incorporating smart lighting systems can further optimize the lighting environment for various meeting types and times of day.

Retail Spaces

Lighting in retail environments should enhance the shopping experience and highlight products. Bright, even lighting from track lights or recessed fixtures ensures general visibility. Spotlights and display case lighting highlight featured products, drawing customers’ attention. Decorative fixtures, such as pendant lights, add style and create focal points within the store, making the shopping experience more enjoyable and engaging.

Consider using color temperature to influence shopper behavior—warmer tones can create a relaxed atmosphere, while cooler tones can make products appear more vibrant.

Outdoor Commercial Lighting

Parking Lots and Exteriors

Safety and security are paramount for outdoor commercial spaces. High-intensity discharge (HID) lamps or LED floodlights provide broad illumination in parking lots, ensuring visibility and safety. Pathway lighting, such as solar-powered or low-voltage lights along walkways, enhances pedestrian safety. Motion-sensor lights near entrances, exits, and dark corners deter potential intruders and provide additional security. Ensuring that all areas are well-lit reduces the risk of accidents and makes visitors feel safe.

Building Façade

The exterior of a commercial building is often the first point of contact with clients and customers. Well-placed floodlights and spotlights can highlight architectural features, logos, and signage, enhancing the building’s visual appeal. Uplighting and downlighting along the building’s façade can create dramatic effects and improve nighttime visibility. Color-changing LED lights can add a dynamic element, allowing businesses to update their look for seasons or events.

Entrances and Walkways

Proper lighting at entrances and along walkways ensures safety and guides visitors to the building. Wall-mounted fixtures, bollard lights, and step lights provide focused illumination and help prevent accidents. These lights can also create a welcoming atmosphere, making the approach to the building more inviting. For enhanced security, ensure these areas are well-lit without creating harsh shadows where intruders could hide.

Landscaping

Landscape lighting can transform the surrounding areas of a commercial property. Spotlights and well-lights can highlight trees, shrubs, and other landscape features, creating an attractive environment. Pathway and garden lights enhance safety and navigation, making the outdoor areas more usable after dark. Incorporating low-voltage or solar-powered options can be both eco-friendly and cost-effective.

Conclusion

Effective lighting placement in and around commercial buildings is essential for creating safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing environments. Investing in the right lighting solutions improves visibility and safety and elevates the overall ambiance and appeal of your property.

Ready to transform your commercial lighting strategy? Contact us today to learn how our expert team can help you design and implement the perfect lighting solutions for your business.

The post Tips for Placing Lights in Commercial Settings appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

A Brief History of Commercial Lighting

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 21:00:00 GMT

Lighting has always played a pivotal role in shaping our commercial spaces. From the flickering flames of gas lamps to the sophisticated LED systems of today, the evolution of lighting technology reflects our constant quest for efficiency, safety, and aesthetic appeal. Understanding this evolution showcases the remarkable advancements and highlights the potential for future innovations.

Let’s walk through the history of commercial lighting.

1800s: The Dawn of Commercial Lighting

The story of commercial lighting begins in the early 19th century. In 1802, Humphry Davy created the first electric light, the arc lamp, by passing electricity through a piece of carbon, making it glow. However, it was in the mid-1800s that gas lighting became widespread.

Gas lamps illuminated streets, factories, and public buildings, significantly extending usable hours and enhancing safety in commercial spaces. By the 1850s, gas chandeliers were common in theaters and large public venues, heralding a new era of illuminated commercial environments.

1870s-1900s: Electrifying the Commercial World

Thomas Edison’s invention of the incandescent light bulb in 1879 marked a pivotal moment in the history of lighting. Edison’s practical and reliable incandescent bulbs rapidly gained popularity, replacing hazardous gas lamps. In 1882, Edison opened the first commercial power station, Pearl Street Station, in New York City, providing electric lighting to nearby buildings, demonstrating the feasibility of widespread electric lighting.

Nikola Tesla’s development of alternating current (AC) systems in the 1890s further revolutionized the industry. AC systems allowed for long-distance electricity transmission, making it possible to illuminate large commercial areas.

The founding of the General Electric Company in 1892 propelled the development and distribution of electric lighting, cementing its place in commercial settings.

1910s-1930s: Fluorescent Lighting and Efficiency

The early 20th century saw the introduction of new lighting technologies. In 1910, Georges Claude patented the neon light, a popular commercial advertising and signage option due to its bright and vibrant colors. This period also witnessed the invention of the fluorescent lamp by Edmund Germer in 1927.

General Electric introduced the first practical fluorescent lamp in 1934. Fluorescent lighting quickly became a staple in commercial and industrial settings, appreciated for its energy efficiency and long lifespan.

1940s-1970s: Expanding Options and Technological Advances

The post-war era brought further advancements in lighting technology. The introduction of halogen lamps in 1959 provided a more efficient and longer-lasting option than traditional incandescent bulbs. The 1960s saw the development of high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, including metal halide and sodium vapor lamps. These were popular for outdoor and large indoor spaces due to their high efficiency and brightness.

Edward Hammer of General Electric invented the compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) in 1976, offering a more energy-efficient alternative to incandescent bulbs. Although CFLs did not become commercially available until the 1980s, they represented a significant step forward in energy-saving lighting solutions.

1980s-2000s: The Rise of LEDs

The development of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in the 1980s marked the beginning of a new era in lighting technology. Initially used in indicator lights and digital displays, LEDs quickly evolved. In 1993, Shuji Nakamura developed the first blue LED, which created white LED light by combining red, green, and blue LEDs.

By the 2000s, LEDs had become viable for general lighting purposes. Their unparalleled energy efficiency, long lifespan, and design flexibility revolutionized commercial lighting. LEDs offer businesses a way to reduce energy costs significantly while providing versatile lighting solutions.

2010s-Present: Smart Lighting and Sustainable Solutions

The past decade has seen the emergence of smart lighting systems. These systems, controllable via smartphones and integrated into building management systems, enhance energy savings and convenience. Philips Hue introduced the first commercially available smart LED bulbs in 2012, allowing users to control lighting color and intensity remotely, ushering in an era of customizable and adaptive lighting solutions.

Today, the focus on sustainability has led to the development of solar-powered lights, biodegradable materials, and circular economy principles in lighting design and manufacturing. Advances in LED technology continue, with innovations such as tunable white lighting and human-centric lighting enhancing efficiency and user experience.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

The history of commercial lighting is a testament to human ingenuity and our relentless pursuit of better, more efficient solutions. As we look to the future, staying abreast of new developments and embracing innovative technologies will be vital to creating commercial spaces that are not only functional and efficient but also stylish and sustainable.

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Commercial Lighting Terms Property Owners Should Learn

Fri, 10 May 2024 19:00:00 GMT

Commercial lighting is a world of its own. When we work with property and business owners, they often have a baseline knowledge of their lighting needs to keep their space functional. While this is a significant first step, more specialized knowledge will improve energy savings, safety, and aesthetics.

Let’s define some commercial lighting terms that property owners can benefit from knowing, which can aid them in conversations with lighting specialists.

Commercial Lighting Terms

Ballasts are devices used to regulate the electrical current to fluorescent lamps, providing the necessary voltage to start and control their operation.
Bay lighting is a high-intensity fixture commonly used in industrial or commercial settings with high ceilings, such as warehouses and manufacturing facilities.
Constant current is an LED driver that provides a steady flow of electrical current to maintain consistent brightness levels across LED fixtures.
Constant voltage is another type of LED driver that maintains a steady voltage supply to LED fixtures and is suitable for applications where multiple LEDs are connected in parallel.
Commercial lighting is designed specifically for offices, retail stores, and warehouses. It focuses on functionality, aesthetics, and energy efficiency.
Energy audits are assessments conducted to evaluate a building or facility’s energy consumption and identify opportunities for efficiency improvements.
Energy-efficiency The ability of a lighting system to produce adequate light output while minimizing energy consumption and waste.
Horticultural Lighting systems are tailored to the specific needs of plants. They are commonly used in indoor farming, greenhouses, and hydroponic setups.
Industrial Pendant Lights are hanging light fixtures designed for industrial environments that provide illumination and aesthetic appeal.
Landscape lighting illuminates outdoor spaces such as gardens, pathways, and architectural features, enhancing aesthetics and security.
LED, or Light Emitting Diodes, is a highly energy-efficient lighting technology that produces light by passing electrons through a semiconductor material.

LED drivers are components that regulate the electrical current flowing to an LED light source, ensuring proper operation and longevity.
Lighting controls are devices or systems that regulate the output of lighting fixtures, allowing for brightness adjustment, scheduling, and automation.
Lumens are a measurement unit representing the total amount of visible light emitted by a light source, indicating its brightness.
Rebates are financial incentives utility companies or governments offer to encourage the adoption of energy-efficient lighting solutions. They are often based on energy savings achieved.
Recessed lighting fixtures are installed into a hollow opening in a ceiling, providing a clean and unobtrusive lighting solution.
Reflectors are components of lighting fixtures that redirect and focus light output, improving efficiency and directing light where it’s needed most.
Track lighting fixtures are mounted on a track system, allowing for adjustable positioning and direction of light sources. They are commonly used in retail and gallery settings.
Watts is a measurement unit representing the amount of power a light source consumes. It often indicates energy consumption.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Invest in the right lighting solutions today and experience the positive impact they can have on your business. Contact us today!

The post Commercial Lighting Terms Property Owners Should Learn appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Ways to Improve Your Office Lighting

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 19:00:00 GMT

Many Americans spend much of their weekly time in an office building. Employers can (and should) work to create a comfortable space for their team, and lighting is an integral part of the equation. Which lighting types and placements help improve productivity? Let’s discuss ways commercial building owners can improve office lighting.

Switch to LED Lighting

LED lights are the gold standard for energy efficiency and longevity. By switching from traditional fluorescent or incandescent bulbs to LEDs, offices can reduce energy costs, minimize maintenance needs, and enjoy higher-quality lighting.

Optimize Natural Lighting

Harnessing natural light saves energy and offers numerous benefits to employees. Position workstations near windows or install skylights to maximize daylight exposure, which lighting experts recommend to enhance mood, increase productivity, and foster a sense of well-being.

Use Task Lighting

Individual task lighting , such as desk lamps or under-cabinet lights, allows employees to customize lighting levels according to their tasks and preferences. These lighting fixtures can minimize eye strain, improve focus, and enhance comfort.

Install Dimmers

Incorporating dimmer switches or adjustable lighting fixtures enables offices to control light intensity throughout the day or in specific areas. Dimming lights create a more relaxed ambiance, promote energy savings, and enhance employee comfort.

Consider Color Temperature

The color temperature of lighting can significantly impact a space’s atmosphere. Cooler temperatures (5000-6500 Kelvin) are ideal for task-oriented areas, while warmer temperatures (2700-3500 Kelvin) create a cozy feel in relaxation or social spaces.

Implement Circadian Lighting

Mimicking natural daylight patterns through circadian lighting systems helps regulate employees’ sleep-wake cycles, improve mood, and increase alertness. This innovative approach to lighting design promotes overall well-being and productivity.

Reduce Glare

Glare from light fixtures can cause discomfort and hinder productivity, especially when working on computer screens. Positioning lights strategically and using glare-reducing bulbs or coatings minimizes glare, creating a more comfortable visual environment.

Ensure Uniform Lighting

Maintaining consistent lighting levels throughout the office is essential for employee comfort and productivity. Employ lighting design techniques to achieve uniformity without sacrificing aesthetics, glare control, or energy efficiency.

Enhance Accessibility

Offices must meet accessibility standards to accommodate employees with visual impairments. Providing adequate illumination, using contrasting colors, and optimizing brightness levels improve visibility and navigation for all employees.

Incorporate Lighting Controls

Installing lighting control systems, such as occupancy sensors or timers, automates lighting adjustments based on occupancy and daylight levels. Lighting control systems can save energy and ensure the office uses lights efficiently and only when needed.

Consider Biophilic Design

Integrating biophilic elements into the office environment, such as natural materials, plants, or views of nature, enhances employee well-being and connection to the outdoors. Combining natural and artificial lighting creates a harmonious workspace that inspires creativity and boosts morale.

Regular Maintenance

Scheduled maintenance and cleaning of lighting fixtures are essential for optimal performance and efficiency. Promptly replacing bulbs when they dim or flicker ensures consistent lighting quality and prevents disruptions to workflow.

Work With Starbeam Lighting

Prioritizing lighting design in office spaces is critical to unlocking the full potential of your workforce. By implementing these 12 strategies, businesses can create an environment that promotes productivity, enhances mood, improves accessibility, and elevates the overall aesthetic appeal of the workspace. Illuminate your success with thoughtful lighting solutions tailored to meet the needs of your employees and your business.

Starbeam Lighting Solutions is committed to helping commercial property owners in Greater St. Louis maximize their energy efficiency through lighting solutions and other energy-saving measures. We can create greener, more sustainable workplaces while reducing operational costs. Contact us today to get started!

The post Ways to Improve Your Office Lighting appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Horticultural Lighting: Do’s and Don’ts

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 19:13:00 GMT

Light plays a crucial role in the growth and development of plants. In nature, plants rely on sunlight for photosynthesis, which converts light into chemical energy. However, when it comes to indoor gardening, natural sunlight may not always be available or sufficient. That’s where horticultural lighting comes in.

Understanding Different Types of Horticultural Lighting

Before diving into the do’s and don’ts of horticultural lighting, it’s essential to understand the different types of lighting options available:

Fluorescent lights are popular among indoor gardeners due to their affordability and versatility. They are available in various spectrums, making them suitable for different stages of plant growth.
High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lights HID lights, including Metal Halide (MH) and High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights, are known for their high output and efficiency. MH lights are ideal for the vegetative stage, while HPS lights are more suitable for the flowering stage.
Light-emitting diode (LED) lights have gained popularity recently due to their energy efficiency and customizable light spectrums. They can be tailored to provide the specific wavelengths of light that plants need at different growth stages.

Now that we have a basic understanding of the different types of horticultural lighting, let’s explore the do’s and don’ts to ensure successful implementation.

The Do’s of Horticultural Lighting

To maximize the benefits of horticultural lighting, here are some key considerations to keep in mind:

Selecting the Right Lighting Fixtures for Your Plants

When choosing lighting fixtures, consider the specific light requirements of your plants. Different plants have varying preferences for light intensity and spectrum. Leafy greens, for example, thrive under cooler lighting conditions, while flowering plants require a combination of warm and cool lights. Research the light requirements for your specific plant species and choose fixtures that provide the appropriate spectrum and intensity.

Optimal Lighting Duration and Intensity for Different Plant Stages

Like natural sunlight, horticultural lighting should provide the proper duration and intensity to mimic the day-night cycles. Most plants require 14-18 hours of light daily for vegetative growth. However, some flowering plants may require shorter light periods to trigger the blooming process. Additionally, adjusting light intensity throughout the day can simulate the sun’s movement and create a more natural environment for your plants.

Positioning the Lights Correctly

Proper positioning of horticultural lights is crucial to ensure uniform light distribution and prevent shadowing or light burn. Hang the lights at an appropriate height, considering the plants’ growth stage and the light’s intensity. As the plants grow tall, adjust the height of the lights accordingly to maintain an optimal distance. Regularly monitor the light distribution and adapt to ensure equal coverage across the plant canopy.

The Don’ts of Horticultural Lighting

While horticultural lighting can significantly benefit your indoor garden, there are a few common mistakes and pitfalls to avoid:

Overexposure to Light

Just as insufficient light can hinder plant growth, overexposure to light can be equally detrimental. Excessive light exposure can lead to photoinhibition, where plants become overwhelmed by too much light energy. This exposure can result in stunted growth, leaf bleaching, or even plant death. Be mindful of the light intensity and duration, and ensure that your plants have adequate periods of darkness for proper rest and recovery.

Using the Wrong Light Spectrum

Different plant species have specific light spectrum requirements for optimal growth. Using the wrong spectrum can negatively impact plant development and yield. For instance, providing too much blue light during the flowering stage can inhibit flower formation. Research your plants’ light needs and invest in fixtures or bulbs that offer the appropriate spectrum for each growth stage.

Neglecting To Monitor Heat Levels

Horticultural lighting can generate significant heat, especially with high-intensity lights. Neglecting to monitor and control heat levels can lead to plant heat stress, causing wilting, leaf damage, or even death. Ensure proper ventilation and cooling systems are in place to maintain an optimal temperature range. Regularly monitor the temperature and adjust lighting or cooling systems to prevent heat-related issues.

Maintaining and Troubleshooting Horticultural Lighting Fixtures

Regular maintenance is essential to ensure your horticultural lighting fixtures’ longevity and optimal performance. Here are some maintenance tips:

Clean the fixtures regularly to remove dust and debris that can reduce light output.
Check for any signs of wear or damage and replace bulbs or components as needed.
Monitor the performance of the lights and keep a record of their lifespan to plan for replacements.
Inspect electrical connections regularly and ensure they are secure and free from corrosion.

If you encounter any issues with your horticultural lighting system, troubleshooting steps may include:

Checking power supply : Ensure the lights receive power and the electrical connections are secure.
Examining the bulbs : Inspect the bulbs for any signs of damage or malfunction. Replace any faulty bulbs.
Inspecting the wiring : Check the wiring for loose connections, frayed wires, or other signs of damage. Repair or replace as necessary.

Work With Starbeam Lighting

Investing in a well-designed horticultural lighting system and properly maintaining it will ensure your plants receive the light they need for healthy growth and abundant yields. Stay informed about advancements in horticultural lighting technology, as they may offer even more innovative solutions. With the proper lighting techniques, you can unlock your indoor garden’s or greenhouse’s full potential and achieve remarkable results.

Beyond horticultural lighting, our Starbeam Lighting team is here to help with all your commercial lighting needs. Through lighting audits and tailored recommendations, Starbeam can assist you in achieving the perfect lighting setup for your property.

Invest in the right lighting solutions today and experience the positive impact they can have on your business. Contact us today!

The post Horticultural Lighting: Do’s and Don’ts appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

What Are Tunable Drivers, and Why Do I Need Them?

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 21:00:00 GMT

LED technology is a beacon of efficiency, longevity, and versatility in the ever-evolving commercial lighting landscape. As businesses and industries seek to optimize their lighting solutions, one component often overlooked yet crucial is the LED driver.

Let’s delve into the world of tunable LED drivers, exploring what they are, why they’re essential, and how they can revolutionize your lighting experience.

Understanding LED Drivers

Before we delve into tunable LED drivers, let’s establish a foundation by understanding what they are and their role in lighting systems. LED drivers are the power supply unit, regulating current and voltage to ensure optimal performance and longevity; without them, the lighting unit may not function correctly or experience premature failure without proper drivers.

What are Tunable LED Drivers?

Tunable LED drivers represent a significant advancement in lighting technology. Unlike traditional LED drivers, which provide fixed output characteristics, tunable drivers offer flexibility by adjusting light output, color temperature, and dimming capabilities. This adaptability empowers users to tailor lighting solutions to specific needs and preferences, opening up many possibilities for customization and optimization.

Advantages of Tunable Drivers

The benefits of tunable LED drivers are plentiful. Firstly, they offer unparalleled flexibility in lighting design, enabling users to create dynamic and adaptable environments suited to various applications. Whether adjusting the color temperature for a more inviting ambiance or fine-tuning brightness levels for optimal productivity, tunable drivers can meet diverse lighting requirements.

Moreover, tunable drivers contribute to energy savings and efficiency. By dynamically controlling light output and adjusting to changing conditions, businesses can reduce energy consumption and operating costs while maintaining optimal illumination levels; this benefits the bottom line and aligns with sustainability initiatives, making tunable drivers a win-win solution for both businesses and the environment.

Additionally, the tunable nature of these drivers can enhance productivity and well-being in commercial spaces. Studies have shown that lighting influences mood, focus, and overall comfort. With tunable drivers, businesses can create lighting environments tailored to promote employee well-being, creativity, and performance, ultimately leading to a more positive and productive work environment.

Applications of Tunable Drivers

The versatility of tunable LED drivers makes them suitable for various applications across various industries. In commercial and industrial settings, tunable drivers can adapt to changing lighting needs throughout the day, from task-oriented brightness levels during work hours to softer, warmer tones for after-hours relaxation. Retail environments can utilize tunable drivers to enhance product displays and create immersive shopping experiences. At the same time, healthcare facilities can optimize lighting to promote patient comfort and recovery.

Educational institutions can benefit from tunable drivers by creating dynamic learning environments conducive to concentration and engagement. Similarly, hospitality and residential spaces can leverage tunable drivers to enhance guest experiences and create inviting atmospheres tailored to individual preferences.

Considerations When Implementing Tunable Drivers

While the advantages of tunable LED drivers are undeniable, it’s essential to consider several factors when implementing them. Compatibility with existing lighting systems, integration with lighting controls and automation systems, and cost considerations are crucial to evaluate. However, the long-term benefits and potential for enhanced lighting experiences far outweigh any initial challenges, making tunable drivers a worthwhile investment for businesses looking to stay ahead in the lighting game.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Tunable LED drivers represent the next frontier in lighting technology, offering unprecedented flexibility, efficiency, and customization. By harnessing the power of tunable drivers, businesses can unlock a world of possibilities for optimizing their lighting solutions to meet specific needs and preferences. Whether creating dynamic work environments, enhancing customer experiences, or promoting well-being, tunable drivers pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable future in commercial lighting.

Also, check out our video on Tunable Drivers here.

The post What Are Tunable Drivers, and Why Do I Need Them? appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Why It’s Time To Get Rid of Your Fluorescent Tube Lights

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 21:00:00 GMT

Do you still have fluorescent tube lights on your commercial property? These lights are beginning to vanish in the lighting world , and for a good reason – while fluorescent tube lights were popular in the past, more modern, energy-efficient alternatives on the market are worthy investments. Let’s examine why it may be time to eliminate fluorescent tube lights in your commercial property.

Energy Efficiency

One of the primary reasons businesses switch from fluorescent tubes to LED lighting is the substantial energy efficiency of LEDs. Commercial establishments are known for their significant energy consumption; every watt saved translates to cost savings. LEDs consume considerably less electricity than fluorescent tubes, resulting in lower energy bills and contributing to a greener, more sustainable future.

The energy efficiency of LEDs is not just a theoretical advantage; it translates into tangible financial benefits over time. Businesses can witness a substantial reduction in their operational costs, making LED lighting a wise investment that pays off in the long run. As energy prices continue to rise, the economic advantages of LED technology become even more pronounced, offering a bright path to cost savings for commercial enterprises.

Longer Lifespan

In the fast-paced world of business, disruptions can be costly. One key advantage of LED lighting is its significantly longer lifespan than fluorescent tubes. On average, LEDs outlast traditional fluorescent lights ( 3-5 times longer ), reducing the frequency of replacements; this minimizes disruptions to business operations and leads to substantial cost savings in maintenance and replacement expenses.

The longevity of LEDs is a game-changer for commercial establishments looking to optimize their lighting infrastructure. With fewer replacements, businesses can allocate resources more efficiently, focusing on core operations rather than dealing with the hassle of regularly changing bulbs. The peace of mind with reliable and long-lasting lighting is invaluable for businesses aiming for seamless and uninterrupted workflows.

Improved Quality of Light

Beyond the pragmatic aspects of energy efficiency and longevity, LED lighting offers a qualitative leap in the overall experience of commercial spaces. LEDs provide a superior quality of light with better color rendering and brightness control than fluorescent tubes. This enhancement in light quality can profoundly impact the aesthetics of a business environment.

Environmental Impact

Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword; it’s a commitment businesses must uphold. Fluorescent tubes, unfortunately, come with environmental drawbacks, containing hazardous materials like mercury. The responsible disposal of fluorescent bulbs is crucial to prevent ecological harm. In contrast, LED lights are environmentally friendly, free from toxic materials, and fully recyclable.

Switching to LED lighting is not just a practical choice for businesses but also a green choice that aligns with environmental stewardship. By opting for LED technology, commercial establishments contribute to reducing their carbon footprint and demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices. This eco-friendly approach can also be a valuable point of differentiation for businesses in the eyes of environmentally conscious consumers and partners.

Instant, Flicker-Free Lighting

In the fast-paced environments, every second counts. LED lighting offers the advantage of instant illumination without the warm-up time associated with fluorescent tubes. Instant illumination is crucial for quick and reliable lighting, such as retail spaces, warehouses, or healthcare facilities.

Improve Aesthetics

Beyond the practical considerations of energy efficiency and cost savings, the impact of smarter lighting on the aesthetics of a commercial space is significant. LED lighting, with its advanced technology, offers businesses a versatile toolkit to enhance the visual appeal of their environments. LED lights’ customizable color temperatures and dimming capabilities empower organizations to create tailored lighting designs that complement their brand identity and desired ambiance.

Whether it’s a retail setting that aims to highlight products with vibrant lighting or an office space seeking a balanced and soothing atmosphere, LEDs provide a level of flexibility previously unattainable with traditional fluorescent tubes. The ability to precisely control the brightness and color of lighting not only elevates the overall aesthetics of a space but also allows businesses to craft unique and memorable experiences for customers and employees alike. As the saying goes, “Lighting makes a space,” and with LED technology, businesses can sculpt their environments to align with their vision and brand aesthetic.

Work With Starbeam Lighting

As commercial business owners navigate the dynamic landscape of lighting technology, the case for transitioning from fluorescent tubes to LED lighting becomes increasingly compelling. The advantages of LED lighting extend beyond mere illumination; they contribute to a holistic and positive transformation of commercial spaces. By embracing LED technology, businesses not only future-proof their lighting infrastructure but also contribute to a brighter, more sustainable future for themselves and the planet. Illuminate your business with the brilliance of LED lighting – a decision that pays dividends in efficiency, aesthetics, and overall success.

The post Why It’s Time To Get Rid of Your Fluorescent Tube Lights appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

2024 Energy-Saving Goals for Commercial Property Owners

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 16:00:00 GMT

In today’s business environment, commercial property owners increasingly recognize the importance of energy efficiency for cost savings and environmental sustainability. As we approach 2024, it’s crucial to reassess and optimize our buildings to ensure they operate at peak efficiency. Here are some proven tips to help commercial property owners enhance energy efficiency, implement sustainability measures, and ultimately save on energy costs.

Conduct a Comprehensive Energy Audit

Embarking on the journey toward energy efficiency begins with understanding your building’s current energy usage patterns. A comprehensive energy audit conducted by professional consultants will identify areas for improvement. This process involves assessing insulation, HVAC systems, lighting, and other potential energy-consuming elements. The insights gained from an energy audit serve as the foundation for creating a targeted and effective energy efficiency plan.

Upgrade Lighting Systems

One of the most impactful and cost-effective measures is to upgrade your lighting systems. Transitioning to energy-efficient solutions, such as LED bulbs and fixtures, can significantly reduce energy consumption. LEDs consume less energy, have a longer lifespan, and provide superior illumination. Take it further by incorporating motion sensors and programmable lighting controls to ensure lights are only in use when needed, minimizing unnecessary energy expenditure.

Optimize HVAC Systems

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are pivotal in a building’s energy consumption. Regularly maintaining existing systems is crucial, and property owners should consider upgrading to newer, more energy-efficient models. Implementing zoning systems that allow for precise control of temperatures in different building areas ensures energy use only where and when necessary, optimizing HVAC efficiency.

Embrace Smart Building Automation

The advent of smart building technologies has revolutionized energy management. Investing in smart thermostats, occupancy sensors, and building management systems enables real-time monitoring and control of energy usage. These systems can adjust HVAC and lighting based on occupancy and environmental conditions, maximizing efficiency. The result is a seamless and intelligent approach to energy management that saves costs and enhances overall building performance.

Window Upgrades for Better Insulation

Windows are crucial in maintaining a building’s temperature. Upgrading to energy-efficient windows with double-pane or low-emissivity glazing enhances insulation, reducing the need for constant heating or cooling. This investment contributes to energy savings and improves occupant comfort by minimizing temperature fluctuations.

Integrate Renewable Energy Sources

Incorporating renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines is a forward-thinking approach to energy management. While the initial investment may seem significant, the long-term benefits, including reduced reliance on traditional energy sources and potential incentives or tax credits, make it a sustainable and cost-effective choice. Assess the feasibility of such installations based on your property’s location and energy needs.

Prioritize Energy-Efficient Appliances and Equipment

When upgrading appliances and equipment, make energy efficiency a top priority. Look for ENERGY STAR-rated appliances and consider replacing outdated machinery with energy-efficient models; this reduces energy consumption and positions your property as environmentally responsible, which can be a valuable marketing point.

Foster Employee Engagement and Training

A sustainable and energy-efficient building requires the active participation of its occupants. Conduct employee training sessions to raise awareness about energy-saving practices, such as turning off lights and equipment when not in use. Creating a culture of sustainability within your organization ensures ongoing commitment to energy efficiency and encourages employees to contribute to the broader environmental goals of the company.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Enhancing the energy efficiency of commercial properties is a multifaceted approach that involves strategic planning, investment in technology, and a commitment to sustainable practices. By implementing these eight proven tips, commercial property owners can save on energy costs and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future. As we enter 2024, let’s take the initiative to elevate our buildings and positively impact our bottom line and the planet.

The post 2024 Energy-Saving Goals for Commercial Property Owners appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Exterior Lighting You Should Add To Your Property

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 17:45:00 GMT

In commercial real estate, the importance of exterior lighting goes beyond mere visibility—it’s a key player in creating a safe and aesthetically pleasing environment. Whether you’re managing an office building, warehouse, or retail store, thoughtful lighting can significantly impact your property’s security and visual appeal.

Let’s explore exterior lighting fixtures and strategies that can elevate your commercial space.

LED Wall Packs

LED Wall Packs are the unsung heroes of commercial lighting. These fixtures are mounted on building exteriors and provide a robust and uniform glow, ensuring your property stands out even on the darkest nights. They are a favorite among property owners because of their energy efficiency and longevity, translating to lower maintenance costs in the long run.

Floodlights with Motion Sensors

When it comes to security, proactive measures can make all the difference. Floodlights equipped with motion sensors are an intelligent choice for deterring intruders. These lights spring to life upon detecting movement, flooding the area with light and simultaneously cutting down on energy consumption when not needed.

Bollard Lights

Bollard lights are more than just functional—design elements that guide pedestrians and define pathways. Their versatility extends to enhancing landscaping or architectural features, making them a dual-purpose addition to your property. With various designs available, you can choose bollard lights that seamlessly blend with your property’s aesthetics.

Canopy Lighting

Canopy lighting is a must for gas stations, building entrances, or covered walkways. These fixtures provide ample illumination and enhance safety and visibility in areas with overhead structures. Opt for energy-efficient LED options to keep maintenance costs at bay.

Pole-Mounted Area Lights

Pole-mounted area lights are the go-to solution for expansive outdoor areas like parking lots. They ensure even light distribution, enhancing security and creating a well-lit environment. Adjustable fixtures allow you to tailor the lighting angles to your property’s unique layout.

Step Lights

Never compromise safety regarding staircases, ramps, or elevation changes. Step lights provide subtle, low-level illumination, ensuring visitors confidently take every step. Opt for LED step lights for their energy efficiency and durability.

Step lights are also vital during the late fall and winter months. Midwest business owners know that stairs can get slippery from light dustings of snow or patches of ice. Ideally, you should salt your steps and keep them clear of these hazards, but the extra lighting will add another layer of safety for your visitors.

Architectural Uplighting

Transform your commercial property into a nighttime masterpiece with architectural uplighting. This technique highlights the beauty of buildings, trees, or sculptures, adding a touch of elegance to your property. The result is a visually appealing atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression.

Smart Lighting Systems

Bring innovation to your commercial property with smart lighting systems. These systems allow you to create dynamic and programmable lighting scenarios. Schedule lighting based on usage patterns to optimize energy efficiency and enjoy the convenience of remote monitoring and control.

Switching to LED

Switching to LED lighting, especially for outdoor applications, is a transformative step toward energy efficiency, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. LED lights have revolutionized the lighting industry with their remarkable advantages. They consume significantly less energy than traditional lighting sources, resulting in substantial cost savings on electricity bills. The longevity of LED bulbs is noteworthy, reducing the frequency of replacements and minimizing maintenance expenses for commercial property owners. Furthermore, LEDs emit directional light, ensuring more focused and efficient illumination, a crucial aspect for outdoor lighting where precision is paramount.

Sustainability Matters

Beyond the economic benefits, LED lighting contributes to environmental conservation by reducing carbon footprints. With their durability, energy efficiency, and positive environmental impact, switching to LED lighting is not just a practical decision—it’s a commitment to a brighter, greener, and more sustainable future for commercial properties.

Work With Starbeam Lighting

The proper exterior lighting is a blend of functionality and aesthetics. By carefully selecting fixtures and implementing strategic lighting solutions, commercial property owners can create an environment that prioritizes safety and enhances the overall visual appeal. When in doubt, consult a lighting professional to ensure your lighting design aligns seamlessly with your property’s unique characteristics. Illuminate your space, elevate your property, and leave a lasting impression with thoughtfully chosen exterior lighting.

Starbeam Lighting Solutions is committed to helping commercial property owners in Greater St. Louis maximize their energy efficiency through lighting solutions and other energy-saving measures. Together, we can create greener, more sustainable workplaces while reducing operational costs. Contact us today to get started!

The post Exterior Lighting You Should Add To Your Property appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

A Guide to Warehouse Lighting

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:30:00 GMT

Warehouses are the backbone of many businesses, serving as storage and distribution centers for various products. However, ensuring proper lighting within these facilities is often overlooked, leading to safety hazards, decreased productivity, and unnecessary energy costs. In this article, we’ll explore some essential tips to improve your warehouse lighting for efficiency and savings.

LED Lighting Conversion

Switching to LED fixtures is one of the most impactful changes you can make to your warehouse lighting. LED lights offer several advantages over traditional lighting technologies. They are highly energy-efficient, consuming significantly less electricity while providing the same or even better illumination. LED lights also have a longer lifespan, which means fewer replacements and reduced maintenance costs. By making this simple switch, you can see immediate savings on your energy bills.

Lighting Layout and Design

Proper lighting layout and design are essential for creating a safe and productive warehouse environment. Start by strategically planning the placement of your lighting fixtures to ensure uniform illumination throughout the space. Consider combining overhead, task, and ambient lighting to minimize shadows and create a well-lit atmosphere. Adequate lighting design can improve visibility, reduce accidents, and make it easier for employees to perform their tasks efficiently.

Motion Sensors and Dimmers

Install motion sensors and dimmers in your warehouse to further enhance energy efficiency. Motion sensors can detect when an area is occupied and adjust the lighting accordingly – light will automatically turn off in unoccupied spaces, significantly reducing energy consumption during low-activity periods. Dimmers allow you to control the illumination intensity, allowing for customization based on specific needs and tasks – this saves energy and extends the life of your LED fixtures.

High Bay Fixtures

Warehouses with high ceilings require specialized lighting solutions. The design of High-bay LED fixtures provides focused, high-intensity lighting for tall storage racks and open spaces. These fixtures are ideal for warehouses where traditional lighting may need help to reach and illuminate the entire area. Investing in high bay fixtures ensures that every corner of your warehouse receives adequate lighting, improving overall safety and productivity.

Color Temperature

The color temperature of your warehouse lighting matters more than you think. Different color temperatures can impact the working environment and how employees perceive and perform their tasks. Cooler color temperatures, typically around 5000K, can improve visibility and create a more alert work environment. On the other hand, warmer color temperatures (approximately 3000K) can provide a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere in break areas. Carefully select the color temperature that best suits the specific needs of different areas within your warehouse.

Emergency Lighting

Safety should always be a top priority in your warehouse. Ensure your facility has emergency lighting systems that comply with safety regulations. In a power outage or emergency, these lights automatically activate, guiding employees safely to exits and evacuation points. Regular maintenance and testing of emergency lighting systems are crucial to ensure their functionality when needed.

Lighting Controls and Automation

Smart lighting control systems are a game-changer in optimizing warehouse lighting. These systems allow you to adjust lighting zones, schedules, and intensity remotely, giving you real-time control over your lighting environment. For instance, you can program lights to dim during non-working hours or adjust lighting levels in response to changing daylight conditions. You can maximize energy savings by utilizing lighting controls and automation without sacrificing functionality.

Regular Maintenance

Maintaining your lighting fixtures ensures long-term performance and energy efficiency. Develop a routine maintenance schedule that includes cleaning fixtures, replacing bulbs, and checking electrical issues. Dust and dirt can accumulate on fixtures, reducing their effectiveness, while burnt-out bulbs can create dark spots in your warehouse. Regular maintenance extends the life of your lighting system and ensures that it operates at its peak efficiency.

Utilize Natural Light

Harnessing natural light is another effective way to reduce energy consumption in your warehouse. Consider installing skylights or large windows where natural light can shine through. Daylighting can significantly reduce the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours -it cuts energy costs and creates a more pleasant work environment for your employees, boosting morale and productivity.

Consider Task Lighting

In addition to general lighting, consider incorporating task lighting for specific workstations or areas requiring focused illumination. Task lighting ensures that employees have the right amount of light precisely where they need it, which is particularly beneficial in areas with intricate tasks or specialized workstations. By providing task-specific lighting, you can optimize energy consumption by illuminating only the areas where work is happening.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Investing in warehouse lighting improvements benefits your bottom line and contributes to a more sustainable and environmentally responsible operation. So, don’t wait any longer – take the first step towards a brighter and more efficient warehouse today.

The post A Guide to Warehouse Lighting appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

How Lighting Can Improve Your Retail Store

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 18:00:00 GMT

When running a successful retail business, there are countless considerations to make, from product selection and pricing to marketing and customer service. One often overlooked decision, (proper) lighting design, is an essential element that can significantly impact your store’s success.

Lighting isn’t just about brightening your space; it is crucial to enhancing the overall shopping experience. In this article, we’ll explore critical ways the proper lighting can transform your retail store and help you achieve success.

Enhance Product Visibility

Imagine entering a dimly lit store where the products are hidden in the shadows; it’s not an enticing sight. Adequate lighting is like a spotlight for your merchandise, making it more visible and appealing to customers. Well-lit displays not only draw attention but also showcase your products in their best light, quite literally. The result? Increased sales and improved customer engagement.

Create an Inviting Atmosphere

The atmosphere you create in your retail store can make or break the shopping experience. Lighting is pivotal in setting the mood and creating an inviting ambiance. Consider the impact of warm, soft lighting versus harsh, fluorescent bulbs. The former makes customers feel comfortable and encourages them to spend more time in your store, while the latter can have the opposite effect. So, choose your lighting wisely to create an environment that makes shoppers want to linger.

Highlight Visual Merchandising

Visual merchandising is an art, and lighting is one of your most powerful tools. Proper lighting can accentuate your displays, making them eye-catching and engaging. Whether you’re showcasing new arrivals, promotions, or featured items, the appropriate lighting can turn an ordinary display into a captivating focal point that captures your customers’ attention and encourages them to explore further.

Improve Color Rendering

In the world of retail, accurate color rendering is of utmost importance. Think about stores selling clothing, cosmetics, or home decor. Inaccurate lighting can distort the colors of your products, leading to customer frustration and hesitation in purchasing decisions. Proper lighting ensures that customers see products in their true colors, helping them make confident choices and reducing the likelihood of returns.

Direct Customer Flow

Have you ever noticed how some stores effortlessly guide you from one section to another? That’s not a coincidence; it’s a result of strategic lighting. Brighter areas attract attention, while softer lighting can signal relaxation areas or checkout points. Using lighting strategically, you can influence your store’s foot traffic flow, directing customers to the places or products you want to promote.

Energy Efficiency

Running a successful retail store involves managing operational costs. Lighting can significantly contribute to these costs, but it doesn’t have to be. Modern LED lighting solutions provide better quality illumination while being energy-efficient. By switching to LEDs, you improve the quality of your store’s lighting and reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs, ultimately contributing to your bottom line.

Enhance Security

Safety is a top priority for customers and employees in any retail environment. Well-lit retail spaces enhance safety; adequate lighting can deter theft and vandalism, creating a more secure shopping environment. It also helps prevent accidents and reduces the likelihood of slip-and-fall incidents, protecting your customers and business from potential liabilities.

Adaptability

Flexibility is vital in retail, where seasons, promotions, and special events demand different atmospheres and lighting needs. Modern lighting control systems offer this flexibility. You can adjust lighting levels based on the time of day, seasons, or specific events. This adaptability allows you to create varied atmospheres in your store, enhancing the shopping experience and conserving energy when it’s unnecessary.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

The significance of proper lighting in a retail setting must be considered. It goes beyond mere illumination; it impacts the shopping experience, influences customer behavior, and can ultimately lead to success for your store. The benefits of investing in the right lighting solutions are numerous, from enhancing product visibility and creating an inviting atmosphere to improving color rendering and enhancing security.

Starbeam Lighting Solutions is committed to helping commercial property owners in Greater St. Louis maximize their energy efficiency through lighting solutions and other energy-saving measures. Together, we can create greener, more sustainable workplaces while reducing operational costs. Contact us today to get started!

The post How Lighting Can Improve Your Retail Store appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Horticulture Lighting Mistakes To Avoid

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 21:00:00 GMT

If you’ve ever considered getting into the horticultural industry, now is the time. With legislation opening up in various states surrounding cannabis and growing, more and more players are entering the game. Although cannabis and other plants are pretty adaptable to multiple conditions, mistakes in the growing process can be challenging to overcome. Let’s look at mistakes to avoid in the horticulture industry, especially horticulture lighting mistakes.

Growth Stages

Distinct growth stages mark the journey of a plant from seed to harvest, each requiring a specific set of conditions for optimal development. For high-yield crops such as cannabis, these stages – germination, vegetative, flowering, and harvesting – demand varying light intensity levels and specific light wavelengths. During germination, a balance of blue light encourages strong root and shoot development—a blue and red light mix fuels leafy growth in the vegetative stage. The flowering stage calls for a shift towards red light, which stimulates robust flower and fruit production. Understanding these stages and providing the right light environment to support them is imperative.

Light Colors

The light spectrum acts as the plants’ language to communicate their needs. Different light colors trigger specific responses in plants. Blue light, for instance, promotes photosynthesis and helps plants manage their water intake. Red light, on the other hand, is essential for flowering and fruiting processes. By understanding the importance of these light colors, growers can tailor their lighting systems to deliver the appropriate spectrum for each growth stage. A delicate balance can make a remarkable difference in overall yield and quality.

Fixture Placement

While the spectrum of light is crucial, so is its distribution. Placing lighting fixtures correctly within a horticulture setup is critical to ensuring uniform light coverage. Light intensity diminishes with distance, so fixtures must be positioned appropriately from the plants. This placement prevents certain areas from overexposing to light while others remain in the shadows. Ensuring even light distribution contributes to consistent growth across all plants in the setup. A well-lit, thriving canopy is the result of well-thought-out fixture placement.

Vertical Space

As urban agriculture gains momentum, growers seek innovative ways to make the most of limited space. Enter vertical farming, which utilizes vertical space to grow crops in stacked layers. Proper lighting in such setups is essential to ensure each level receives the light it needs. Growers can strategically position specialized lighting solutions to penetrate every layer of vegetation. Not only does this approach maximize space efficiency, but it also opens up new avenues for cultivating high-yield crops in urban environments.

Labor-Intensive Setups

Growing high-yield crops involves careful consideration of labor and maintenance requirements. Traditional lighting setups can be labor-intensive, demanding manual adjustments and constant monitoring. Fortunately, advancements in lighting technology have led to the creation of automated systems that reduce the need for hands-on intervention. These systems can be programmed to provide the correct spectrum and intensity at each growth stage, saving growers time and effort.

Aligning Lighting with the Growing Cycle

Plants have an innate sense of time, driven by the natural cycles of light and darkness. Disrupting this cycle, even inadvertently, can profoundly affect growth and yield. Properly aligning lighting schedules with the plant’s natural rhythm is crucial. Introducing artificial light during dark periods can confuse plants and interrupt their growth patterns. Ensuring the lighting routine aligns with the growing cycle helps maintain plant health, energy efficiency, and productivity.

Integration with Irrigation Systems

Light and water are two fundamental components in any horticulture setup. Integrating lighting and irrigation systems can yield remarkable results. Coordinated lighting and irrigation ensure that plants receive the proper nutrients and water precisely when needed. This synergy enhances nutrient absorption and water efficiency, promoting healthier and more productive crops. Intelligent systems can synchronize lighting and irrigation, eliminating the guesswork of managing these critical factors.

Work With Starbeam Lighting

In high-yield crop cultivation, horticulture lighting is more than just a means to illuminate plants. It’s a science that, when mastered, can unlock the full potential of your crops. By understanding growth stages, embracing the proper light colors, placing fixtures strategically, and leveraging technology to streamline processes, growers can avoid typical horticulture lighting mistakes and set the stage for bountiful harvests.

Starbeam Lighting Solutions stands ready to guide commercial property owners through this journey, offering tailored solutions illuminating the path to success. Whether you’re nurturing cannabis or any other high-yield crop, remember that the right light can make all the difference. Contact us today!

The post Horticulture Lighting Mistakes To Avoid appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Where Should I Put My Light Fixtures?

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 16:14:00 GMT

Lighting creates a safe and inviting environment for commercial property employees, customers, and visitors, and the strategic placement of these fixtures can enhance security, improve energy efficiency, and elevate the overall aesthetic appeal of your property. In this blog post, we’ll explore various areas throughout a commercial property where lighting should be present and how we at Starbeam Lighting Solutions can assist you in optimizing your lighting solutions.

Entryways/Exits

Entryways and exits of your property are the first and last contact points for anyone entering or leaving. Proper lighting in these areas is essential for security measures and creating a welcoming atmosphere. Consider installing outdoor sconces, floodlights, or wall-mounted fixtures to illuminate entrances and exits. These not only enhance visibility but also deter potential intruders. Additionally, ensure that exit signs are well-positioned and adequately lit to guide occupants during emergencies.

Parking Lots

A well-lit parking lot is crucial for the safety and convenience of your customers and employees. Insufficient lighting can lead to accidents, theft, or vandalism. Consider high-mounted pole lights or LED parking lot fixtures to ensure uniform illumination. These fixtures provide ample light coverage, making it easier for people to navigate and locate their vehicles. Furthermore, incorporating motion sensors in your parking lot lights can help save energy during low-traffic periods.

Exterior

The exterior of your commercial property plays a vital role in creating a positive first impression. Expertly designed exterior lighting can enhance architectural features, highlight pathways, and draw attention to signage. Consider incorporating landscape lighting to accentuate the beauty of your property’s facade. You can create a visually appealing atmosphere by strategically illuminating trees, shrubs, and walkways while improving safety and security. Motion-activated lights are also effective in deterring trespassers or intruders.

Hallways

Well-lit hallways are essential for ensuring the safety and easy navigation of occupants and visitors within your property. Proper lighting in hallways reduces the risk of accidents and enhances overall visibility. Ceiling-mounted fixtures or recessed lighting are ideal for providing even illumination throughout the space. Installing occupancy sensors can optimize energy usage by automatically turning off lights in low-traffic areas when not needed.

Bathrooms

Proper bathroom lighting is crucial for functionality, safety, and user experience. Bright vanity lights or sconces placed above mirrors eliminate shadows and ensure adequate visibility for tasks such as grooming and hygiene. Incorporating energy-efficient LED bulbs in bathroom fixtures reduces maintenance and helps lower electricity costs in the long run.

Warehouse

Warehouses are often large, open spaces that require ample lighting for productivity, safety, and inventory management. High-bay or low-bay fixtures are designed to distribute uniform light in such areas. Properly illuminated warehouses improve visibility, reduce the risk of accidents, and enhance efficiency. Consider incorporating innovative lighting solutions or occupancy sensors to optimize energy usage by only activating lights when needed.

Office Space

The lighting in office spaces significantly impacts the productivity and well-being of employees. Properly designed lighting can reduce eye strain, increase focus, and create a comfortable work environment. Task lighting, such as desk lamps, should be provided to employees to allow them to adjust lighting levels according to their needs. Additionally, daylight harvesting systems can maximize natural light, reducing energy consumption and creating a more pleasant atmosphere.

Strategic placement of lighting fixtures throughout your commercial property is essential for creating a safe, energy-efficient, and visually appealing environment. You can enhance security, improve productivity, and save energy by prioritizing proper lighting in entryways/exits, parking lots, exteriors, hallways, bathrooms, warehouses, and office spaces.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

The post Where Should I Put My Light Fixtures? appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

10 Ways to Save On Your Building’s Energy Costs

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 18:45:00 GMT

In today’s world, energy efficiency is a responsible choice and a wise business decision. Commercial property owners increasingly realize the importance of reducing energy costs while creating sustainable, eco-friendly spaces. This blog post will explore ten effective ways to save on your building’s energy costs, focusing on lighting, automation, LED technology, natural light, ergonomic spaces, and more.

Upgrade to LED Lighting

One of the most impactful ways to reduce energy consumption is by upgrading to LED lighting. LED lights are known for their energy efficiency, longer lifespan, and reduced maintenance costs. By switching to LED, businesses can significantly decrease their energy bills while enjoying high-quality illumination.

Utilize Natural Light

Harnessing natural light is a cost-effective way to reduce reliance on artificial lighting during daylight hours. Installing skylights, large windows and utilizing light-reflective surfaces can optimize the entry of natural light into the building. This saves energy and creates a pleasant and productive environment for employees.

Implement Lighting Automation

Lighting automation systems are designed to adjust lighting levels based on occupancy or daylight availability. By installing motion and light sensors, businesses can ensure that lights are turned off when areas are unoccupied or when sufficient natural light is present.

Optimize HVAC Systems

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems account for a significant portion of a building’s energy consumption. Regular maintenance, system upgrades, and programmable thermostats can help optimize HVAC efficiency and reduce energy costs. Efficient HVAC systems not only save money but also contribute to creating a comfortable and sustainable workspace.

Embrace Energy-Efficient Building Design

Using energy-efficient design principles during construction can yield long-term energy savings. Proper insulation, efficient windows, and integration of renewable energy solutions like solar panels can significantly reduce energy consumption. Investing in green building practices ensures a sustainable and environmentally friendly workspace.

Use Motion Sensors

Motion sensors are an excellent addition to lighting systems, automatically turning off lights in unoccupied areas. By integrating motion sensors with LED lighting systems, businesses can minimize energy waste and increase savings.

Consider Daylight Harvesting

Daylight harvesting is a technique that utilizes sensors to dim or turn off artificial lights in response to available daylight. By incorporating this technology, businesses can optimize energy consumption by only using artificial lighting when needed. Daylight harvesting not only saves energy but also enhances the visual comfort of the workspace.

Create Ergonomic Workspaces

Efficient lighting design is crucial in creating ergonomic workspaces. Key considerations include maximizing natural light, providing adequate task lighting, and prioritizing employee comfort.

Conduct Energy Audits

Energy audits are essential for identifying areas of energy waste and potential opportunities for improvement. By conducting a comprehensive energy audit, businesses can gain insights into their energy consumption patterns and receive tailored recommendations to reduce energy costs. For Ameren Energy customers, maximizing your rebate is critical.

Educate and Involve Employees

Creating a culture of energy conservation requires employee engagement and awareness. Educate your employees about energy-saving practices and encourage their active participation in energy conservation efforts. Businesses can foster a collective commitment to reducing energy costs and promoting sustainability by involving employees and providing training on energy-efficient practices.

Reducing your building’s energy costs is financially beneficial and contributes to environmental sustainability. Businesses can achieve significant energy savings by implementing the ten strategies discussed in this blog post, including LED lighting upgrades, harnessing natural light, utilizing automation systems, optimizing HVAC systems, and embracing energy-efficient design.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Starbeam Lighting Solutions is committed to helping commercial property owners in Greater St. Louis maximize their energy efficiency through lighting solutions and other energy-saving measures. Together, we can create greener, more sustainable workplaces while reducing operational costs. Contact us today to get started!

The post 10 Ways to Save On Your Building’s Energy Costs appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

How Outdoor Lighting Benefits Your Property

Mon, 08 May 2023 21:05:00 GMT

Outdoor lighting is essential to any commercial property, regardless of the industry. It provides aesthetic appeal and has a range of benefits that can enhance your property’s functionality, safety, and overall value. This blog post will explore the various benefits of outdoor lighting for commercial properties.

Customer Safety

As a business owner, the safety of your customers should be a top priority. A well-lit parking lot and entrance will make customers feel more comfortable and secure when visiting your property after dark. In addition, bright lighting can deter criminal activity, reducing the risk of accidents, theft, or vandalism.

Employee Safety

In addition to customer safety, outdoor lighting can also improve the safety of your employees . If your staff works after hours, such as in a warehouse or manufacturing facility, proper lighting is essential to reduce the risk of workplace accidents. Adequate lighting also allows employees to see potential hazards and avoid accidents that could lead to injury and increased liability.

Avoiding Hazards

Outdoor lighting can help identify potential hazards such as potholes, tree roots, uneven surfaces, or debris that may be hazardous for customers or employees. Further, during the winter, patches of ice or black ice can be difficult to see without bright lighting. Proper lighting can prevent accidents and help protect against potential liability claims.

Curb Appeal

First impressions are crucial in the business world, and the appearance of your property can significantly impact your brand perception. Outdoor lighting can enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of your property, making it more attractive and welcoming to customers. Illuminating architectural features, gardens, and landscaping can add depth and dimension, making your property stand out from the competition.

Brand Awareness with Outdoor Signs

Effective branding is vital for any business; outdoor lighting can help you achieve brand recognition. You can increase brand awareness and visibility by illuminating your business signs, logos, and slogans. Your business will be more easily recognizable from the road, making it more convenient for customers to find your property.

Outdoor Events

Outdoor events are an excellent way to attract customers and promote your brand. If you already have sufficient outdoor lighting around your property, you’ll be better off if you ever choose to host an outdoor event. Whether it’s a music festival, food truck gathering, or seasonal celebration, outdoor lighting can create a festive atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience for attendees. Proper lighting can also increase visibility and ensure the safety of your guests, especially during evening events. And, outdoor events in your parking lot or a grassy area by your building can save money on renting a separate venue.

Holiday Lighting

Holiday lighting is a great way to showcase your business’s festive spirit during the holiday season. Adding outdoor lighting can create an inviting and memorable experience for your customers, boosting your brand image and increasing customer loyalty. Whether twinkling lights or illuminated holiday displays, outdoor lighting can help attract more customers to your business. If you already have suitable outdoor lighting and fixtures, you can attach some festive holiday lights near the exterior of the building.

Outdoor lighting is essential for commercial properties, providing a range of benefits that enhance functionality, safety, and overall value. From customer and employee safety to branding and curb appeal, outdoor lighting is an investment that can yield significant returns for your business.

Work With Starbeam Lighting

One of the things that our clients appreciate most about us is that we never take a cookie-cutter approach. No matter the space, the lighting style, the budget, the location, the natural light, and the aesthetic, we help you optimize outcomes with the best lighting solutions on the market. There is a reason we have been the go-to lighting solution in Greater St. Louis for years. Contact us today to learn more!

The post How Outdoor Lighting Benefits Your Property appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

A Guide to Lighting Control Systems

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 16:53:00 GMT

Lighting is essential to any commercial property, and proper lighting control ensures efficient and effective energy use. Lighting control systems have become increasingly popular, especially among commercial property owners looking to enhance the appeal of their facilities, reduce energy costs, and improve overall safety. This guide will discuss how lighting control systems work, their benefits, and how property owners can train their teams to manage them.

What Are Lighting Control Systems?

Lighting control systems are automated systems that regulate lighting levels and turn lights on and off based on occupancy, time of day, and ambient light levels. These systems use sensors, timers, and other devices to adjust lighting levels and provide optimal illumination for different building areas. They can be installed in various commercial buildings, including hospitals, schools, offices, retail stores, and warehouses, to name a few.

How Do Lighting Control Systems Save Energy?

Lighting control systems help save energy in several ways. Firstly, they help reduce energy consumption by turning lights off when unnecessary. This can be achieved using occupancy sensors, which detect when a space is unoccupied and switch off the lights. In addition, they can be programmed to turn off lights automatically at specific times, such as at the end of the day or during non-working hours.

Secondly, they can reduce energy consumption by adjusting lighting levels to match the natural light levels in a space. This is done using daylight sensors , which measure the amount of natural light in a room and adjust artificial lighting accordingly. By doing this, the system can reduce energy consumption while providing optimal illumination for the space.

Thirdly, they can help reduce energy consumption by providing detailed usage data. Property owners can use this data to identify areas where energy is being wasted and take steps to reduce consumption further.

Benefits of Lighting Control Systems

Lighting control systems offer numerous benefits to commercial property owners:

Energy savings
- As mentioned, they can significantly reduce energy consumption and help property owners save money on energy bills.
Safety
- They help improve commercial property safety by providing optimal illumination in different areas. This can help prevent accidents and injuries caused by poor lighting.
Curb appeal
- They can enhance the visual appeal of a commercial property by highlighting specific features and creating a welcoming ambiance.
Emergency response
- They can be programmed to provide emergency lighting during power outages or other emergencies. This can help improve safety and ensure that occupants can evacuate the building safely.

Training Teams to Manage Lighting Control Systems

Managing lighting control systems can be easy, provided the team is adequately trained. Property owners should provide training to their teams to ensure they understand how the system works and how to make adjustments. Here are some tips for teaching your team to manage lighting control systems:

Start with the basics
- Start by teaching your team the basics of lighting control systems. Explain the different components, including sensors, timers, and switches, and how they regulate lighting levels.
Demonstrate how to use the system
- Once your team understands the basics, demonstrate how to use the system. Show them how to adjust lighting levels, set timers, and activate sensors.
Provide hands-on training
- Provide hands-on training by allowing your team to adjust the system. This will help them become familiar with the system and feel more confident managing it.
Schedule regular refresher training
- Schedule regular training sessions to refresh your team’s knowledge and provide updates on any new features or changes to the system.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Solutions

Upgrading to a lighting control system is an investment of your company’s time, money, and energy – you’ll want experts to help you through the process. Our team at Starbeam Lighting Solutions is here to help you optimize your outcomes with the best lighting solutions on the market. We also work in many other industries, so whatever your lighting project is, contact us today!

The post A Guide to Lighting Control Systems appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

A Guide to Horticultural Lighting

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 20:25:00 GMT

Lighting plays an integral role in many industries, and horticulture is no exception. Horticulture has always been an active field, and with evolving legislation across the U.S. around cannabis, the industry is booming. Lighting in greenhouses or other horticultural settings impacts plant growth, productivity, and safety. People new to the industry and experienced horticulturists should ensure they have the best horticulture lighting system.

Know Your Crop

If you’ve had a horticultural space for a while, you’ll likely know the growth stages of different crops and have best practices for growth strategies. If you’re newer to the industry, it is essential to research all the plants you plan to have in your facility and talk to other horticulturists to learn tips and tricks. If you’re growing cannabis , you’ll want blue light for the vegetative growth stage and red light for the flowering stage. Other plants may have similar needs for maximum growth, which is why research is valuable.

Placement

Another critical part of horticultural lighting is the placement of lighting throughout the facility. You should plan out how close you want the light fixtures to be to the top of the plants, how many light fixtures you plan to have, the spacing between each, and the type of fixture. Tubular lights are popular since they can cover several plants at a time, but since they are narrow, multiple rows of lights may be necessary to light the plants sufficiently. Lights designed to cover just a single plant or two can offer better coverage, but buying more to place throughout the facility may be more expensive.

Temperatures

Most of those experiments from 7th-grade science class hold true– many plants require specific temperatures for optimal growth. In an artificial environment like a greenhouse or other horticultural space, you’ll want to control temperature through HVAC systems, fans, shade curtains, and lighting. You must look into how much extra heat your lights will produce and how that plays in with the rest of the facility. Additionally, to measure temperature correctly, you should place thermometers in multiple places throughout the space and record temperatures over a 24-hour period to get a holistic view of temperature readings.

LED Lighting

As with other industries, LED lighting is taking center stage over traditional fluorescent lights. However, some lighting manufacturers are rebranding LED lights meant for retail spaces to LED horticultural lights without making proper design changes. Strong LED lights designed for horticulture should have full spectrum lighting, low energy consumption, a fan, dimming switches, and more. With the right combination of LED innovation and design considerations, your lighting will help your plants thrive and lower energy costs.

Brands

Many lighting manufacturers are entering the market and perfecting their products in response to the legalization of recreational and medical marijuana in some states. With this market movement, finding a few trusted brands is crucial to ensure you get a quality product. Our team at Starbeam Lighting Solutions has done lots of research, and our preferred manufacturer for horticultural lighting is Barron Lighting Group. We recommend their Growlite® line to our customers , which offers specialized lights for each growth stage of cannabis. The line also has ballasts, lamps, and reflectors either in a combo or sold separately.

When to Replace

Even though horticultural lighting is different than other lighting types, there are commonalities across all industries for when it’s time to replace your lighting. If you notice the lights flickering or dimmed beyond your chosen setting, it may be time to replace (or, at the least, inspect). If you have a mechanical or electrical issue that your lighting could be contributing to or affected by, you’ll also want to take caution. If your lights overheat, you’ll also want to consider a replacement since the extra heat could affect your plants.

Safety

Anytime you work with electrical equipment, safety is crucial. Depending on the size of your horticultural space, you may want to work with lighting specialists to install your new lights properly. This will also ensure that your old existing lights can be safely taken out and disposed of. After installation, you should carefully monitor your lights, watch for warning signs that the lights may need to be replaced, and replace them at the appropriate time.

Work with Starbeam Lighting Solutions

When you work in horticulture, your plants are investments. With so many considerations for horticultural lighting, getting help from the experts will add value to your investment. Our team at Starbeam Lighting Solutions is here to help you through the whole process. We also work in many other industries, so whatever your lighting project is, get in touch with us today!

The post A Guide to Horticultural Lighting appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

How to Increase Security With LED Lighting

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 16:14:00 GMT

When it comes to protecting your facility, cameras and alarms are no-brainers. But have you ever considered the role that LED lighting can play in protecting your property and assets from theft or damage? High-quality LED lighting can offer serious protection in conjunction with other physical security features.

Breaking Down the Benefits

There are many advantages to using LED lights with surveillance cameras. They produce very bright white light that illuminates objects and colors more clearly than softer incandescent lights, allowing for better identification of suspicious persons and activity.

LED lights produce intense beams that you can easily direct to areas where more light is needed or away from areas that might interfere with cameras. LED lights can also be turned on or off instantly, which is excellent for motion detection.

The only significant disadvantage to LED lights is their brightness can cause glare on camera lenses, but you can remedy this by using multiple lights of a lower wattage in place of a few lights with high-powered beams.

Motion-activated lights are a great way to deter intruders without running up your electricity bill, but they will affect what kind of security camera you’ll need. Cameras with night vision will be necessary because they can survey even when lights are not on. Look for cameras with low-light sensitivity or infrared capabilities that adjust quickly to “daylight” when your lights are activated.

Accurate Positioning of LED Lighting

The rule of thumb for light positioning is to keep the light fixture out of view of the camera. This is best done by installing lights higher than the camera, allowing light to flood the camera’s range of view without shining too directly into the camera. You can also purchase lighting fixtures that have cameras built right in.

Cameras should also be positioned with extraneous lightings, such as for pedestrians and visitors, out of view. Lights like these can cause bright spots that become blind spots to camera images. Furthermore, lights should be positioned so they can be reached easily for maintenance but not so easily that they can be maliciously tampered with.

LED Lighting at Night

Security cameras can significantly deter wrong-doers, but sometimes you don’t want people to know the cameras are there. Infrared lights are a great option in areas where you don’t want a light that is visible to the human eye but still needs surveillance.

However, you will need cameras that are sensitive enough to detect infrared at night. Your best option, in this case, is a black-and-white camera, which can detect spectrums of light below red. With this capability, your cameras can view areas stealthily without any visible illumination.

Watch the Brightness

A light that is too bright and shines too directly at a camera can blind its view with blooming and streaking. Use shielded bulbs whose light is directed away from your cameras. Also, don’t install the brightest lights possible. A good rule of thumb is to use bulbs with .5 watts for every square meter (.05 watts for every square foot) of ground you want to illuminate. Anything higher is probably unnecessary and risks overwhelming your cameras.

At the same time, you don’t want to have too little lighting for your surveillance cameras. If your cameras do not have good low-light capability, you must ensure you’re illuminating their surveillance areas with strong enough lights to get a clear picture.

Work With Starbeam Lighting Experts

If you want to upgrade your facility’s security equipment, make sure proper cameras and lighting are part of your plans. You’ll also want to consult with experts that have experience with LED security lighting.

One of the things that our clients appreciate most about us is that we never take a cookie-cutter approach. No matter the space, the lighting style, the budget, the location, the natural light, and your individual aesthetic, we help you optimize outcomes with the best lighting solutions on the market. There is a reason we have been the go-to lighting solution in St. Louis for years. Contact us today to learn more!

The post How to Increase Security With LED Lighting appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Energy Audits: What You Should Know

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 18:27:00 GMT

The cost of doing business is climbing, and commercial property owners and managers are constantly looking for ways to widen profit margins. Besides saving money, businesses are increasingly looking to reduce their environmental footprint.

One of the first steps in knowing how to save money is to conduct a thorough audit of current energy usage. Energy Star offers a great tool to help establish energy usage benchmarks. The Portfolio Manager will take information from you like utility costs, consumption patterns, and overall usage history, offer up to 100 different metrics, and determine a current ENERGY STAR rating.

After benchmarks are established, and KPIs are identified, there are a few more steps to take to complete an informal energy audit.

Check the Exterior and Interior

Cracks, crevices, and gaps that let air in and out unintentionally impact energy usage more than many assume. Think about the last time you sealed up windows, ensured the doors were closed correctly, and checked for leaks where the walls meet the ceilings and doors. Check the interior and the exterior of your warehouse or industrial building for leaks.

Because warehouses and industrial spaces are so expensive, insulating them can be costly, and many building owners skip this step or choose the least expensive insulation if the interior doesn’t need to be climate controlled. While this can help control construction costs, it may end up costing more energy and money to keep the building heated or cooled — adding or upgrading insulation offers a return on investment.

Inspect Major Systems

The air conditioning and heating in your industrial building can be the most costly system to operate. When the air is too hot or too cold, it not only uses excess energy but can also impact the work environment and employee productivity. Invest in an automated, smart thermostat that allows programming and remote access to change the temperature as needed, especially when there aren’t any employees in the building.

A smart thermostat won’t do much if your HVAC system isn’t functioning to the best of its ability. As part of your energy audit, look at maintenance records; are the professionals performing regular checks and necessary repairs on schedule? Have you been changing out the filters as needed? Are the ducts being cleaned thoroughly? Depending on the answer to these questions, you may even need to replace the entire system with a new, ENERGY STAR-rated HVAC system.

Cut Back On Power Usage

Printers, computers, warehouse equipment, manufacturing machines — there are plenty of electronics that get used daily but sit untouched at night. Walk around the building and list everything that can be unplugged at night. Even if they’re not being used and are turned off, they still can draw power that adds up and can get costly over time.

Are you still using traditional fluorescent or incandescent lighting in your industrial building or warehouse? It’s time to consider upgrading to LED lighting. LED lights and fixtures are less expensive to run, but they also last longer (up to 10 years) and require little to no maintenance throughout their lifetime. Look for an experienced LED lighting distributor to help determine which upfits will create the highest cost and energy savings.

The best way to understand how your facility can improve energy consumption and reduce costs is by consulting professionals. Not only will they have the experience to check every area of your building for ways to save, but they can also provide actionable tips and suggestions for taking the next step. They’ll also continue with you to ensure that any energy-saving upgrades pay off over time.

Time to Call Us

Our team is proud to work with you to find the best industrial lighting solutions for your needs. We help you save money, get rebates, use less energy, and find the perfect industrial lighting solutions. Sometimes finding the proper lighting is as simple as figuring out what you’re lacking.

That’s where we come in. We can perform an energy audit or lighting audit. Then, we’ll let you know what will work best for your space and budget. We can make the best recommendations for you and your facility by understanding your needs. Whether you need industrial outdoor LED or industrial bay lighting, we’ll get you on the right track. Request your audit today!

The post Energy Audits: What You Should Know appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

LED Lighting FAQs

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 18:33:00 GMT

LED lighting upgrades are the way of the future. Already have an LED system? Considering putting one in today? It pays to understand the importance and mechanisms of LED lighting.

Are you curious about your options for LED lighting upgrades? Do you wonder if your commercial, warehouse, or office space could be more energy-efficient? Do you already have LED lights, but get the sense that they’re not the quality they could be?

If you answered no to all of the above, then congratulations – you’re either totally on top of your lighting game, or you’re just too busy binging the hottest new series to care. However, if you answered yes to any of the above questions, it’s time to learn more about what LED lights can do for you and your business. Here are the top LED lighting FAQS we get.

What Is LED Lighting?

LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting is becoming increasingly popular for commercial and residential use. It can be retrofitted and built into new construction, and it provides a long-term reduction in energy and expense. LED lights have been around since the 1960s, first primarily used in digital clocks and television remote controls.

LEDs work by passing electrons through a semiconductor, which creates electroluminescence. These light bulbs don’t require filaments like incandescent bulbs, nor do they rely on gas like halogens or fluorescents. They also don’t burn out or need to warm up like fluorescent, and HID bulbs do.

Are LEDs More Energy Efficient?

LED bulbs and fixtures use far less energy than incandescent or fluorescent lighting. They use at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting. Where an incandescent lamp used to take 60 watts to achieve a certain level of light, an LED lamp uses a mere 8 watts. It’s easy to see how this can help you save on operating expenses.

Yes, LEDs may cost more initially, but they offer more significant savings. In addition to saving on your energy bill, LEDs have a fantastic lifespan, lasting, on average, 20 years or 10,000 hours of use. Their fluorescent and HID retrofitted replacements can last at least 45 years or an astonishing 50,000 hours of use. During that lifespan, you will recoup the initial cost of the product through energy savings dozens of times over

When Does LED Lighting Need to Be Replaced?

While the lifespan of LED lighting depends on its use and application, most standard lamps last 50,000 hours, while dimmable LED lamps can last nearly 100,000 hours. For facilities like hospitals and distribution centers that have lights on 24/7, that (theoretically) could mean longevity of six years. On the other hand, office buildings that keep lights on up to 60 hours a week could go 15 years without replacing.

Unlike incandescent lamps, LEDs don’t have a filament to break or fail. Instead, they’ll slowly lose output over time. Manufacturers will rate lighting signifying when 50% of bulbs that are quality tested will reach 70% brightness (B50-L70). The L-rating will change depending on your option; B50-L50 would reach 50% of brightness by the end of the 50,000-hour lifespan.

Is Upgrading to LED Lighting Really Worth It?

When lighting and fixtures last longer, they require less maintenance over time. This is one of the strongest selling points for LED upgrades. Traditional lighting requires more frequent replacement, and in some commercial buildings that take special equipment operated by skilled professionals — an additional cost to include in maintenance calculations. Maintenance can also disrupt business operations. Don’t overlook the cost of downtime in your facility as complicated maintenance processes are performed to keep lighting working.

The question of upgrading to LED lighting shouldn’t be if but when, and the best way to get proper ROI is by working closely with a distributor with experience. Our team is proud to work with you to find the best industrial lighting solutions for your needs. We help you save money, get rebates, use less energy, and find the perfect industrial lighting solutions. Contact us today to learn more about LED lighting upgrades!

The post LED Lighting FAQs appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

LED Lighting On the Job

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 17:12:00 GMT

Organizations everywhere are making big moves to help improve the health and well-being of employees returning to work. However, decision-makers may be overlooking the role that lighting plays in a workplace setting.

In the Warehouse

Poor lighting levels in your warehouse and flicker from traditional lighting causes a list of health issues: headaches, fatigue, eye strain — all of these are hugely detrimental for employees who are already functioning in a high-risk workplace. LED lighting is flicker-free and helps mitigate these health issues; in turn, employees take fewer sick days, are less prone to burnout, and are more efficient and productive overall. Switching to LED lighting can create lighting in your warehouse that’s very similar to natural light.

All the warehouse equipment training in the world won’t stop an accident if the lighting in your warehouse facility is poor or too dim. Aisles are tight, and workers are constantly moving around the warehouse transporting inventory. Equipment operators and forklift drivers can easily hit shelving, piles of pallets, or even other employees without the proper lighting in place. LED lighting can offer visibility for operators to make quick reactions that avoid dangerous accidents.

In Healthcare

It’s not easy to just switch off the lights in healthcare facilities when you leave a room — think about how many areas of a hospital must be illuminated 24/7 for safety and compliance reasons. As many healthcare facilities and hospitals are looking for ways to decrease spending and support sustainable initiatives, LED lighting seems like a natural choice.

There are two ways lighting can impact the human body — either visually or physiologically. Pre-existing conditions or illnesses can lead to decreased vision, which could increase the potential for dangerous slip-and-fall accidents. Additionally, flicker from traditional lighting could increase employees’ sensitivity and is tied to fatigue or obstructed vision that may directly impact the care they provide. LED lighting can offer optimal lighting and even help reduce facility liability.

LED fixtures can reduce health risks as well. Studies show that incandescent and fluorescent lighting can emit harmful UV rays: “Increased use of fluorescent lighting as a climate change mitigation strategy may increase eye disease.” This traditional lighting also contains the toxin mercury, which can be released if a bulb breaks and requires an extensive and complex clean-up process to avoid exposure.

In Education

Hands-down, the most significant benefit of LED lighting in schools is that they have been proven time and again to help improve academic performance. LEDs are customizable and dimmable and can imitate natural light, which improves concentration and creates a better learning environment. Scientists have also uncovered that LEDs can support the development of cognitive skills and decrease student error.

For students and staff that already have vision or learning challenges, the flicker and glare of traditional lighting can be a distraction at best and a health hazard at worst. Too much exposure can also cause behavioral issues, lack of concentration, and increased hyperactivity in the school setting. LEDs offer continuous light streams without flickers and glare and won’t give off harmful radiation like incandescent and fluorescent lighting.

Work With Experienced Professionals

When it comes to upgrading to LED lighting to help improve workplace well-being, the answer shouldn’t be if – it should be when. The best way to get proper ROI is by working closely with a distributor with experience. Our team is proud to work with you to find the best industrial lighting solutions for your needs. We help you save money, get rebates, use less energy, and find the perfect industrial lighting solutions. Contact us today to discuss a LED lighting upgrade!

The post LED Lighting On the Job appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Retail Lighting Tips for Holiday Shopping

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 19:56:00 GMT

This holiday shopping season will look much different for brick and mortar retailers than it ever has before. With the consideration of supply chain challenges and the rise of e-commerce, retailers need to increase foot traffic and boost their bottom line. These steps include marketing and merchandising, but now more than ever, customer experience is front and center.

Lighting helps provide the backdrop for the first impression for visitors. Studies have shown that the right lighting upfits can increase sales by 12% with a strategic approach.

From Outside In

Retail businesses need to showcase their name during the busy holiday shopping season. You can use LED lights to draw attention to your location and keep important branding (like logos) top-of-mind for customers, setting you apart from the competition.

When curb appeal, landscaping, and hardscaping are a big part of your building’s design, you can use lighting in these spaces to show off your investments. Great lighting design can also offer a more photogenic space, perfect for the current state of image-forward digital marketing trends and “Instagrammable” areas.

Once you have your customers’ attention from the outside, continue that same branding as they walk through the doors. Use your merchandising plans as a blueprint for lighting upfits, showcasing items in ways that help customers find what they’re seeking.

Just as with traditional lighting, you’ll find several types of fixtures, temperatures, and LED lighting colors to set the tone for shoppers. Break up your lighting for different effects in different store areas; for example, think about how the lighting in retail spaces like jewelry stores or supermarkets can make or break a sale.

Layer LEDs

Think about dividing your retail lighting into “layers” to help you manage any layout challenges.

The overall lighting in your store is ambient lighting, and this is where you want to focus your energy on creating an authentic atmosphere. Usually, the most prominent lighting source or fixture that puts out the most light is considered ambient.
A “spotlight” effect is called accent lighting, and it can draw attention to high-ticket or popular items in your store. You can also use it to point out important signage about sales, return policies, new product offerings, and more.
Even with ambient and accent lighting, you may still have shadows or dark areas lurking in corners, which may cause customers to miss seeing some of your products and hurt your bottom line. This is where high-activity lighting comes into play.

Upgrade ASAP

There was once a time not long ago when the phrase “retail store” was synonymous with “fluorescent,” but that’s quickly changing thanks to the evolution of LED lighting. Innovations mean that you have endless options for color and temperature and LED-compatible fixtures that add to store decor.

If your store doesn’t have LED lighting yet, or you have just a few bulbs installed, it may be time to make the switch and upgrade everything. While this can present business owners with some up-front costs, the energy and cost savings you’ll see will make it worthwhile.

Think About Art and Design

Along with the technicalities of using LED lighting in your retail store, add a splash of creativity into the mix. Use multiple sources and fixtures throughout your store to create a dynamic that keeps customers interested in your products. That said, don’t cram your space with as much lighting as possible, thinking it helps shoppers. Larger areas can use backlights for ambiance and high-activity lighting to emphasize certain products or sections of the store.

LEDs Keeps You Safe, Too

Where do you keep your extra inventory? In a dimly lit back room? What about a warehouse with a layout that’s constantly changing? Along with adding aesthetic appeal to your store’s showroom, LED lighting can also provide wayfinding and safety for employees who check on stock.

Don’t neglect alternative entrances, loading docks, back doors, and emergency exits. LED lighting in these areas of your store is vital to keep both employees and customers safe (and your business protected from code violations and liability) in the event of an emergency.

From the front of your store to the back employee entrance, your retail business depends on LED lighting to help play a large part in your retail success. Before making any upgrades, you should start with an energy audit from our team of lighting experts to understand the best plan of action. Contact us today to get started!

The post Retail Lighting Tips for Holiday Shopping appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Hazardous Location Lighting

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 21:20:00 GMT

For manufacturing, commercial, and industrial facilities that produce and store hazardous (and possibly combustible) materials, lighting is a crucial factor. In fact, there are specialty LED lighting products and fixtures that are made specifically for hazardous location lighting.

What Is Hazardous Location Lighting?

Simply put, hazardous location lighting is a light or fixture that’s placed in a location where a fire could start after hazardous materials come into contact with lighting fixtures. These materials can be flammable, combustible, or ignitable, and could be fibers, gasses, dust, or vapors. Electrical equipment could also create a fire risk in certain situations.

Hazardous areas are defined by a number of classifications. There are divisions, classes, and groups that have certain rules and regulations based on the use of the space. Understanding the differences helps lighting distributors offer LED lighting options made specifically for hazardous locations within buildings.

What Industries Need Hazardous Location Lighting?

Some examples of hazardous locations are obvious — think facilities that process chemicals or gasses, pulp and steel mills, and public utility treatment plants. These are the locations that emit harmful gasses and handle chemicals that could quickly become a fire risk with the wrong lighting in place.

There is a long list of examples of facilities that have hazardous lighting locations, but these are the most common examples:

Petroleum and gasoline refineries
Gas storage and dispensing areas
Spray paint booths and finishing areas
Paint shops and facilities
Utility gas or chemical plants
Alcohol production facilities
Textile dyeing and printing plants
Wastewater treatment plans

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration (OSHA) have established industry standards and codes to regulate hazardous locations.

LEDs in Hazardous Locations

Not only do specialty LED lights and fixtures help mitigate the risk of fire in hazardous locations, but they can also greatly reduce energy consumption. There are also some additional benefits of choosing lighting fixtures like Shat-R-Shield, such as durability and energy efficiency.

Shat-R-Shield’s LED tubes are safety coated to contain virtually all glass and lamp particles if accidentally broken. The skin-tight plastic coating is guaranteed not to yellow, crack or flake for the rated life of the lamp and reduces light output by less than 1%. Easily identified by their trademark orange bands, safety inspectors know these lamps are covered by the ultimate protection and are UL & NSF certified, USDA approved, and meet FDA and OSHA standards.

One of the most obvious benefits of LED lighting upgrades — especially for hazardous locations — is the reduction of energy consumption. When traditional lighting is replaced with LED lighting at the same brightness, facilities can see savings that would pay for the LED investment over the course of two or three years. LED lighting for hazardous locations is versatile as well, and Shat-R-Shield has a range of lighting fixtures that can be strategically placed throughout a facility or plant. Their inherent designs allow them to be durable, explosion-proof, and even portable.

Other Uses for Hazardous Location Lighting

The same lighting (like Shat-R-Shield) that holds up under harsh conditions can also be used to maintain environmental standards in other industries. For food and beverage-related facilities, FDA regulations state that light bulbs “be protected, coated, or otherwise shatter-resistant in areas where there is exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; or unwrapped single-service and single-use articles.” Pharmaceutical and cosmetic facilities must also follow strict regulations set by the FDA and the US Department of health and human services.

Investing in the right hazardous location lighting means you’re protecting your best asset — your employees. Work with our team of experienced lighting professionals to determine the classification of hazardous locations and which LED lighting choices are the best options. We have experience working with facilities just like yours, and we’ll follow the process from design to installation and beyond. Don’t take chances with your hazardous location lighting!

The post Hazardous Location Lighting appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Take Advantage of Additional LED Savings

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 20:29:00 GMT

Upgrading to LED lighting for energy efficiency is now easier and more cost-effective than ever, thanks to additional incentives from Ameren Missouri: From May 1, 2021 until July 31, 2021, the Ameren Missouri BizSavers Program has increased incentive rates by 20%. This applies to pre-approval interior lighting projects replacing fluorescent or HID lamps or fixtures with LEDs.

Upgrading to LED lighting is one of the quickest and easiest ways to boost sustainability and energy efficiency, but many facility managers and decision-makers balk at the upfront cost of investment. Because LED upgrades may be considered a luxury at this time and not a necessity, the key to justifying that cost is figuring out the return on that investment over the course of the lighting’s lifetime.

AMEREN does not do its own installations or retrofits. Instead, they rely on a network of BizSavers® Trade Allies like our team at Starbeam to serve their Missouri and Illinois customers. We also work with the nonprofit, public, and municipal sectors to improve their energy efficiency without sacrificing quality.

Because we are trained continually on new energy efficiency technologies and installation techniques, not only are our products state-of-the-art, so too are our standards and practices. What’s more, we’re better positioned than non-Ally contractors to understand the ins and outs of the rebate and incentive structure, so we know how to save you money.

We think you should start with a free lighting audit from Starbeam Lighting. We’ll assess your current lighting and determine how we can save you energy and money with our highly efficient LED lighting. Our Ameren Ally specialists will also work with you at every step to ensure that you get every penny in rebates your business qualifies for, so contact us today !

The post Take Advantage of Additional LED Savings appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

The Benefits of LED Lighting in Schools

Mon, 10 May 2021 19:44:00 GMT

Facility managers across the country are doing everything they can to create schools and educational facilities that are safe and healthy for students and staff, and this includes upgrading the lighting to LED bulbs and fixtures. Although many decision-makers may have sticker shock when looking at the cost of the upgrade, it’s important to consider how the benefits of LED lighting will offer a return on investment.

Improved Academic Performance

Hands-down, the biggest benefit of LED lighting in schools is that they have been proven time and again to help improve academic performance. LEDs are customizable and dimmable and can imitate natural light, which in turn improves concentration and creates a better learning environment. Scientists have also uncovered the fact that LEDs can support the development of cognitive skills and decrease student error.

Energy Savings

Another ubiquitous advantage of LEDs — regardless of the application — is the energy efficiency compared to traditional lighting. Schools that are already running on tight budgets see significant savings after an upgrade; 75-80% on average according to the US Department of Energy. The money saved on utilities can be reallocated to other programs for students.

Increased Lighting Control

Unlike traditional incandescent or fluorescent lighting, it’s much easier to add controls to LEDs and fixtures. This allows for increased flexibility when the warmth or color of the lighting needs to be changed to better match student activity. Virtual learners won’t get distracted by the on-screen flickering; that doesn’t happen with LED lighting either. Connectivity through the Internet of Things (IoT) tech allows for the control of lighting remotely along with the ability to automate lighting to turn on and off based on occupancy.

Minimal Maintenance

If your school facility still has traditional lighting, think about the number of bulbs throughout the building. Take that number and use it to calculate the time and cost of replacing those bulbs as they burn out every year (or even sooner.) Traditional bulbs last around 10,000 hours, while LED bulbs last 5x as longer — now think about how much time you would save by replacing fewer bulbs less often, with less disruption to the school day and far lower maintenance costs.

Better Lighting Quality

For students and staff that already have vision or learning challenges, the flicker and glare of traditional lighting can be a distraction at best and a health hazard at worst. Too much exposure can also be a cause of behavioral issues, lack of concentration, and increased hyperactivity in the school setting. LEDs offer continuous streams of light without the flicker and glare, and won’t give off harmful radiation like incandescent and fluorescent lighting.

Choosing LEDs for School Facilities

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times: Not all LED lighting is created equal, and to really see the benefits of your upgrade you need to invest in quality products and have them professionally installed. This requires some research and planning on the part of facility managers and decision-makers.

When it comes to interior lighting fixtures, there are a lot of questions to answer. For instance, should you use LED or traditional lights? Should you opt for high bay lighting or pendant lighting? If you choose bay lighting, what’s the best way to lay it out? Why continue with outdated lighting in your schools when you could instead have the most modern options at your disposal?

These questions are typically difficult for the average business owner to answer. So, it’s important to get the right help in upgrading your school lighting. Work with a company that knows what it’s doing and can advise you. Additionally, you need a partner that offers enough products and services to ensure the best indoor lighting results.

We work with a large variety of clients — including schools — and we can provide the products you need. Moreover, we can offer assistance acquiring energy rebates and seeing ROI within 12 to 24 months. We would love to help you explore your options. Contact us and schedule an audit!

The post The Benefits of LED Lighting in Schools appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

A Guide To Exterior Commercial Lighting

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 20:51:00 GMT

When it comes to investing in safety and security, outdoor lighting is a necessity for public spaces, businesses, warehouses, and other commercial property. These are the lights that keep dark areas illuminated during the day, help provide bright illumination throughout the evenings, and offer additional benefits like aesthetic appeal and security.

While there is a range of exterior commercial lighting options available, many facilities are turning to LED upgrades to save money and energy efficiency. The 50,000+ hour lifetime of LED bulbs means that replacement is lower-cost and less frequent, and there is also a range of colors and tones.

These are some of the most popular LED choices for exterior commercial lighting:

Exterior LED Lighting: Wall packs are a common type of exterior LED lighting, and are installed onto the wall of your building or another vertical surface to illuminate the perimeter of your property. Beam direction, color, and duration of operation can all be easily controlled through automation and tech tools connected to your lighting system.
Outdoor LED Lighting: This LED lighting can be used to illuminate gardens, campuses, walkways, streets, and more. This usually means installing LED pole-mounted lighting in these areas for better visualization and safety with aesthetics in mind.
LED Landscape Lighting: There’s probably a nice chunk of your facility management budget that is likely designated towards improving the landscaping. Why not show it off with specialty LED landscape lighting? This is a great choice for businesses that want to draw attention to their property.
Commercial Exterior Lighting Fixtures: Finding the right commercial exterior lighting goes beyond bulbs; it’s also about your fixtures. Depending on your lighting design, fixtures can improve energy efficiency, add stylistic appeal to the property and allow for connectivity for IoT (Internet of Things) devices.
Flood Lights: Large spaces like parking lots, sports fields, and distribution center campuses need lighting that offers a wide range of views. LED floodlights in the right strength and wattage could be the solution for these types of applications.
Sensors: Dusk-to-dawn sensors optimize lighting use based on sunrise and sunset times, while motion sensors trigger the lights when people enter or exit your space. Both of these tools will help make your LED lighting more energy-efficient.

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Because there are now so many available options when upgrading your exterior commercial lighting, it’s not something we’d recommend you tackle on your own. Working with a qualified, experienced lighting team can bring important skill sets to the table, from the design of the lighting system throughout its installation, and even when it comes to long-term maintenance of your LED lighting.

Once you’ve settled on a budget for commercial exterior lighting, sit down with those lighting professionals to discuss your options. Bring important documentation to these meetings, like landscape plans, property maps, and building blueprints. If sustainability plays an important role in your upgrade, let your lighting team know to help guide their suggestions. Making sure that you get the most of your exterior commercial lighting investment means choosing high-quality products and professional guidance and installation.

If you need to prioritize upgrades for cost or logistics reasons, choose to replace or add lighting to areas that need it most — like entryways and exits, walking paths and stairs, and parking lot areas. Again, working with qualified lighting professionals can help demystify which types of LED lighting are best for certain areas of your commercial property.

We understand that the cost of lighting an entire building’s exterior can be expensive. This is especially true if you are using old technology that sucks up energy and wastes much of it before it gets to you. If you want the best commercial lighting, you need to work with a company that understands the ins and outs.

From the moment we start exploring your options to the final design process, from installation to walk-through, from handoff to ongoing consulting, we are here for you. If you need a quick fix, call us. If you need a new lighting solution entirely, we can help. Just make sure that when you are exploring your commercial outdoor lighting opportunities, you work with the best.

The post A Guide To Exterior Commercial Lighting appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Conducting Commercial Energy Audits

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 20:20:00 GMT

When was the last time you performed a comprehensive audit of the energy usage in your commercial building? Are you looking for ways to cut energy costs while also supporting sustainability? Then it’s time to conduct an energy audit.

Establish Metrics

Energy Star offers a great tool to help commercial building managers and owners set benchmarks for energy usage. The Portfolio Manager will take information from you like utility costs, consumption patterns, and overall usage history and offer up to 100 different metrics and determine a current ENERGY STAR rating.

Look for Leaks

Cracks, crevices, and gaps that let air in and out unintentionally impact energy usage more than many people assume. Think about the last time you sealed up windows and made sure the doors properly closed, and check for leaks where the walls meet the ceilings and doors. Check both the interior and the exterior of your warehouse or industrial building for leaks.

Inspect Insulation

Because warehouses and industrial spaces are so expensive, insulating them can be costly and many building owners skip this step or choose the least costly insulation if the interior doesn’t need to be climate controlled. While this can help control construction costs, it may end up costing more energy and money to keep the building heated or cooled — adding or upgrading insulation offers a return on investment.

Automate the Air

Aside from the lighting (more about that later) the air conditioning and heating in your industrial building can be the most costly system to operate. When the air is too hot or too cold, it not only uses excess energy, but can also impact the work environment and impact employee productivity. Invest in an automated, smart thermostat that allows for programming and remote access to change the temperature as needed, especially when there aren’t any employees in the building.

Tune-Up the HVAC

A smart thermostat won’t do much if your HVAC system isn’t functioning to the best of its ability. As part of your energy audit, take a look at maintenance records; are the pros performing regular checks and necessary repairs on schedule? Have you been changing out the filters as needed? Are the ducts being cleaned thoroughly? Depending on the answer to these questions, you may even need to replace the entire system with a new, ENERGY STAR-rated HVAC system.

Unplug at Night

Printers, computers, warehouse equipment, manufacturing machines — there are plenty of electronics that get used daily, but sit untouched at night. Walk around the building and make a list of everything that can be unplugged at night. Even if they’re not being used and are turned off, they still can draw power that adds up and can get costly over time.

Level Up Lighting

Are you still using traditional fluorescent or incandescent lighting in your industrial building or warehouse? It’s time to consider upgrading to LED lighting. Not only are LED lights and fixtures less expensive to run, but they also last longer (up to 10 years) and require little to no maintenance over the span of their lifetime. Look for an experienced LED lighting distributor to help determine which upfits will create the biggest cost and energy savings.

Call In the Professionals

The best way to really understand how your facility can improve energy consumption and reduce costs is by consulting professionals (see above). Not only will they have the experience to check every area of your building for ways to save, but they can also provide actionable tips and suggestions for taking the next step. They’ll also continue with you to ensure that any energy-saving upgrades pay off over time.

Our team is proud to work with you to find the best industrial lighting solutions for your needs. We help you save money, get rebates, use less energy, and find the perfect industrial lighting solutions. Sometimes finding the right lighting is as simple as figuring out what you’re lacking.

That’s where we come in. We can perform an energy audit or lighting audit. Then, we’ll let you know what will work best for your space and your budget. By knowing your needs we can make the best recommendations for you and your facility. Whether you need industrial outdoor LED or industrial bay lighting, we’ll get you on the right track. Request your audit today!

The post Conducting Commercial Energy Audits appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Is Upgrading to LED Lighting Worth It?

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 19:31:00 GMT

Upgrading to LED lighting is one of the quickest and easiest ways to boost sustainability and energy-efficiency, but many facility managers and decision-makers balk at the upfront cost of investment. Because LED upgrades may be considered a luxury at this time and not a necessity, the key to justifying that cost is figuring out the return on that investment over the course of the lighting’s lifetime.

While there are formulas to easily calculate the quantifiable ROI of LED upgrades, it’s not always easy to determine whether that number is good — or good enough — to justify the upgrade. Don’t overlook some important factors when figuring out when it’s time to switch to LED lighting.

Incentives, Rebates, and Tax Deductions

Utility companies across the country offer rebates for projects that improve the efficiency of commercial buildings; Ameren, Missouri will offer cash rebates in exchange for proof that facility managers have purchased products or equipment that meet energy ratings. The maximum rebate Ameren offers is $500,000 per project, which can make a big dent when investing in LED lighting upgrades, but you only get the rebate once.

The federal government also offers a tax deduction for energy projects in commercial buildings. The 179D deduction is specific to lighting upgrades and can reduce taxable income and tax debt obligation. There are also several other national and state incentives that a qualified, experienced lighting distributor would be able to help organizations leverage.

Energy Usage

One of the most obvious benefits of LED lighting upgrades is the reduction of energy consumption. When traditional lighting is replaced with LED lighting at the same brightness, facilities can see savings that would pay for the LED investment over the course of two or three years.

There are calculators available online to figure out the exact energy savings from an LED lighting upgrade, but the savings will be significant over the lifetime of the lighting (which is around 10 years for most LED bulbs and fixtures). Factor in these annual savings when determining ROI.

Maintenance

When lighting and fixtures last longer, they ultimately require less maintenance over time; this is one of the strongest selling points for LED upgrades. Traditional lighting requires more frequent replacement, and in some commercial buildings that takes special equipment manned by skilled professionals — an additional cost to include in maintenance calculations. Maintenance can also disrupt business operations. Don’t overlook the cost of downtime in your facility as complicated maintenance processes are performed to keep lighting working as it should.

Doing The Math

After knowing how all of these affect upgrading to LED Lighting, it’s time to boil ROI down to some important numbers. Before figuring the formulas, here are the specs you need to collect to do the math.

Hours per day lights are on
Number of days per week that the lights are lit
Number of fixtures or lamps
Wattage of lamps
Ballast factor of lamps
Your current kWh rate
Estimated cost of yearly maintenance
Proposed new fixtures or lamp quantity
Installation cost of new fixtures

These numbers are then plugged into several equations.

Finding fixture hours per year:

Hours per day x days per week x 52 weeks = hours per year

Estimating total fixture wattage:

Number of lamps x wattage of lamps x ballast factor = fixture wattage

Calculate existing energy use (kWh):

Existing fixture quantity x fixture wattage x hours per year = kWh 1000

Calculate existing total energy cost per year:

kWh x utility rate = yearly energy cost (in dollars)

Calculate proposed energy use (kWh):

Proposed fixture quantity x LED fixture wattage (no ballast factor) x hours per year = kWh 1000

Calculate proposed total energy cost per year:

kWh x utility rate = yearly energy cost (in dollars)

Establish installation cost:

Proposed fixture quantity x installation cost per fixture = total installation cost

Calculate yearly energy savings:

(Existing kWh – Proposed kWh) x utility rate = yearly energy savings (in dollars)

Calculate yearly savings:

(Proposed total energy cost + proposed total maintenance cost) – (Existing total energy cost + existing total maintenance cost) = annual savings (in dollars)

The question of upgrading to LED lighting shouldn’t be if, it should be when, and the best way to get true ROI is by working closely with a distributor with experience. Our team is proud to work with you to find the best industrial lighting solutions for your needs. We help you save money, get rebates, use less energy, find the perfect industrial lighting solutions. Let’s talk more about your LED lighting upgrade.

The post Is Upgrading to LED Lighting Worth It? appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

When Should I Replace My LED Lighting?

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 20:52:00 GMT

Although LED fixtures last longer than traditional incandescent lighting, they may be due for replacement if you upgraded about ten years ago when they first hit the market in 2010. For those considering an LED lighting replacement now, it’s important to understand the lifetime value of the investment.

How long do LED lamps and fixtures last?

While the lifespan of LED lighting depends on its use and application, most standard lamps last 50,000 hours , while dimmable LED lamps can last nearly 100,000 hours. For facilities like hospitals and distribution centers that have lights on 24/7, that (theoretically) could mean longevity of six years. On the other hand, office buildings that keep lights on up to 60 hours a week could go 15 years without replacing.

What affects the lifespan of LED lighting?

Along with how often LED lights are turned on and how many hours they run, there are other factors that impact how long they last.

Poor Quality: Not all LEDs are created equal and manufacturers who choose quality components create lights that last longer and are free of material defects that could cause operational failure.
Electrical Over Stress: EOS happens when more power is sent to LEDs than the recommended maximum. Poor design and sub-quality drivers can cause this issue, as could human error during the installation process.
Heat and Moisture Stress: Although LEDs operate at much cooler temperatures than traditional incandescent lamps, they can still fail if exposed to extreme temperatures. The same is true for environments with high levels of humidity.

What are the signs it’s time for a LED lighting replacement?

As mentioned above, traditional lights will burn out when they’re no longer functional — a sure sign that they need to be replaced. Before LEDs hit the mass consumer market, fixtures and lamps were sold separately based on the shorter (1000-5000 hours) lifespan of traditional, incandescent lighting. Although this saved replacement time because lamps could simply be swapped out, the budget for lighting was astronomical.

On the other hand, LEDs will become dimmer over time and this dimness is the first sign that it’s time for replacements. In turn, the lower lighting output can cause eye strain and chronic headaches for employees and even impact the safety and maneuverability of a facility. Working with an experienced, expert distributor will offer a better idea of how much life your LEDs currently have left.

How are LEDs replaced?

Now that LED technology has evolved, manufacturers and users have embraced the integrated LED, which is a hybrid fixture-lamp combination. When facilities were upgraded a decade ago, it’s quite likely that the retrofit included adding LED bulbs to existing fixtures, which is now less common because of integrated LEDs. Now it’s much more likely that replacing current LED lighting would include fixtures and lamps to optimize the efficiency and operation of LEDs.

For facilities that want to keep their fixtures while simply replacing existing LED lights, it’s critical to work with distributors to ensure you’re getting compatible bulbs. Lighting experts can also help building managers choose upgraded integrated LED solutions.

To sum it up: If it’s been about 10 years since the last LED upgrade, if facility lighting isn’t as optimal is it once was (or should be), or if the facility is undergoing a transformation in use, it’s a wise idea to speak with a team of lighting professionals — like our team.

With more than four decades in the lighting business, we know exactly what works when it comes to lighting for warehouses, offices, and industrial settings. We understand the benefits of LEDs and how to make the most of them. We can offer the information needed for the best choice. Let’s start a conversation today about what it takes to replace LED lighting in your facility.

The post When Should I Replace My LED Lighting? appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Horticultural Lighting Upgrades

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 18:07:00 GMT

Lighting in horticultural settings and cannabis cultivation is key to the success of your crops — that’s a universal truth. As LED lighting becomes more sophisticated and industry professionals learn new skills for optimizing those LEDs, best practices are also adjusted. If you’ve made the recent decision to upfit your system, these are the decisions to keep in mind.

Try Before You Buy

As tempting as it sounds, don’t go all-in on LED lighting upgrades right out of the gate. Try a few lights on one or two plants in a controlled environment and track the results over time. If you haven’t used LEDs before in your growth process, it’s important to know how factors like air temperature and color change after an upfit. When one option doesn’t work, you can easily (and inexpensively) try something new without ruining high volumes of plants.

Plan For A Marathon

Unless you’re building a brand new cultivation facility from the ground up, it’s likely that you’ll face multi-stage upgrades. It could take months or even years to fully replace all of the lighting in your facility, and you need to have a blueprint with milestones to track progress. Team players need to communicate frequently to ensure that lighting distributors and installers understand the big picture. Don’t rush the process; getting it right the first time saves you from downtime or reduced crop yield.

Take Advantage Of Rebates

Another benefit of working with experienced lighting vendors is their experience in finding rebates for customers. Beyond that, the utility company you work with will be able to tell you about local rebate options. Look into other tax benefits for making your commercial facility more energy-efficient, and use these savings as a tool to show investors and stakeholders during conversations about operating costs.

Take The Switch Seriously

Large-scale facilities often have plants at different places in the growth cycle, and it can be a monumental task to schedule lightweight upfits to LED fixtures. Take this seriously; as a cultivation expert you know how important it is to optimize the rollout. Plan ahead, account for downtime if necessary, and do what you can to protect your product while the work is being done. LED lighting upfits don’t happen overnight; it’s more complex than changing out a lightbulb.

Adjust Other Systems, Too

Work with a structural engineer to assess the condition of your electrical and HVAC systems before you finalize an LED upgrade plan. Load numbers and air temperature will be directly impacted by the change from traditional to LED lights, and you may need to perform repairs or maintenance in other areas of your building to accommodate your new LEDs.

Know Lighting Design Principles

While each cultivation facility has different, unique lighting needs, there are some universal principles that help make the most of your system:

Determine your target-level light intensity.
Position lights to maintain even intensity across the canopy.
Buy a quantum sensor.
The shape of your growing space matters.
Don’t underestimate the cost of obstructions.
Light-intensity variation is often lower toward the center of a room and increases as you move toward the perimeter.
Understand that the plants will do some work for you.
Understand the Inverse Square Law.

Know The Big Names

When it comes to horticultural lighting, Growlite® is leading the way. The manufacturer offers specialized lights for each growth stage of cannabis cultivation and the lights are finely tuned to deliver the correct light spectrum balanced with optimum energy efficiency. Growlite® has its own ballast, they have their own lamp, and they have their own reflector. While these products can be sold in a combo, Growlite® is also unique in the sense that each of these components may be sold separately.

Upfitting your grow lights to LED fixtures is no small feat, and cultivators at any stage of the game should invest in outside help to make sure it goes smoothly. Our Horticultural Lighting Specialists at Starbeam are known for their hard work keeping up with all of the latest lighting industry innovations and trends. One of the hottest trends over recent years is horticultural lighting, likely fueled by changes in state cannabis laws across the country.

Ready to learn more about how to get the most from your horticultural lighting investment? Call us and we will connect you with one of our in-house horticultural lighting specialists. They will help you get the most yield from the perfect balance of quality fixtures, low maintenance, and efficient energy consumption.

The post Horticultural Lighting Upgrades appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

What are LED Drivers?

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 20:56:00 GMT

LED lighting offers a long list of benefits over traditional lighting — energy efficiency, longevity, smaller environmental impact, and lower cost of ownership over a lifetime just to name a few. That said, one of the (very minor) drawbacks of LEDs is that they require a consistent, constant flow of electrical current at an exact voltage in order to function properly and remain at a temperature that prevents them from malfunctioning. This is controlled by an LED driver.

LED drivers are — you guessed it — the engine that drives the function of LED lighting. It acts as a current management system for one or more fixtures and creates a buffer that offers protection from currents and temperatures that are too high. Because LEDs work on DC power (instead of AC) the driver also converts that power and prevents power surges. In fact, most LED failures happen because of the driver and not the lighting itself.

There are two types of LED drivers: Constant voltage and constant current.

Constant voltage: These drivers are used for LED lighting and fixtures that require steady, constant, low-voltage DC power. A constant voltage is commonly used with LEDs that have a driver built into the light or fixture, and all it really needs is a tool to help control that consistent voltage. Constant voltage drivers are often used for applications like landscape and accent lighting, backlighting, and large-scale and high-definition LED lighting.

Constant current: Typically these drivers are used for LED lighting that doesn’t already have a current driver built into it. Constant current drivers regulate the current that enters the LED, preventing too much current that could overhead the LED and lead to malfunctioning. There are several different configurations of these drivers and they work well with a series of LED lights or fixtures to keep current consistent.

Many times, especially in industrial applications, LEDs are configured in a series or parallel to each other, and knowing more about these configurations helps give a better idea of how LED drivers work. A series of LEDs connect to each other to form a single, continuous current in a series or a “string.” A driver in this instance would have to control the total voltage required to run all LEDs in the series. For parallel configurations, LEDs are placed side by side and controlled by a driver. There could even be parallel strings of LED lighting. Drivers can also control the dimming and color change capabilities of LEDs.

As warranties on older LED products expire, it’s important to quickly identify the drivers needed to keep lighting functioning properly. New technology, including Touch To Tune from Universal Lighting, allows our experts here at Starbeam to provide these drivers, connect them to a mobile app, and control the LEDs simply and easily. For customers that might want to even “Do It Yourself” DIY, here is how Kevin Boyce, Director of Product Management for LED Drivers at Universal Lighting Technologies tells us how its done:

“Replacing the driver rather than the entire fixture saves the end-user time while maintaining ideal design continuity in the space. At Universal, we are consistently focused on making the most advanced, user-friendly products available to all our customers, and we’re confident Touch to Tune will make their job easier.”

The Touch To Tune app uses near-field communication (NFC) to communicate with drivers and devices, allowing for tuning that controls output current, minimum dim current, dimming curve, full bright control voltage, minimum dim control voltage, and dim-to-off voltage.

Because the Touch To Tune app is compatible with Universal Lighting products, it’s important to work with a qualified LED distributor who is authorized to sell and install them — like Starbeam. Our team has been extensively trained on the product types and usage instructions for Universal Lighting, and we can show you first-hand how to get a return on your investment.

LED drivers are a crucial part of LED lighting function, but upgrades don’t need to be complicated or offer a steep learning curve, especially when you use tools like Touch To Tune. If you’d like to learn more about adding Universal Lighting products to your facility, get in touch with our team to have a conversation about your options and decide if they’re right for your building.

The post What are LED Drivers? appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

The Benefits of LED Lighting in Healthcare

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 14:55:00 GMT

It’s no secret that switching to LED lighting can be a sustainable, cost-effective move, but in healthcare facilities, this upgrade offers a longer list of benefits. Studies have shown that LED lighting creates a healthier workplace , so it stands to reason that it can also boost the wellbeing of patients and employees in clinics, long-term care facilities, and hospitals. Below we outline a few to consider.

LED Lighting Is Energy Efficient

It’s not easy to just switch off the lights in healthcare facilities when you leave a room — think about how many areas of a hospital must be illuminated 24/7 for safety and compliance reasons. As many healthcare facilities and hospitals are looking for ways to decrease spending and support green initiatives, LED lighting seems like a natural choice.

LED lighting means that energy bills and operating budgets can be smaller. Also, HVAC systems in healthcare facilities don’t have to work harder to mitigate the heat that traditional lighting can emit, offering even another layer of savings. LED is lower-maintenance, more durable, and has a much longer lifespan, all of which translates into overall cost-savings across the board.

LED Can Reduce Hazards

There are two ways that lighting can impact the human body — either visually or physiologically. Pre-existing conditions or illness can lead to decreased vision, and that could in turn increase the potential for dangerous slip-and-fall accidents. Additionally, flicker from traditional lighting could increase the sensitivity of employees and is tied to fatigue or obstructed vision that may directly impact the care they provide. LED lighting can offer optimal lighting and even help reduce facility liability.

LED fixtures can reduce health risks as well. Studies show that incandescent and fluorescent lighting can emit harmful UV rays: “Increased use of fluorescent lighting as a climate change mitigation strategy may increase eye disease.” This traditional lighting also contains the toxin mercury, which can be released should a bulb break, and requires an extensive and complex clean-up process to avoid exposure.

LED Lighting Improves Circadian Rhythm

Because LED lighting is available in a range of colors that mimic natural lighting, you can use it to help regulate circadian rhythm in the human body. Cooler lighting helps reflect daytime sunlight when the facility lacks windows and can reduce depression and decrease fatigue . Warmer LED lighting prepares the body for better sleep as it helps with the release of melatonin.

The right combination of LEDs at the right times of day can help regulate circadian rhythm. This means better moods, increased alertness, and has also been shown to speed the healing process . This isn’t just important for patients; it’s also advantageous to employees who work non-traditional second and third shift schedules.

LED Lighting Improves Patient Outcome

Some areas of healthcare facilities — like operating rooms — have electronics and equipment that function using frequencies that interfere with incandescent and fluorescent lighting. While this can be resolved with some extensive configuration, interference can likely be eliminated altogether by using the right LED lighting.

It’s worth mentioning again that LEDs don’t emit the same heat as traditional lighting — both temperature and humidity are easier to manage when the environment is cooler. Clinicians and patients are more comfortable, and medical devices (like ventilators or machinery that constantly monitors vital signs) can work more efficiently with a lower risk of malfunctioning.

LEDs Beyond Overhead Lighting

It’s not just healthcare facility lighting that can benefit from an upgrade, either. Many medical device manufacturers are discovering how LEDs can optimize the tools they design. Airway management scopes (laryngoscopes) are at the top of the list of devices that are being revolutionized by LED lighting, and LED headlights come in at a close second. Because of the lower cost of manufacturing these devices, they’re often single-use. This helps with infection control, something that’s top of mind now more than ever.

From the moment a patient steps through the doors of a hospital or healthcare facility, during the exam and even when undergoing surgery, LED lighting is transforming patient and employee wellbeing in the healthcare industry.

When you’re ready to think about an upgrade, get in touch with our team. We’ll start with an in-depth conversation about your facility’s needs and audit your current lighting system. We’ll discuss how you can save money, improve patient outcomes, and create a safer work environment for your employees. Let’s talk more .

The post The Benefits of LED Lighting in Healthcare appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Improving Warehouse Safety With LED Lighting

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 19:47:00 GMT

Think about your warehouse safety guidelines and practices — everything you do every day to remain compliant and keep employees safe. You consult OSHA regulations, complete comprehensive and ongoing training, maintain your equipment; there are plenty of moving parts when it comes to creating a culture of safety. Now think about your lighting: When was the last time you upgraded the lights and fixtures in your facility? It’s something that’s often overlooked, but still a crucial factor in your safety protocols.

If you’re still using traditional lighting or it’s been a while since you’ve replaced the lighting system in your warehouse, it’s time to consider how LED lighting can make it a safer place to work.

LED Lighting Reduces Fire Hazard Risks

Traditional industrial lighting emits 95% of the electricity used by bulbs as heat, wasting energy and getting very hot. LED lighting emits only 5% of electricity while converting the other 95% into light. Because of this, they’re much less likely to heat up to the point where they could cause a fire in your warehouse. All it takes is for one traditional light bulb or fixture to be installed incorrectly, come into contact with the wall, touch other materials in your warehouse, or lack the proper ventilation to start a fire.

LED Lighting Improves Working Conditions

Poor lighting levels in your warehouse and flicker from traditional lighting causes a list of health issues: headaches, fatigue, eye strain — all of these are hugely detrimental for employees who are already functioning in a high-risk workplace. LED lighting is flicker-free and helps mitigate these health issues; in turn, employees take fewer sick days, are less prone to burnout, and overall more efficient and productive. Switching to LED lighting can create lighting in your warehouse that’s very similar to natural light.

LED Lighting Supports Temperature Control

The same heat that causes a fire risk when traditional lighting is used also wreaks havoc on a warehouse’s temperature control system. Frequent fluctuations happen, especially in facilities with older HVAC systems or even those without air conditioning altogether. This is not only an issue for facilities that store perishable items, it can also make employees very uncomfortable and even be dangerous. Hotter working conditions mean more strain on HVAC systems, higher energy bills, and less productive workers. LED lighting makes it much easier to maintain a temperature-controlled environment with fewer fluctuations.

LED Lighting Reduces Loss of Inventory

When inventory in your warehouse goes missing or gets damaged, your organization suffers a financial loss and your customers will take notice that their products don’t arrive on time — or at all. Traditional lighting dims over its lifetime, making it hard to locate items on high shelves or in dark corners. Employees spend valuable time looking for those items and productivity diminishes, or they may just decide that items were lost. LED lighting in your warehouse illuminates those darker, harder-to-reach areas to easily locate inventory.

LED Lighting Mitigates Accident Risk

All the warehouse equipment training in the world won’t stop an accident from happening if the lighting in your warehouse facility is poor or too dim. Aisles are tight and workers are constantly moving around the warehouse transporting inventory, and without the right lighting in place, equipment operators and forklift drivers can easily hit shelving, piles of pallets, or even other employees. LED lighting can offer visibility for operators to make quick reactions that avoid dangerous accidents.

Other Safety Benefits of LED Lighting

There are many smaller ways that LED lighting in your warehouse can enhance safety. Because incandescent and fluorescent bulbs are made of glass, they can shatter easily upon impact. LED lighting is generally made of shatterproof materials and tends to be much more durable; an important consideration in industrial and warehouse applications. LEDs also weigh less than traditional lighting which makes it easier to install and change out. They also require less energy to operate, and can easily illuminate a warehouse for a long duration on backup power alone, allowing for easier and safer evacuation in the event of an emergency.

Ready to take extra steps to enhance the safety of your warehouse or industrial facility? Speak with our team about upgrading your lighting to LEDs. We have the experience and the expertise needed to evaluate your current lighting system and offer LED options that will provide safe working conditions with the addition of improved energy efficiency.

The post Improving Warehouse Safety With LED Lighting appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Buyer Beware: Coronavirus-Killing Lighting

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 18:45:00 GMT

There are still plenty of unanswered questions about infection control methods and protection against COVID-19. With so much misinformation floating around, some lighting brands are making claims regarding coronavirus-killing lighting. Before investing in costly upgrades that allegedly provide protection, it’s important to learn more about this approach.

While the primary source of UV light is the sun, there are also other, man-made sources like tanning beds. There are three types of UV light radiation based on wavelength measurement:

UV-A – This type of UV radiation has the longest wavelength and makes up most of the radiation we see on earth as they travel through the ozone layer. UV-A causes sunburns, and exposure over time can lead to premature aging and skin cancer.
UV-B – With shorter wavelengths, UV-B radiation is mostly absorbed by the earth’s atmosphere and poses less of an exposure risk — our bodies actually need it to produce Vitamin D. However, too much can also have the same effects as UV-A exposure.
UV-C – It’s a good thing this UV radiation doesn’t reach the earth’s surface; it’s the most harmful of the three types and has the most energy. Man-made UV-C devices have been used for years to sanitize and disinfect water, air, and surfaces.

Because of its short wavelength and higher energy frequency, UV-C radiation has the ability to kill pathogens, including viruses and bacteria. It essentially breaks the bonds between the RNA and DNA molecules in these pathogens and stops their ability to multiply and spread. This also offers powerful protection against mutated pathogens that are known as “superbugs.” It doesn’t require medication or toxic chemicals to be effective and can be used against newly discovered germs.

It would seem that the evidence suggests that UV light radiation can kill SARS-CoV-2 (or COVID-19) and scientists and researchers seem to stand behind the evidence: “UV light has been shown to destroy other coronaviruses, so it will probably work on the novel coronavirus.” In fact, there is a case study to show “the efficacy and use of an automated triple-emitter whole room UV-C disinfection system to inactivate mouse hepatitis virus, strain A59 (MHV-A59) and MERS-CoV viruses on surfaces.” MERS-CoV is the specific coronavirus that causes Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS).

Healthcare facilities and hospitals have been using UV-C light devices for years. In 1936, Dr. Deryl Hart of Duke University discovered that the use of UV-C light in surgical settings helped to reduce post-operative infection rates by nearly 12%. It was then widely accepted as a disinfectant strategy and added to HVAC systems to purify air, and implemented in water purification methods to kill bacteria.

Despite the pathogen-killing benefits of UV-C radiation, it can be extremely harmful if not used correctly. Hospital-grade UV-C light devices emit the radiation in high doses, away from patients, and administered by trained healthcare professionals that know how to operate the machines safely. This equipment is highly regulated and expertly maintained to ensure it doesn’t pose a hazard to patients and staff.

However, consumer products that claim to sanitize and disinfect items (and hands) can pose a serious risk. These devices aren’t generally approved by the FDA, and there’s little oversight or regulation to ensure that they are both effective and safe. Improper use can cause serious burns to skin and eyes, and they often don’t emit enough light to thoroughly kill germs as the manufacturers may claim.

UV-C lights in retail and industrial applications also come with a caveat. The effectiveness of UV light to kill germs in the air and water is widely known, but there’s no concrete research that supports the use of UV lights to disinfect skin and clothing. In order for these fixtures to kill viruses, they must emit UV-C light at a range of 200-280 nanometers — levels which could cause damage to human skin and eyes. Lighting manufacturers who make false claims about their product could be putting consumers in harm’s way and may end up ruining their reputation altogether.

Ultimately, there’s simply not enough research or evidence to support the efficacy of UV-C consumer devices or commercial lighting. Before you decide to replace your current fixtures with lighting that claims to kill COVID-19, get in touch with the experts. With guidance from lighting professions — like the team here at Starbeam — you can help better understand some of the myths surrounding UV lighting, and ensure you’re choosing the right option to keep your facility safe.

The post Buyer Beware: Coronavirus-Killing Lighting appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Are Your Lighting Fixtures Costing You Too Much Money?

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 15:14:00 GMT

Lighting Fixtures Costing You Too Much? If you have the sneaking suspicion that you’re wasting money on your business’s utility bills but you’re not sure where you’re wasting it, don’t forget to consider your lighting. Energy efficiency — and the cost savings it brings with it — is a prime reason many business owners in the St. Louis area contact Starbeam Lighting Solutions for a lighting retrofit. How might your business benefit?

Energy Use

Most of us are familiar with fluorescent lights, halogens, vapor lights, and HID lights, as well as the metal halide lights that are common in many commercial and industrial settings. While each is more efficient than incandescent lights, they can still be wasteful.

You can literally feel the waste in the form of the heat given off by these fixtures. While the installation of fluorescent or induction lighting can cut energy consumption by as much as half, but there’s another solution that cuts energy use further still: LED lighting.

Here’s a real-world example drawn from our own inventory. Our HazbayLED lights from RAB lighting come in both 78 watt and 104 watt variants. The former replaces the traditional 250W metal halide lamp, while the the latter replaces a 320W lamp. You’re using a third of the electricity, which adds up to quite a savings when you’re lighting a large area.

There’s an added perk to LEDs: long service life. With a typical lifespan of about 100,000 hours, you’re spending less money on replacements and less man-hours on maintenance.

Location Matters

Where and how your lights are installed makes as much of a difference as the type of lighting. Not all areas need the same type or degree of lighting. For some applications, task lighting that’s closer to the worker and the work they’re completing makes more sense than trying to light an entire area with high bay lighting. Task lighting is often more precise, and has the added benefit of being able to be shut off when not in use, saving both energy and money.

Get Smart About Your Lighting

There’s a lot being written lately about smart homes. Smart businesses use smarter lighting. Use light sensors so that areas are only lit when they’re in use. Use timers and motion detection for off-hours lighting so you’re not wasting electricity when the building is unoccupied. Treat your building as a series of interconnected systems, of which your lighting is just one part.

Other Benefits of LED Lighting

Different businesses have different lighting needs. If you’re lighting a warehouse, safety issues come into play. If, on the other hand, you’re lighting a showroom or clothing store, you’re concerned with more than just light output. Color accuracy also matters, and the higher CRI (Color Rendition Index) of most LED light fixtures proves their worth in a variety of settings.

But How Do I Know…?

If you’re a business owner keeping an eye on your bottom line, your next logical question is likely to be, “How do I know whether this will save me money? And if it does, how do I know it will be enough to offset the cost?”

Good question. The pros at Starbeam Lighting Solutions don’t have to guess at the answer. We’ll perform a lighting audit that will evaluate the energy use of your current system and compare that against the cost of a retrofit. We’ll also give you useful information on how you can make your lighting work better so your employees can work smarter.

To get your lighting audit, answers to your commercial lighting questions, or help finding efficient commercial lighting products contact us at 314-997-0077 today.

The post Are Your Lighting Fixtures Costing You Too Much Money? appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

What’s the Advantage of an Ameren Ally?

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 15:13:00 GMT

Advantage of an Ameren Ally. Ameren Missouri was founded in 1902 as Union Electric. Even though Starbeam Lighting hasn’t been around for 116 years, if you total up our experience, we’ve got more than a century among us. We do have one thing in common with Ameren: a commitment to advanced green technology that saves money, energy, and the environment all at once. We have another ace up our sleeve: we’re an Ameren Ally. Here’s what that means for the businesses we serve in Missouri and Illinois.

The Ameren Ally Program

AMEREN does not do its own installations or retrofits. Instead, they rely on a network of BizSavers® Trade Allies like Starbeam Lighting to serve their Missouri and Illinois customers. In addition to businesses, we also work with the nonprofit, public, and municipal sectors — nearly any type of business or organization that seeks to improve its energy efficiency without sacrificing quality.

The advantage to you, as our customers? We’re trained continually on new energy efficiency technologies and installation techniques. In this way, not only are our products state-of-the-art, so too are our standards and practices. What’s more, we’re better positioned than non-Ally contractors to understand the ins and outs of the rebate and incentive structure, so we know how to save you money.

The Ameren Ally Advantage

When you think about energy efficiency, you probably think of the same obvious culprits that many people do: driving a hybrid car, installing a smart thermostat, and ensuring that your physical plant or the tools of your trade are as energy-efficient as possible. Too many people don’t stop to think about the drain their lighting places on natural resources, as well as their business’s financial resources.

A retrofit can bring your lighting into the 21st Century. Besides the savings on your monthly energy bills, there are a number of available AMEREN energy efficiency rebates that can significantly offset the cost of your project. Having that project completed by an AMEREN Ally means a trained partner, but it also means ensuring that you maximize your ROI — in more ways than one!

Why Starbeam Lighting?

There are roughly 300 contractors who are qualified as Ameren Allies. So why should one contractor — Starbeam Lighting — be your first choice of those 300?

Extensive Experience: Our team brings more than 100 years’ combined experience with system designs and installations to each job, and we are experts in LED retrofits.
Energy Audits & Design Solutions: Poor design performs badly and can require expensive re-working later; your upfront savings could vanish like steam from a bathroom mirror. We won’t just give you a free project quote. We’ll get the job done right the first time.
Energy Incentives: As an Ameren Ally, we employ Ameren rebate specialists whose job is to find you the best incentives and cash rebates available.
Peace of Mind: Not everyone can design and execute a project like Starbeam Lighting can, and nobody backs their work like we do. We use high-quality product from recognized vendors, including Cree, GE, Philips Lighting, Universal Lighting Technologies, and Westinghouse. We rely on these companies because we know you can rely on them, too.
Expert — and Local — Customer Service: We’re proud to serve the greater St. Louis area. That means the help you need is never far away — and we offer walk-up service for your questions and product pick-up.
Extensive Selection: With more than 8,000 products in stock — including ballasts, drivers, fixtures, and lights — and easy access to thousands more, you’re practically guaranteed to find what you need whether your need is obvious or obscure.

What Comes Next?

If all of this — our experience, our knowledge, and our range of products, coupled with Ameren’s generous rebates — sounds good to you, you may be wondering what your next best step is. Our suggestion: start with a free lighting audit from Starbeam Lighting. We’ll assess your current lighting and determine how we can save you energy and money with our highly efficient LED lighting. Our Ameren Ally specialists will also work with you at every step to ensure that you get every penny in rebates your business qualifies for.

Retrofitting can benefit a number of SMBs. Retrofitting with LED lighting installed by Starbeam Lighting? Now that’s a bright idea.

The post What’s the Advantage of an Ameren Ally? appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Important Update About Coronavirus

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 18:53:00 GMT

Within the last few weeks, our lives have been greatly affected by the emergence of the Coronavirus. This pandemic has caused a lot of uncertainty and anxiety, but we believe that as a nation we will rise to the challenge and do what needs to be done. We will overcome this and return to our regular lives.

We hope you can maneuver past any obstacles that may come your way during these difficult times, both personally and professionally.

We also wanted to assure you that we are still open for business and are ready to help you with whatever lighting needs you may have. As an independent privately-owned business we have a solid plan in place to continue to respond to all of your website inquiries, emails, and phone calls.

We are closely monitoring CDC guidelines and are taking further measures to keep our team safe while still maintaining the same quality service we’ve always provided. The health and safety of our customers and staff is of the utmost importance to us so we are doing everything in our power to protect you and them.

Please reach out to us if you need anything by contacting us .

We are open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Our team is readily available to assist you during these challenging times.

The post Important Update About Coronavirus appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Lifetime Ratings of LEDs

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 22:46:00 GMT

Lifetime Ratings of LEDs. If you’re not familiar with LED lighting, one fundamental way that they differ from traditional lighting is that their light is measured in lumens instead of watts. More accurately , a lumen is “a unit of luminous flux in the International System of Units, that is equal to the amount of light given out through a solid angle by a source of one candela intensity radiating equally in all directions.” Watts, on the other hand, are a measurement of the energy used by a bulb.

Because LED lighting is more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs, the watts will be lower and not indicative of brightness. Industrial and commercial facilities often need a minimum level of lighting brightness in order to keep employees and visitors safe, which means working with an experienced distributor that can help you simplify the process of choosing lighting that’s right for the application intended.

Another of the biggest reasons to upgrade to LED lighting is the return on investment over its lifetime because of that energy efficiency. An important consideration when looking at cost is understanding how long LEDs last at the output expected or promised. While no lighting can last forever, a simple calculation can help you predict when your LED lighting is ready to be replaced — this is called a lighting maintenance factor.

Different factors impact a decrease in lighting levels, like surface soiling, lamp failure, and depreciation of luminous flux. The first day you use your new LED lights, the output should be at 100% but decreases over the thousands of hours it’s being used in your facility. This estimated decrease is used to help differentiate LED options and get you a better fit for your needs.

There was a time when many standard regulations within the LED marketplace didn’t exist, which means manufacturers can make a variety of claims about the lifetime of their products and overall performance. In order to level the playing field, government agencies, lighting standards organizations and some of the bigger manufacturers have come together to create best practices to help evaluate and compare LED products.

LM-80 is one of these standards and refers to the lumen depreciation of LED products. Before this standard was created, manufacturers would test independently and without guidelines, which led to plenty of confusion for customers who are looking to compare lighting maintenance factors. Keep in mind that this is not the only (or best) way to determine the lifetime of LEDs, but it is a useful tool.

This standard is used to describe the measurement of how the light source performs over time and under a specified set of conditions. Remember that fixtures, housing, applications, and facility environment also play a major role in the longevity of LEDs so LM-80 should not act as a be-all, end-all calculation to figure the overall lifetime — despite what some shady manufactures might tell you.

LM-80 was developed by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) specifically. Typically it’s a test that lasts from 6000-10,000 hours and shows how the depreciation goes from 100% to 80% output and at what point in time it happens. Numbers are tested at operating temperatures of 55 degrees, 85 degrees, and a third manufacturer defined temperature. This testing should be performed by EPA recognized labs and only reports from these labs are considered relevant. LM-80 is used to determine eligibility for the Department Of Energy (DOE) ENERGY STAR program.

While it’s important to make an LED choice based on how long it will last, it’s just as important to understand how long it will last at the lumen level you need. It’s not just brightness that’s impacted over time; it’s also color and warmth that can shift as the LEDs get older. While a depreciation in output isn’t necessarily a big deal in buildings like warehouses or distribution centers, other facilities like museums or art galleries will notice a shift.

Knowing when you’ll likely have to replace lighting helps a great deal when optimizing facility maintenance strategies. When you plan accordingly, you’ll be able to schedule downtime for replacements, budget accordingly, and avoid unwanted disruptions or cost surprises.

If you’re just beginning with researching the best LED options for your update, it can be overwhelming. There are many reasons to work with LED lighting upgrades specialists. Once you understand them, as well as your many commercial lighting choices, you’ll be much better prepared. We don’t leave you to figure it all out on your own. We’re here to hold your hand and explain all your options so you can choose what works best for you.

The post Lifetime Ratings of LEDs appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Using Security Lighting in Conjunction with Surveillance Cameras

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 00:08:00 GMT

Security Lighting in Conjunction with Surveillance Cameras . When planning for your facility’s security, the go-to item is security cameras. However, even the most powerful camera won’t capture anything if it doesn’t have proper lighting. Just as you wouldn’t expect to clearly see a potential burglar in the dark with your own eyes, most security cameras won’t be able to either. The answer to this issue is to install lighting, but this poses new problems such as illuminating hidden cameras or creating glare on camera lenses.

Luckily, there are solutions to these issues and other questions you may have about how best to use lighting in conjunction with your facility’s security cameras.

How should lights be positioned in relation to cameras?

Cameras should also be positioned with extraneous lighting, such as for pedestrians and visitors, out of view. Lights like these can cause bright spots that become blind spots to camera images. Furthermore, position lights where they can be reached easily for maintenance but not so easily that they can be maliciously tampered with.

Are LED lights more or less effective when used with surveillance cameras for security, or does it matter?

LED lights produce strong beams that can be easily directed to specific areas where more light is needed or away from areas where it might interfere with cameras. LED lights can also be turned on or off instantly, which is great for motion detection.

The only big disadvantage to LED lights is their brightness can cause glare on camera lenses, but this can be remedied by using multiple lights of a lower wattage in place of a few lights with high-powered beams.

What type of camera should be used when lights are motion-activated?

Motion-activated lights are a great way to deter intruders without running up your electricity bill. But they will affect what kind of security camera you’ll need. Cameras with night vision will be necessary because they can survey even when lights are not on.

Look for cameras with low-light sensitivity or infrared capabilities and that have quick adjustment times to “daylight” when your lights are activated.

Is there an advantage to using lights not visible to humans, such as infrared lights, in conjunction with some types of security cameras?

Security cameras can be a great deterrent to wrong-doers, but sometimes you don’t want people to know the cameras are there. Infrared lights are a great option in areas where you don’t want light that is visible to the human eye but still need surveillance.

However, you will need cameras that are sensitive enough to detect infrared at night. Your best option, in this case, is a black-and-white camera, which can detect spectrums of light below red. With this capability, your cameras will be able to stealthily view areas without any visible illumination.

Will certain types of security lighting actually make some cameras less effective?

Light that is too bright and shines too directly at a camera can blind its view with blooming and streaking. Use shielded bulbs whose light is directed away from your cameras. Also, don’t install the brightest lights possible. A good rule of thumb is to use bulbs with .5 watts for every square meter (.05 watts for every square foot) of ground you want to illuminate. Anything higher is probably unnecessary and risks overwhelming your cameras.

At the same time, you don’t want to have too little lighting for your surveillance cameras. If your cameras do not have good low-light capability, you need to make sure you’re illuminating their surveillance areas with strong enough lights to get a clear picture.

If you’re looking to upgrade your facility’s security equipment, make sure proper cameras and lighting are part of your plans. Consulting with a company that specializes in security camera installation will help make sure that you get the best advice for your specific situation.

That way, you’ll get the most out of your surveillance efforts by installing complementary lighting and cameras in strategic positions where the lighting best enhances your cameras’ effectiveness.

After all, the whole point of security cameras is to watch what goes on around your facility, but unless your cameras have proper illumination they–and you–won’t see much of anything.

The post Using Security Lighting in Conjunction with Surveillance Cameras appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

LED Lighting Myths — Debunked

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 20:34:00 GMT

LED Lighting Myths. It’s no secret that there are costs associated with making the switch to LED lighting, which means you could be on the fence about upgrading the lighting in your facility. It doesn’t help that there are plenty of myths associated with LED lights that may stand in the way of helping save money and energy by investing in new lighting.

Let’s take a look at some common misconceptions, and expose the real truth.

Myth: You Can’t Dim LED Lights

This is one we hear often. Unlike many traditional incandescent lights, not all LED lights are dimmable and not all can be used in dimmable fixtures. It’s important to work with a reputable distributor if you’re looking for dimmable LED lights to ensure you’re choosing the right bulbs. It can be dangerous to use a non-dimmable LED bulb in a fixture that allows dimming and could lead to costly repairs or fixture replacements.

Myth: LEDs Need to Warm Up

Traditional lighting needs some time after turning on to reach full brightness, but LED lights are ready to go almost immediately after turning on. Because of this, LED bulbs are perfect for applications where you need to turn lights on and off repeatedly (think: event venues that have light displays for concerts). With traditional lighting, that on-and-off repetition can shorten the lifespan of bulbs.

Myth: There’s Only One Color of LED: Bright White

Although there are plenty of LED lighting options that offer bright white light, you can choose from a variety of colors and warmth settings that will fit your facility best. Pay close attention to Kelvin temperatures:

2700K to 3500K — warm white light: A calming and relaxing light that is great for bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms or restaurants.

3500K to 4500K — natural white light: Cool and clean, this LED color most closely mimics sunlight, which makes it good for use in almost any location.

5000K-6000K — daylight white light: A crisp and clear white light that is great for garages, security lights, offices, or retail locations.

6000K and 7000K — cool white light: Good for commercial and industrial applications or any situation in which you want to foster alertness.

Myth: LED Lights Changes How Colors Appear

This comes into play with applications that need lighting to accurately reflect color palettes — like art galleries, home decor stores, or anywhere that photographs are being taken. Look to the color rendering index in the specifications when choosing new LED lighting; the CRI is a range from 1-100 and the higher the number, the more accurate the color rendering.

Myth: LEDs Get Hot Too

Yes, LED lighting gives off warmth but not nearly as much as traditional lighting, and in a much different way. Because they’re much more efficient, LED lights only reach a temperature of about 140-212 Fahrenheit. Incandescent lights can reach temperatures of up to 357 Fahrenheit. This not only keeps the ambient temperature of your facility down, but it can also save you money when it comes to energy costs.

Myth: Cost-Savings of LED Isn’t Worth the Investment

If you’re already making moves to help your facility become greener and more energy-efficient, doesn’t it just make sense to support this initiative with LED lighting? Think about how much of your monthly budget goes towards paying lighting costs — simply replacing 100 traditional fixtures in your building with LED options could save you $5700 in your first year of use.

Myth: Traditional Lighting is Just Plain Cheaper than LED

In a bulb-to-bulb comparison of price alone, that’s true, but consider that one LED bulb has the lifespan of a 6-pack of incandescent bulbs. Try this math: The average kilowatt-per-hour cost is about 13 cents, so if you run a traditional 60-watt fixture for 12 hours a day for a year it would cost $34.07. Run a 9-watt LED fixture for the same amount of time and your bill would be only $5.11 — that’s a savings of nearly $29 every year which will easily pay for your upfront investment several times over.

Myth: All LED Lighting is Created Equal

This is not an area where you should cut corners or sacrifice quality to save on costs. It’s important to work closely with LED lighting professionals that will first perform an audit and then offer customized suggestions on the options that are perfect for your facility. Get in touch with our team of lighting pros; not only can we help optimize your upgrade, but we also know about valuable rebates that will save you even more money by making the switch.

The post LED Lighting Myths — Debunked appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Tips for Upgrading to TLEDs

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 19:59:00 GMT

Upgrading to TLEDs. Looking for a great way to cut energy bills and the carbon footprint of your building? Consider the ROI of an LED lighting upgrade. There’s no shortage of options available to switch out traditional fluorescent lighting with tubular LEDs (TLEDs) or kits that help give a new look to old fixtures.

Along with technical advancements, no relamping for over a decade, and competitive pricing, the benefits of TLEDs bolster its growing popularity in industrial and warehouse settings. Add-ons like new fixtures, dimmer controls, and color variations are also available for extra costs.

It’s not uncommon to see this investment pay for itself in an average of about three years. However, before you make the switch, there are a few tips to keep in mind. Not all TLED lighting products and distributors are created equal, and finding the right vendor increases the value of your retrofit.

Adjust Savings Expectations

It can be easy to be lured by massive claims of cost and energy savings by less reputable LED manufacturers so take the time to separate fact from fiction. Wattage reductions can vary from 35% to 85%, but where you end up on that spectrum depends on your starting point. TLEDs are often great replacements for traditional industrial & commercial fluorescent tubular lighting.

Expect consistent savings to be around 35-50% when replacing compact fluorescent lighting. While T8 fluorescent lamps were the industrial go-to choice about 20 years ago, they’re quickly being eliminated by TLED lighting that will maintain light levels while offering around 50% savings. You’ll see some cost and energy saving by replacing only the lighting , but that number can jump even higher when you replace entire fixtures.

Check The Spread

The design of lighting is just as important as the quality you choose. TLED retrofits may provide lower light levels than traditional tubular fluorescent lighting, creating safety risks and eye strain for occupants. Avoid this risk by researching lighting specs and looking for a number that indicates beam angle.

Simply put, the beam angle is the angle at which the light is directed and at its most intense level. The higher the beam angle, the more surface the light will cover, but the levels will also be diffused the further out the rays travel. For TLEDs, look for beam angles over 200 degrees — you’ll also find some bulbs that go as high as 300 degrees. This way you won’t lose wattage, surface lighting coverage, or intensity you’ve been used to from fluorescent bulbs.

Think about testing out a few TLEDs in areas where you’re considering a retrofit. This will allow for an accurate representation of the new lighting in your space. Take notes and consult occupants for feedback, especially if the lighting change could potentially impact their job performance (i.e. warehouse or dock workers that prioritize safety). While you’re testing out your options, look for flicker in the TLEDs. Many people are sensitive to non-visible bursts of lighting intensity that’s common in fluorescent bulbs and can experience headaches, fatigue, eye strain, and even seizures. Choosing high-quality TLEDs can eliminate flicker.

Consider Color & Control

Just as your fluorescent lights were chosen with color in mind — cool, warm, or daylight — so too should the TLEDs you choose. For these retrofits, make sure to take note of the correlated color temperature (CCT) and color rendering index (CRI) score. In industrial facilities and warehouses, this may not be a priority and swapping out fluorescents with TLEDs can often go unnoticed. Simply look for TLEDs with similar CCT and CRI specs as the current fluorescent lighting

However, in facilities like retail stores or healthcare settings, lighting color makes a noticeable impact. Even when the CCT and CRI numbers in TLEDs are similar to the fluorescent lighting, they ultimately could have different appearances because TLEDs emit less red light. If you’re showcasing products like home decor or artwork, you’ll want to work closely with LED lighting pros to purchase high-quality bulbs that don’t impact their aesthetic quality.

Intensity is also important in certain settings. TLED bulbs and kits can’t be controlled by traditional dimmers, so upgrading entire fixtures to include dimmers is required in these instances. Occupancy sensors can increase the ROI of TLED upgrades as well by turning off lights in your facility when they’re not needed.

Sometimes finding the right lighting is as simple as figuring out what you’re lacking. An audit from our team of LED lighting pros will help you understand your best options when it comes to upgrading your fluorescent commercial or industrial lighting to TLEDs. We’ll let you know what will work best for your space and your bank account. Knowing your needs, we can make the best recommendation — get in touch to schedule your audit.

The post Tips for Upgrading to TLEDs appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

How LED Lighting Creates Healthier Workplaces

Sun, 15 Dec 2019 19:00:00 GMT

LED Lighting Creates Healthier Workplaces. Think about these stats: There were 2.8 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported in 2018. A recent survey showed that 94% of Americans experienced stress at work, and another poll revealed that two-thirds of employees experience burnout on the job. While organizations look for more effective ways to promote on-the-job wellness, one often-overlooked strategy is upgrading to flicker-free LED lighting.

What is light flicker?

Have you noticed that the traditional lighting in your facility seems to be flickering? It probably is — this is a common occurrence with fluorescent lights when they have a frequency below 100Hz (cycles per second), causing the light to start flashing on and off. It can be attributed to variations in voltage from power sources or dimmer switches.

While everyone is sensitive to light flicker, some can be impacted by it more than others. It can contribute to eye strain, fatigue, and migraine headaches, all of which can impact employee productivity and even absenteeism. Individuals on the autism spectrum and those with certain types of epilepsy are especially hypersensitive to light flicker.

Now there’s flicker-free LED lighting to avoid these issues. LED lights can provide a more continuous spectrum of light and provide more natural lighting. LED lighting also has the benefit of boosting productivity and improving concentration. It’s important to work with a distributor who can help guide you in the right direction when considering switching out the flickering lights in your facility. Not all LED lights are created equal, and lower-quality lights can still flicker but an experienced lighting pro will give you choices that are right for your retrofit project.

Which industries benefit from flicker-free LED lights?

Educational: Decision-makers in the educational field are always looking for ways to help improve the performance of students and the quality of learning, and proper lighting is part of this process. Flicker-free lighting improves concentration and productivity in the classroom and even improve test scores.

Healthcare: Doctors and nurses are facing burnout at alarming rates, and healthcare costs are skyrocketing. Making the move to flicker-free LEDs can provide a more natural lighting option, reduce medical error, improve patient outcomes, and help reduce provider stress.

Warehouse & industrial: Light flickers can impede visibility in warehouses and industrial spaces, which can increase the chance of serious injury. It can also contribute to fatigue, another cause of productivity loss and accidents in a warehouse. Flicker-free LEDs can vastly improve lighting in dark, potentially unsafe corners of your facility.

Offices: Lighting can have a huge impact on worker productivity and health, and while natural light is best, not all office spaces have the option of adding windows. When making the switch over to LED lights in the workplace, opt for flicker-free products to help your company’s most valuable assets — your employees.

What are the other benefits of LED lights?

Energy efficiency – LED lights use 90% less energy because their light source is smaller, easily directed, and emits very little heat, which makes them more efficient than traditional bulbs.
Lifespan – Traditional bulbs last about 1500 hours while LED bulbs can be used for up to 60,000 hours, offering serious ROI throughout their use
Safety – Lower heat emission means LED lights can be left on for extended periods, they reduce injury and fire risk, and they are non-toxic
Color choice – A range of colors makes LED lighting perfect for a variety of applications, plus they are are dimmable and adjustable
Durability – LEDs are sturdier and more durable because they are solid express lighting devices and use a semiconductor instead of filament

Does making the switch really pay off?

It’s easy to avoid making the switch to flicker-free LED lighting because of the cost investment, but a multitude of case studies show the benefits. A medical center in Alabama retrofitted their 319,000-square-foot facility for a healthier source of light and it was met with rave reviews from workers and maintenance staff. Even the US Navy has reported that LED lighting has reduced fuel costs and improved sailor safety.

Are you curious about your options for flicker-free LED? It’s a great way to make your workplace safer and healthier, your employees more productive, and your organization more sustainable. Our lighting pros can perform an audit to show you first-hand how LED lighting can help. If you’d like to learn more about us first, we invite you to do that as well. Starbeam is here for you in whatever way you need, so please don’t hesitate to reach out today.

The post How LED Lighting Creates Healthier Workplaces appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Warehouse Lighting Best Practices

Fri, 15 Nov 2019 16:49:00 GMT

Warehouse Lighting Best Practices. You have a lot of design elements to consider when creating a warehouse space that works, but perhaps the most overlooked is the lighting. With 95 million lost workdays attributed to accidents, safety is the most important reason to invest in top-quality lighting for your warehouse. You’ll end up with a safer, more productive workforce and a top-notch business reputation.

So what exactly does “good” warehouse lighting look like? Our experts share our professional, experienced insight.

Understanding warehouse layout

Before you make a lighting purchase, take a good, long look at the footprint of your warehouse. Are there areas where natural light is abundant? Use fewer lights here, especially around windows, doors, and loading docks. Darker corners may need extra lighting to help illuminate employees as they travel throughout the warehouse.

Ceiling height and inventory management also need to be considered. When items are stacked higher or closer to the ceiling, optimize lighting to be brighter. Uplighting can shed light on dark areas between the rafters, and downlighting spotlights the floors and safety elements to help prevent accidents. LED lighting can even be shifted to focus on target areas.

Leverage natural light

As mentioned, your warehouse won’t need as much lighting in areas where natural light is abundant. Remember that in order for those windows or doors to provide light, they can’t be obstructed by machinery, inventory, or even window coverings. That said, sometimes the natural light may be too bright and become a safety risk, which would make it important to add blinds or shades that help occupants control the light. And if you have a 24-hour workday with employees working during the darkness of night, you can’t go without lighting in these sections altogether. Consider choosing adjustable lighting that can change easily as the natural lighting changes outside.

Understand your lighting options

While there are three types of lights that are currently used in warehouses — metal halide, fluorescent, and LED — the most efficient choice is LED. Metal halide has been used the longest and fluorescent lights may be overall less expensive, but LED lighting wins when it comes to being most energy-efficient and cost-effective.

LED lights may be at a higher price-point than older technologies, but they use less energy which saves operating costs in the long run. They can also be dimmable and customized to fit virtually any application and building specification. Check with your utility company; they may have rebates available for making the switch to LED.

Consider color and intensity

Warehouse lighting isn’t isolated to just one color, contrary to popular belief. LED lighting comes in a range of colors that you can mix and match throughout the building. Different lighting in different areas can help employees easily identify products, safely make their way through certain areas, or even mimic natural light for ultimate employee wellbeing.

Timers and dimmers can also help save on energy costs and make workers more comfortable. LED lights have an average lifespan of 50,000 hours. Think about the extra money you’d save on energy bills by using automatic timers that keep lights off when you don’t need them. Dimmers are another great way to adjust the light intensity.

Know your supplier and invest in quality

Not all lighting is created equal, and that’s especially true when you choose LED lights for your warehouse. It’s easy to get sticker shock when looking at the upfront cost of lighting, but in the long run the cheapest option is usually never the best option. Don’t overlook the fixtures either! Remember during a retrofit that the same fixtures you used for fluorescent lights will likely not work with LED bulbs.

Perhaps the best way to ensure you’re getting high-quality lighting is by working with suppliers and installers who have experience and expertise to guide you in the right direction. These lighting partners have the industry insight to help you choose a lighting system that works for your warehouse, and can address issues you may have even after the lights are installed.

Sometimes finding the right lighting for your warehouse is as simple as figuring out what you’re lacking. That’s where we can help. We’ll start by performing a comprehensive audit to find areas for improvement. Then, we’ll work closely with you to choose a lighting system that fits your space and your budget. By understanding your needs, we can make the best recommendation. Whether you need industrial outdoor LED or industrial bay lighting, we can help — get in touch today.

The post Warehouse Lighting Best Practices appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Using LEDs for Cannabis Growth

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 13:59:00 GMT

LEDs for Cannabis Growth. Horticulture lighting has come a long way, and the introduction of LED lighting tech has helped to innovate cannabis growth strategies. More growers than ever are turning to LED for indoor growth operations due to the many benefits of making this switch: They’re more energy-efficient, offer a longer life span, and come in a range of options for every level of growth.

If you’re planning to make a switch to LED lighting for your cannabis growth, here are some tips and best practices. Start with understanding the most common LED lighting options for horticultural use.

Standard or purple: This is considered the standard for LED light fixtures and were the first available type for growing. They’re still widely available today and contain up to hundreds of small to medium watt LEDs in a single fixture. Often they’re comprised of a combination of red and blue LEDs that combine to produce a purple light. A top benefit is an economic price, but the downside is a lower light output which could mean a lower growth yield.

COB LED: COB stands for “chip on board,” and these lights are made of hundreds of tiny LEDs on a single chip (instead of several colored LEDs across entire fixtures). COB LEDs are highly efficient and produce an intense white light that’s comparable to the natural light of the sun. They offer good penetration into plant canopies and promote healthy growth while remaining energy-efficient — but they can be pricey, so keep that in mind.

Spread-style LED: This option is comprised of a high quantity of small LEDs spread out over a large panel or board. Spread-style LEDs are commonly used in spider and rack lighting, both of which are widely used in commercial greenhouses. They are the most energy-efficient LEDs and offer huge ROI but can be an expensive up-front investment.

Advantages of switching to LED lighting

The biggest consideration for greenhouses that produce high volume cannabis growth is the overall advantage of switching to LED lighting, which can offer huge benefits.

Energy efficiency — Just like with any application of LED lighting, you’ll see huge energy savings compared to traditional lighting. They use less electricity and cost less to operate and maintain over their (lengthy) lifetime.
Cooler to run — Because cannabis greenhouse temperature and climate need to be carefully monitored and controlled, it’s a big plus that LEDs produce less heat than incandescent bulbs. This means there may be no need for additional cooling equipment.
Reduces watering — Less heat produced by your LED lighting means the soil will stay moist longer, which reduces the water needed to grow. This can also improve the sustainability of your grow process and reduce overall utility costs.
Fewer nutrients — Watering less also means reduced need for nutrients, and that means a more streamlined nutrient delivery process and less likelihood that you’ll face nutrient overload or imbalance.

Think about your growth cycle

Cannabis plants at different stages of growth require different spectrums of LED lighting and different schedules of exposure to light. For example, seedlings are much more sensitive to light and may require a dimmer LED setting. When your plants are ready to flower, however, they need maximum intensity from light exposure. Because of these variations, it’s important to choose LED lighting that you can adjust or dim based on your plants’ life cycles.

Avoiding common mistakes

While LED lighting does offer a long list of benefits when it comes to cannabis growing, there’s a bit of a learning curve if you’re making the switch from traditional or non-LED lights. If you don’t have the appropriate quantity of LED lights for your greenhouse, you could be overlighting and impacting quality or underlighting and seeing less yield. Lamp distance from plants can also lead to improper lighting. Also, not all LED lighting is created equal in quality. Using inferior products could not only cost you in maintenance, but it could also directly affect the overall quality of your cannabis.

Above all, it’s important to work closely with lighting partner that has experience with horticultural lighting and LED lighting for cannabis growth. Your team can assess your lighting needs based on the size and volume of your operation and suggest different layouts and fixtures that offer you the best overall results.

Ready to learn more about how to get the most from your cannabis lighting investment? Get in touch to speak with one of our in-house horticultural lighting specialists. We can help you get the most yield from the perfect balance of high-quality fixtures, low maintenance, and efficient energy consumption.

The post Using LEDs for Cannabis Growth appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Top Benefits of Using LED Lighting

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 16:18:00 GMT

Top Benefits of Using LED Lighting. LED (light emitting diodes) are probably the most innovative lighting advancement since, well, the actual light bulb was invented. The technical definition of an LED is a semiconductor that emits light when an electric current passes through it, but simply put — it’s a more efficient light bulb that’s powerful and long-lasting.

Since they operate differently than incandescent bulbs, LEDs are also more durable and offer more advantages over incandescent and fluorescent lighting; that includes longer lifespan, lower energy consumption, reduced maintenance costs, and better safety. If you’re reading this post, you’ve most likely done your research and already know that there are a multitude of benefits of using LED over traditional lighting. Below our lighting pros explain in detail.

LED lighting is energy-efficient

LEDs can use up to 90% less power than incandescent light bulbs, for several reasons:

Light Source: LEDs are the size of a fleck of pepper, and a mix of red, green, and blue LEDs is typically used to make white light.
Direction: LEDs emit light in a specific direction, reducing the need for reflectors and diffusers that can trap light.
Heat: LEDs emit very little heat. In comparison, incandescent bulbs release 90% of their energy as heat and CFLs release about 80% of their energy as heat.

According to the US Department of Energy, “widespread use of LED lighting has the greatest potential impact on energy savings in the United States,” leading to a savings of more than $30 billion by 2027.

LED lighting lasts longer

Traditional incandescent bulbs last only about 1500 hours across their lifespan, while high-quality LED lighting can last up to 60,000 hours. That’s about seven years of constant use before you need to replace them! LED bulbs last ten times longer than small fluorescent bulbs and around 133 times longer than incandescents. This equates to lower maintenance and long-term operating costs.

LEDs are sturdy and durable

Because LED lights are considered a “solid express lighting device” that uses semiconductors instead of filaments or neon gas, they’re much sturdier and more durable than incandescent bulbs or neon tubles — LEDs use small chips in a tough epoxy enclosure.

LED lighting is safer

If you’re concerned about safety, opt for LEDs. They generate almost no heat, so they’re cool to the touch. LED lighting can be left on for hours on end without burn risks, unlike incandescent bulbs that can cause serious injuries because they become hot to the touch. This heat can also create serious fire risk, which is something that many industrial facilities look to avoid on a daily basis. Unlike neon lighting that uses mercury, which may pose an environmental risk, LEDs are made with non-toxic materials and are recyclable and eco-friendly.

LEDs come in a variety of colors

Materials used in the semiconductor of LED lighting help to determine the color, based on a combination of red, blue, and amber. You can customize these colors and their warmth and combine different colors together to create the perfect lighting based on the application. For example, warehouses can stay safe with bright whites and blues, while amber and red give a more natural glow. Incandescent bulbs use colored paint or film to change colors, which can be highly toxic.

LED lighting has a variety of uses

Because of the factors above, LEDs can be used for a vast number of applications — in your home, at your business, in your car, for gaming and entertainment, and even in the military. From accent lamps to security signals, LED lighting can be useful across industries and businesses.

The list goes on! LED lights turn on instantly, which comes in handy when there’s a power outage or your building tends to have dark and shadowy corners. Employees stay safer with light that appears instantly instead of having to “warm up”. LEDs don’t give off infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV) rays, which both present burn and radiation hazards to people and materials. Unlike fluorescent bulbs, LED semiconductors are dimmable and don’t require costly upgrades for controllability.

Looking for long-lasting solutions, knowledgeable opinions, and money savings? Want to help the environment and see lower electricity bills? Need light fixtures and bulbs that match your application exactly? With more than four decades in the business, we know exactly what works when it comes to lighting for warehouses, offices, and industrial settings. We understand the benefits of LEDs and how to make the most of them. We can provide you with the information you need for the best choice.

The post Top Benefits of Using LED Lighting appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

How to ROI New Warehouse Lighting in 2 Weeks

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 22:13:00 GMT

ROI New Warehouse Lighting. What do you get when you combine the available incentive programs from Ameren Missouri or Ameren Illinois, high-quality new lighting fixtures, and an expert on all of the above from Starbeam? A dramatic warehouse transformation that takes just 2 weeks to a full Return on Investment.

LED ROI By The Numbers

Here are the actual numbers from one of our recent LED retrofit projects we completed in the Metro St. Louis Area…

BEFORE:

27,000 SF Warehouse
Lit by 118 400w Metal Halide High Bay Lights
Used 3,000 hours per year at $.10 per kWh for an annual expense of $16,284.00

AFTER:

118 Metal Halide Lights Replaced with 51 LED High Bay lights
Used 3,000 hours per year at $.10 per kWh for an annual expense of $2,769.30
Total Cost of Project Including Labor: $20,187.94
Ameren Illinois Incentive: $20,006.05
Net Cost to Starbeam Customer: $181.89

Yes, that’s correct less than $200 which took just two weeks to ROI (well 15 days, but almost 2 weeks). More importantly, perhaps is our customer now has a much brighter and more productive working warehouse!

Check out our before and after “sliders” of the project:
[twenty20 img1=”1747″ img2=”1743″ offset=”0.5″ before=”Before” after=”After”]
[twenty20 img1=”1741″ img2=”1740″ offset=”0.5″ before=”Befoer” after=”After”]
[twenty20 img1=”1742″ img2=”1745″ offset=”0.5″ before=”Before” after=”After”]

Annual Energy Expense Reduction After LED Conversion

Annual Energy Spend Drops from $16,284.00 to $2,769.30
Annual Energy Cost Reduction: $13,514.70

Ready to see how high-quality LED lighting can transform your property while keeping occupants and visitors safe and healthy? The first step is having our lighting professionals perform a free audit to find out how you can improve your current system. We can also inform you about rebates you may be eligible for by upgrading to more energy-efficient LED lighting.

Get in touch with our lighting experts to build a custom system that meets your needs and helps protect employees. We’ve built our name by lighting up businesses in St. Louis and across Missouri and Illinois since 1970. We stand the test of time because our carefully selected products do the same. We stake our name and our word on the quality and support we provide.

The post How to ROI New Warehouse Lighting in 2 Weeks appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Is All LED Lighting Created Equal?

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 22:13:00 GMT

We’ll be the first to tell you about the long list of benefits that LED lighting can offer. To start with, they’re much more energy-efficient and help save both money and the environment. They keep warehouses safe, businesses well-lit and recognizable, and offer serious style when used in decor. But what makes some LED lights different (and better) than others? Let’s explore.

Some LED Lighting is NOT Safe

The headlines suggesting that exposure to LED lighting isn’t safe have some truth to them. Some very low cost LED lighting (often found online) are usually manufactured overseas without the quality control we demand from our manufacturers. Exposure to too much of any light over time can lead to retina damage, but making a smart LED choice can mitigate this risk and keep eyes healthy. It’s important to understand that not all LED lighting is created equal.

First, where you purchase lighting matters most of all. It’s hard to know whether the LED you’re purchasing is low- or high- quality, and working with a supplier you can trust is imperative. Don’t go to the “big box” stores — like most investments, the cheapest option isn’t always the best. Choose a distributor that offers both LED fixtures and bulbs; retrofitting doesn’t offer a return on that investment if you’re not also using integrated fixtures.

While retrofitting can help cut down on switching over to LED lighting, this method of using LED bulbs in existing fixtures doesn’t always maximize the efficiency of the new lighting. This is also another factor to consider. A; although retrofitting can offer huge energy savings, you need to ensure that the LED bulbs you choose can be dimmed to function at peak energy-saving efficiency — or else you could be throwing money down the drain every month when paying utility bills.

ENERGY STAR Certification

Another key factor is ENERGY STAR certification. LED manufacturers can make all sorts of claims about their lighting but without the ENERGY STAR label these claims are unfounded. With the certification, lighting is guaranteed to be flicker-free, true to color, and offer the energy efficiency that LED lighting is known for.

ENERGY STAR requirements were introduced in 1997 as an efficient lighting option without sacrificing efficacy and function. Having an ENERGY STAR certification means that your lighting meets minimum performance levels as claimed by manufacturers and has been tested by a third-party certification laboratory to ensure accuracy and industry compliance.

Besides offering protection against low-quality lighting, ENERGY STAR certification means that the bulbs you purchase shine in all directions. For businesses that use LED for safety, this is especially important as the wrong lighting can cast dark shadows that could put employee and visitor safety at risk.

Choosing a trusted distributor who offers ENERGY STAR certified lighting and LED integrated fixtures maximizes lighting lifespan. With longer hours of operation, maintenance costs are reduced. Cheaper LED lighting without certification will only last about 2-3 years and require more frequent replacement. Top-notch lighting from a specialized supplier will last 10 years — think about your building and do the math to find out how much you’ll save.

Additional features are also a big benefit to skipping over the cheap LED lighting. Dimmers ensure that you’re maximizing efficiency and keeping the lighting at levels that are optimized for the space. LED suppliers have the expertise needed to direct you to the right fixtures, as well. Don’t do what so many companies have done and try to DIY this project. That story never ends well, especially when you have to pay to fix broken or cheaply made lighting.

Most importantly, don’t skimp on an LED upgrade. While this lighting helps to save operating costs over time, it does take an upfront investment. While some may balk at this potential budget line-item, there’s no price on keeping your employees and building visitors safe by choosing a high-quality LED system.

The post Is All LED Lighting Created Equal? appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Top LED Lighting Tips for Retail Stores

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 19:13:00 GMT

Lighting Tips for Retail Stores. Retail success in brick-and-mortar spaces includes many factors, but in this age of eCommerce shopping it’s easy to overlook strategic lighting in its role of boosting sales and bringing more foot traffic in the door.

Along with merchandising, lighting helps provide the backdrop for the first impression for visitors. In fact, studies have shown that the right lighting upfits can increase sales of up to 12% with a strategic approach.

Start outside with exterior LED lighting

Who doesn’t love to see their name in the spotlight? The same should be true about your store signage and logo. LED lights can be used to draw attention to your location and keep important branding (like logos) top-of-mind for customers, setting you apart from the competition.

If landscaping and hardscaping are a big part of your building’s design, lighting can be used in these spaces to show off your investments. Here’s a bonus: Great lighting design can also offer a more photogenic space, something that’s perfect for the current state of image-forward digital marketing trends and “Instagrammable” spaces.

Let LED create an atmosphere

Just as with traditional lighting, you’ll find several types of fixtures, temperatures, and colors of LED lighting to set the tone for shoppers. Break up your lighting for different effects in different areas of the store; for example, think about how lighting in retail spaces like jewelry stores or supermarkets can make or break a sale.

Layer LED lighting for max effect

Dividing your retail lighting into “layers” can help you manage any layout challenges.

The overall lighting in your store is ambient lighting, and this is where you want to focus your energy on creating true atmosphere. Usually the largest lighting source or fixture that puts out the most light is considered ambient .
A “spotlight” effect is called accent lighting, and it can draw attention to high-ticket or popular items in your store. It can also be used to point out important signage about sales, return policies, new product offerings, and more.
Even with ambient and accent lighting, you may still have shadows or dark areas lurking in corners, which may cause customers to miss seeing some of your products — and hurt your bottom line. This is where high-activity lighting comes into play.

Make the LED leap — for good

There was a time when “retail” was synonymous with “fluorescent,” but that’s quickly changing thanks to the evolution of LED lighting. New innovations mean that you have practially endless options for color and temperature, as well as LED-compatible fixtures that add to store decor.

If your store doesn’t have LED lighting yet or you have just a few bulbs installed, it may be time to make the switch and totally upgrade everything. While this can present business owners with some up-front costs, the energy and cost savings you’ll realize make it worth it.

Tap into art and design best practices with LED lighting

Along with the technicalities of using LED bulbs in your retail store, add a splash of creativity into the mix. Use multiple sources and fixtures throughout your store to create a dynamic that keeps customers interested in your products.

That said, don’t cram your space with as much lighting as possible thinking it helps shoppers. Larger areas can use backlights for ambiance and high-activity lighting to emphasize certain products or sections of the store.

Use LED for safety, too

Where do you keep your extra inventory? In a dimly-lit back room? What about a warehouse with a layout that’s constantly changing? Along with adding aesthetic appeal to your store’s showroom, LED lighting can also provide wayfinding and safety for employees who check on stock.

Don’t neglect alternative entrances, loading docks, back doors, and emergency exits. LED lighting in these areas of your store is important to keep both employees and customers safe (and your business protected from code violations and liability) in the event of an emergency.

From the front of your store to the back employee entrance, depend on LED lighting to help play a large part in your retail success. Before making any upgrades, you should start with an energy audit from our team of lighting experts to understand the best plan of action. Let’s get started!

The post Top LED Lighting Tips for Retail Stores appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

You Could Increase ROI With LED

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 03:02:00 GMT

Increase ROI With LED. We live in an age of tremendous technological innovation that impacts virtually every aspect of our daily existence. Specific to commercial lighting advancements for businesses and retailers, there is arguably no bigger game-changer than LED lighting. Starbeam Lighting looks at how this powerful, efficient lighting solution can increase your company’s ROI.

LED’s Advantages

There are several reasons why LED lighting is mentioned in the same breath as other generational innovations like the internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and self-driving cars. One of the biggest is profitability, which in turn is the result of LED’s exceptional efficiency. Combine the two and you have a lighting solution that pays for itself many times over. Moreover, LED cost is consistently decreasing, especially over the last couple of years. This decrease is even more pronounced when factoring in the rebates that many local utilities offer to companies electing to convert their facilities to LED lighting.

From a functional and aesthetic point of view, LED lighting is tremendously versatile. There is a near-endless selection of different LED varieties to choose from, offering different lifespans, performance capabilities, and price points. Such versatility explains why LED lighting is likely to integrate in the near future with smartphone beacon technology used by retailers to attract customers to their stores and entice them with timely push notifications and offers.

One Example (Of Many) Confirming LED’s ROI Potential

In 2018, a 32-store convenience chain completed a major LED lighting project. The project involved each store’s key lighting installations – interior, exterior, and gas pump canopy lighting. Outdated, inefficient lighting was removed, and LED lights were integrated. Within months, the convenience chain was already reaping the benefits brought about by the retrofit. Between energy savings and a drastic decrease in maintenance needs, every store reported good ROI. In fact, several locations were able to pay off the investment in less than six months after the company-wide mandate.

When you consider that one LED tube lasts twice as long as a traditional fluorescent tube while using half the energy, it’s easy to see how a convenience store could achieve such a rapid payback. And for those stores that were using incandescent bulbs, the payback happened even faster since LEDs are around 80% more efficient . Even better, LED’s potential is far from being reached. Every business that switches to LED lighting in the future will reap bigger and bigger benefits. Consider the fact that two years ago, achieving 1,800 lumens in an LED tube required 18 watts. Today, that same lumen-count is achievable with just 10 watts.

We mentioned LED and smartphone beacons, and that’s just one of the many ways that LED lighting will be integrated with the latest technology. Before long, the 32-store convenience chain and many companies like it will use LED solutions to analyze in-store foot traffic, confirm which aisles are the most popular, and highlight specific products on the shelf.

We’re Excited About Your Business’s Future

These are exciting times in the lighting industry, especially with the advancements being made in commercial LED lighting not just here at Starbeam Lighting in St. Louis, but worldwide. Contact our lighting experts today and let’s talk about how your business can capitalize on LED lighting’s gigantic upside.

The post You Could Increase ROI With LED appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

When’s The Last Time You Checked Your Warehouse Lights?

Sat, 15 Jun 2019 13:40:00 GMT

The Last Time You Checked Your Warehouse Lights? Many businesses take their warehouse lighting for granted, but with cost-saving, energy-efficient LED lighting widely available on the market, it might be time to check your commercial light fixtures and make a change. To that end, here are four questions Starbeam Lighting thinks you should ponder.

What Kind Of Warehouse Lighting Do You Currently Have?

You’d be surprised how many warehouse managers are unable to answer this question. Over time, warehouse lighting becomes an afterthought – plus, new personnel might not have any idea what the previous management installed. You may need to pull old purchase orders, make a few calls, or contact your local lighting supplier for a consultation, but ultimately the answer to this question might be, “HID or fluorescent.” If this is the case, then now is a great time for an LED upgrade. HID and fluorescent are inefficient, expensive, and in some cases even dangerous. On the other hand, LED lighting offers energy, cost, and maintenance savings, along with superior light quality, easy integration with other systems, and simple controllability.

Are Your Warehouse Lights On 24/7?

If so, you’re wasting energy and money. The solution, and one that in some instances can deliver an 80 percent reduction in warehouse energy usage, is to add lighting controls so you can configure your warehouse illumination to your specific needs. There’s no sense paying for light you don’t really use, and LED systems come with easy-to-use controls to ensure you’re always maximizing your energy usage and budget.

This also holds true for warehouses with lighting that is controlled by a manual switch. Instead of worrying about “the last one out turning the lights off,” an automated system does it for you. Plus, you can adjust your lighting setup depending on time of day, season, occupancy, and big events like monthly inventory.

Is Your Warehouse Lighting Too Dim?

Insufficient brightness in the warehouse can negatively impact several areas, the most important of which is safety. Lighting should never be the cause of an employee accident or injury, but in too many warehouses employees have a hard time seeing and navigating, which leads to trouble. Inefficiency is another detriment: in an inferiorly lit warehouse, employees make more mistakes during inspections, pull the wrong products, take longer to pull a product, are unable to read the numbers on a label – the list goes on.

Compounding this problem is the fact that fluorescent and HID lighting dulls much faster than LED, plunging the warehouse into a steadily increasing dimness. And although the human eye will acclimate to changing lighting conditions, this doesn’t replace losses in terms of efficiency or safety. When you install new lights, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how big a difference they make.

Are Any Of Your Warehouse Lights Out Right Now?

If the answer is “yes,” now is the perfect time not only to replace the expired lights, but to also do so with high-powered, high-upside commercial LED lighting from Starbeam Lighting. Contact our lighting pros today and we’ll help boost your warehouse’s visibility, safety, and productivity.

The post When’s The Last Time You Checked Your Warehouse Lights? appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

What Does Retrofit Mean?

Wed, 15 May 2019 21:01:00 GMT

Regardless of what business you’re in, chances are you’ve heard of LED lighting and the outstanding benefits it provides. Maybe you’ve even gotten as far as discussing an LED retrofit , but are unsure how to proceed. Starbeam Lighting is here to fill in the blanks for you with this informative blog covering all things retrofit.

LED Retrofit – What Is It?

On its own, the word “retrofit” implies that something new is being introduced into an environment that was not originally designed with it in mind. So when we say “LED retrofit”, we mean that you’re introducing LED lighting into your office, warehouse, parking garage, etc. You could also look at it from the perspective of a “conversion”, in the sense that you’re converting your environment into one that utilizes LED lighting.

LED Retrofit – Benefits

Four of the biggest benefits associated with an LED retrofit are:

Significant cost-savings in terms of power used, and ongoing maintenance fees for parts and labor
A huge boost in energy efficiency, especially versus traditional filament light bulbs
Superior lighting quality, equating to a safer, healthier, more productive work environment
“Green” rebate opportunities at the federal and state levels, along with opportunities to partner with energy-savings companies (ESCOs)

There are also a number of “smaller” advantages offered by an LED retrofit. These include:

Choice

A retrofit allows you to tap into a vast array of different LED retrofit products, offering the opportunity to customize your retrofit in terms of color, wattage, and style

Ease of switching

LED retrofits come in different levels of complexity. The simplest path involves nothing more than replacing your old light bulbs with LED screw-in lamps that mesh with your existing fixtures (this is also known as an “LED plug-and-play” solution). Even more complex retrofits, i.e. those involving new fixtures, dimming capability, a new lighting infrastructure, etc. can still be accomplished smoothly and cost-effectively, especially when dealing with new construction.

Minimal Maintenance

All retrofit LED products possess an unbelievably long lifespan and require minimal maintenance. As long as you keep up with periodic dusting and inspection, you’ll maximize the output of your LED bulbs and the durability of each light’s components.

Important Considerations

Before moving ahead with an LED retrofit, there are a couple of important considerations to keep in mind:

Although most LED lighting solutions are designed to integrate with standard light fixtures, switching to LED lights without changing out your fixtures could somewhat limit your LED lighting options. If however you opt for a full retrofit that includes upgrading your lights and your fixtures, then you’ll have the full range of LED solutions at your disposal.
If you’re interested in LED lights with dimming capability, you’ll need to invest in new, LED-specific dimming hardware as well as the lights themselves. Traditional dimming technology is incompatible with an LED retrofit.

Retrofit Today and Reap The Benefits of LED

A large number of businesses throughout St. Louis are switching to retrofit LED lights or have already made the change. Ensure your company is next in line by contacting Starbeam Lighting today and scheduling a free lighting audit. In as little as 12 months, you’ll begin seeing exceptional ROI on your LED retrofit investment.

The post What Does Retrofit Mean? appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Five Ways To Reduce Energy Costs In Commercial Buildings

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 15:18:00 GMT

Reduce Energy Costs In Commercial Buildings. Reducing energy costs in commercial buildings through smarter lighting decisions is a hot topic amongst the next generation of developers and engineers. Starbeam Lighting, a well-established lighting company serving the St. Louis metro area, looks at five ways that lighting can help achieve this sought-after energy reduction.

Switch To LED Lighting

In commercial buildings still using outdated fluorescent lighting systems, an LED retrofit can have a significant and immediate impact on the bottom line: to the tune of around 60% savings on electrical costs related to energy consumption. LED lighting also generates far less heat than traditional lighting solutions, which helps reduce a building’s air conditioning expenditure. Also the fact that LEDs don’t generate much heat equates to a much longer lifespan, and by extension lower maintenance and replacement costs. And from an aesthetic perspective, LED lighting is crisper and cleaner, promoting a more energetic, productive employee workplace. This is just as true for LED warehouse lighting as it is for office-based LED lighting approaches.

Plant Shade Trees

If LED lighting is the high-tech approach to energy reduction, than planting shade trees is the all-natural option. By planting deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves in fall and get them back in spring) on the south and east sides of a commercial building, you get the dual benefit of shade in the summer (which reduces the AC load) and sun in the winter (thus lowering your internal heating needs). And if you plant evergreen trees along the west and north sides of the building, you’ll gain additional shading in the summer and a wind-block during winter.

By effectively using trees to block solar radiation, a commercial building can feel 10 – 15 degrees cooler.

Install Motion-Sensitive Light Switches

Here’s another solution that fits into the retrofit lighting category, and one that’s just as appropriate for warehouse lighting and industrial lighting as it is for office lighting. At a quick turnaround and for a very affordable cost, swapping out a building’s traditional light switches with motion-sensitive dimmer switches ensures that the lights in a conference room or commercial space will only turn on when the space is occupied. These motion-sensitive solutions are also ideal for hallways and other areas where the lights don’t always need to be on.

Capitalize On Natural Sunlight

Returning to an au natural solution, timely usage of natural sunlight is a great way to reduce energy costs in a commercial building. Opening the blinds, Utilizing skylights, and introducing innovative window designs in optimum positions are all ways that a building can minimize it lighting needs during daytime hours. An easily installed daylight sensor promotes the concept of “daylight harvesting” – that is, the idea that when sufficient daylight is available, the sensor will dim or turn off lights as needed.

Choose Fluorescent Over Incandescent

For office lamps and other items that rely on a “one-bulb approach”, replace outdated, inefficient incandescent (filament) light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent lasts five times longer and uses 75% less electricity than incandescent, making it a prime player in any effort to reduce commercial building energy costs.

We’re On The Lighting Industry’s Cutting Edge

A global change is underway in the lighting industry. Households are switching to more energy-efficient lighting solutions, and businesses are replacing inefficient industrial lighting fixtures with the latest eco-friendly, money-saving technology. Work with Starbeam Lighting and you’ll always be on the lighting industry’s cutting edge.

The post Five Ways To Reduce Energy Costs In Commercial Buildings appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

The Most Common Types Of Industrial Lighting Fixtures

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 15:16:00 GMT

Types Of Industrial Lighting Fixtures. If you’re looking to install industrial lighting in an office building, warehouse, or factory, you’ll need the expertise possessed by Starbeam Lighting. We’re licensed, bonded, and highly proficient with a variety of industrial lighting types and installation procedures. And speaking of “lighting types”, let’s take a look at the most common types of industrial lighting in-use today.

Full Spectrum Industrial Lighting

Ideal for offices and buildings/areas where foot traffic is frequent and employees spend a lot of time looking at computers and other screens, full spectrum industrial lighting comes very close to replicating natural light. This lighting option can be deployed on a large scale, or in smaller, “individualized” solutions such as swing-arm desk lamps.

LED Lighting

As we move further into the 21 st century, more and more companies are switching to LED for their industrial lighting fixtures . By far the most popular choice and easily the most eco-friendly, LED also has a big advantage in terms of customization: they come in a large variety of designs, colors, and sizes, making them configurable to virtually any kind of workplace and any type ambiance. Moreover, they consume a low amount of power, produce far less heat than, say, a traditional incandescent bulb, and offer an impressively long lifetime.

From factories and office buildings, to trade show floors and sports arenas, LED lighting’s many benefits are being discovered by new users every day.

Fluorescent Lighting

When you need to illuminate a large area, fluorescent lighting is the perfect choice. They’re also quite energy efficient (not at LED’s level, but close) and they are quick to reach maximum intensity, which is why they’re often found in supermarkets, department stores, and similar product-oriented environments.

Halogen Lighting

Halogen lighting is commonly used in spotlights of varying sizes (from the large spotlights employed by car dealerships, to the small spotlights used on theater stages) because of their ability to produce very bright light. They’re upside is also their downside, as such intensity brings with it high glare and considerable heat, which makes halogen lighting a poor fit for any locale in which people would be close to the light, or have to rely on it to see. Interestingly, halogen lights boast low energy consumption – significantly lower than you might think.

Incandescent Lamps

This is the “original lightbulb”, these days used mainly in homes and less so in an industrial setting. A simple wire filament conducts an electric current that warms the filament and causes it to produce light. These lights score poorly in lifespan and efficiency, and retrofits – in which a newer lighting solution, i.e. LED, replaces an outdated one – are becoming increasingly popular related to incandescent lamps.

High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting

HID lighting is a definite improvement on incandescent, with HID being more energy efficient and longer-lasting. Often found in outdoor artificial lighting and landscape lighting, HID lighting comes in a few varieties, such as mercury, high-pressure sodium, and metal halide.

Leverage Our Lighting Expertise

Starbeam Lighting has long served the lighting needs of businesses throughout the St. Louis metro area. With over 1000 years of collective experience, our lighting company is the one to talk with about design solutions, energy incentives, and the latest lighting products that will help keep your business running at top speed.

The post The Most Common Types Of Industrial Lighting Fixtures appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

The Evolution Of TLEDs

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 15:20:00 GMT

Evolution Of TLEDs. The last several years have seen a marked increase in the popularity of TLEDs, also known as “T8 LED tube lights”. Starbeam Lighting reviews the evolution of this lighting solution and discusses why TLEDs are a compelling choice for businesses interested in a new approach to industrial lighting .

What Is a TLED?

A TLED represents the “evolution” of the traditional linear fluorescent lamp. TLEDs look like their predecessors and are designed to fit into the same fixtures, yet they are 30% more efficient than linear fluorescents and are mercury-free. Also, TLEDs are solid-state, which means they can provide directional lighting as well as integrate with automated controls (i.e. motion sensors or a dimmer). The advantages offered by TLEDs have made them a popular choice for retrofitting warehouses and office buildings still using traditional linear fluorescent lamps.

TLEDs – Early Challenges

When TLEDs first began attracting attention in 2013, there were various shortcomings which needed to be overcome. These included:

Application: LEDs were acknowledged to work best when designed around the installation site’s requirements for light output and thermal control, as opposed to being “forced into” existing fixtures like the traditional linear fluorescent lamp, i.e. for retrofitting.

Safety: when they first appeared, TLEDs were considered an “independent product” – one which sometimes, but not always, carried DLC and UL safety approval.

Compatibility: Early TLEDs faced compatibility issues with the fixtures they were serving as retrofits for, to the point where they needed to be rewired in order to work.

Lifespan: The first TLEDs suffered from a lifespan that was far shorter than that possessed by traditional T8 lamps.

Efficiency: similar to their lifespan issues, TLEDs also didn’t produce nearly as much light as a T8 system. This fact negated the advantage offered by TLED in terms of better energy efficiency.

Overall, it was understood by our lighting company and many others that, paraphrasing the Department of Energy’s (DOE) findings at the time, “TLEDs are improving, but cost, life, and performance are not yet superior”.

Today’s TLEDs

Given the lighting industry’s optimistic view of TLED’s possibilities, it only took a few years to solve the aforementioned challenges. Whereas manufacturing cost used to be high and efficiency low, future evolutions of the TLED resulted in a solution that today is inexpensive to manufacture while delivering excellent energy efficiency. In fact, a typical LED nowadays uses only 19 watts to output more than 100 lumens per watt, resulting in an impressive 80+ CRI.

Also, whereas the first TLEDs required a ballast, design advancements soon resulted in a “ballast-free” product that today offers greatly reduced cost and minimal maintenance. Moreover, today’s TLEDs are UL listed and DLC qualified, which means they’re eligible for a variety of utility company rebates.

All of these advantages, coupled with an increasingly diverse product mix and a simple means of installation, makes it easy to understand why the DOE today confirms TLEDs as one of the fastest-growing LED products in the U.S.

Explore TLED With Starbeam Lighting Today

As experts in industrial lighting fixtures and solutions, Starbeam Lighting knows TLEDs inside and out. Trust us to help you incorporate these LED products into a solution that increases safety and efficiency, while decreasing cost and maintenance.

The post The Evolution Of TLEDs appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Comparing Incandescent To LED Bulbs

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 23:48:00 GMT

Incandescent To LED Bulbs. Incandescent bulbs and LED lighting are popular illumination choices for homeowners and businesses. As a top-rated lighting company in St. Louis, Starbeam Lighting is uniquely positioned to analyze both options and discuss the pros and cons of each.

Incandescent

What Is It?

An incandescent lightbulb is the classic bulb we’re used to seeing everywhere. Luminance is achieved by heating a wire filament until it produces light. The glass bulb surrounding the wire can be filled with an inert gas, or left gasless to create a vacuum.

Advantages Of Incandescent Lights

Manufacturing process of an incandescent bulb hasn’t changed in more than a century, which makes these bulbs cheap to design and cheap to purchase.
Incandescent bulbs offer significant variety: there are many different combinations of voltage, current, and light output
Despite their basic construction, incandescent lighting is reputed for its ability to render exceptional color

Disadvantages Of Incandescent Lights

Incandescent lights have three big disadvantages that today are more pronounced than ever:

Worst lifespan on the market: no other lighting type has a worse lifespan than incandescent, whose average lifespan is just 1,200 hours.
Worst energy efficiency on the market: almost all of the energy that incandescent bulbs consume is for heat generation. Only around 10% goes towards lighting.
Also, incandescent lights are “omnidirectional”, which means they only output light in 360 degrees, and require redirection in order to target a specific area. This limitation significantly compromises efficiency.

LED

What Is It?

LED (light-emitting diode) lighting uses two electrodes (an anode and a cathode) as conduits for electricity, which flows through the anode and out through the cathode. Silicon and selenium, both of which are semi-conductive materials, are used for the diodes. Thus, light is emitted when the electrical current passes through the electrodes.

Advantages Of LED Lights

Unbeatable energy efficiency, better than every other lighting technology on the market
Exceptionally long lifespan that far surpasses incandescent lighting, and trumps other choices like fluorescent and LPS (low-pressure sodium)
Maintenance costs and repair/replacement needs are minimal
Outstanding light quality with virtually zero adverse effects (doesn’t cause headaches, affect mood, compromise safety, etc.)
Size can be considerably smaller than other lighting solutions
Don’t require a warm-up or cool-down period, thanks to faster switching
Naturally directional: standard light emission is 180 degrees
Able to produce entire color spectrum without using filters
Require far less accessories than competing options

Disadvantages Of LEDs

LED lighting’s many upsides make it an easy choice for a new construction project or an LED retrofit in an existing building. LED’s only real disadvantage is its fairly high up-front cost, which exceeds that of other lighting solutions. However, the energy savings derived from using LED lighting, coupled with the fact that the price of LEDs will continue dropping, makes the initial investment more than worth it.

Partner With Us On Your Next Lighting Project in St. Louis

Starbeam Lighting brings extensive experience to any lighting project, whether it’s for retrofit lighting , a lighting control system, or brand-new lighting for a warehouse or commercial space. Partner with us on your next lighting project and benefit from our considerable knowledge and cutting-edge solutions.

The post Comparing Incandescent To LED Bulbs appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Why You Should Consider LED Warehouse Lighting

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 19:53:00 GMT

Why You Should Consider LED Warehouse Lighting

More and more people are learning about the benefits of LED lighting for homes and small businesses. But what about LED lighting for warehouses? Take it from Starbeam Lighting in St. Louis: a switch to LED warehouse lighting means big benefits. Let’s look at three of the biggest.

Cost Savings

LED light bulbs are significantly more energy-efficient than a traditional halogen bulb. And by “significantly”, we mean up to 50%. This means that the light output of a 400W halogen can be achieved by a 200W LED bulb, and at half of the energy that the halogen bulb uses. Our lighting company serving St. Louis has yet to meet anyone who doesn’t want to cut their monthly electric bill in half. Here’s another statistic that should have you thinking seriously about an LED retrofit: let’s say the average warehouse lightbulb is running 12 hours a day. Depending on the size of the warehouse, each bulb could be 1,000W. The bulb uses 1,000W/hour to produce light, which equates to 12,000W for one bulb, per day. And if the warehouse has 100 bulbs all on at the same time, that’s a whopping 1,200,000 watts of energy needed per day to light the warehouse. Switching to LED not only reduces your monthly electrical expenses, it also reduces your carbon footprint.

Less Maintenance

The lifespan of an LED lightbulb is considerably longer than traditional bulbs, which is a big advantage in terms of maintenance. Depending on usage, an LED light bulb can last for years, which means less time and money spent on replacement. On the flipside, traditional HID bulbs require far more frequent changing, an issue exacerbated by the fact that some industrial lighting fixtures can be up to 40 feet off the ground, necessitating the use of a lift truck and a hired electrician. Of course, the same amount of effort is needed to change an LED bulb – but the key is that you won’t need to change an LED nearly as often. Standard HID and fluorescent bulbs have a lifespan of 6,000 – 15,000 hours. A typical LED bulb’s lifespan is significantly longer: in the range of 25,000 – 100,000 hours. This means that over the course of one LED bulb’s lifetime, six bulbs of inferior quality will have “lived and died”.

Safety

Utilization of LED lighting means an end to dim, unreliable, and potentially dangerous industrial lighting. LED bulbs are brighter than competing alternatives, and they possess better light quality. This contributes to a work environment that is healthier and more productive. Unlike HID bulbs, which can take anywhere from 2 – 15 minutes to attain full brightness, LED bulbs reach 100% of their intensity right away. Thus there’s no down-time while employees are waiting for the lights to warm up, and less chance of an accident occurring in poorly-lit conditions. Other problems with traditional light bulbs are well documented. Many of these bulbs contain harmful ingredients such as mercury – in fact, fluorescent light bulbs rely on mercury to emit light, and can be toxic if broken. Also, fluorescent bulbs, along with metal halide bulbs and mercury vapor light bulbs, all emit UV radiation, which can be harmful to humans if exposure is prolonged. Poor-quality lighting also contributes to everything from general worker malaise, to full-on headaches and seizures.

Your Local Lighting Solutions Specialist

Starbeam Lighting has an extensive track record that includes retrofit lighting , commercial lighting, and of course, warehouse lighting. We’re committed to helping our customers save money and increase the safety of their homes and businesses. Contact us today to discuss our solutions for lighting near St. Louis.

The post Why You Should Consider LED Warehouse Lighting appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Five Common Types Of Industrial Lighting Fixtures

Sat, 15 Dec 2018 23:47:00 GMT

Types Of Industrial Lighting Fixtures. If you own or manage a warehouse, factory, or manufacturing plant, no doubt you want industrial lighting that’s safe and reliable, and helps your employees work more efficiently. There are five common types of industrial lighting fixtures used today, and Starbeam Lighting serving St. Louis covers all of them below.

Halogen

In a halogen lamp, light is created via a wire filament enclosed in a quartz tube, within which is pressurized halogen bromine or halogen iodine gas that reacts with the filament. These lamps burn bright and white, and are often employed in flood lights, headlights, and accent lighting. One advantage offered by halogen lamps is their ability to generate a powerful beam of light that can be focused on a specific area or product. Another upside is their diversity: halogen lamps come in different styles ranging from floods, reflective spotlights, and mini-can bulbs, to double-ended quartz, single-ended quartz, and parabolic aluminized spots. Our local lighting company has extensive experience with all of these.

Halogen lamps typically last 3,000 – 5,000 hours and have an energy efficiency of around 22 lumens per watt (LM/W).

Incandescent

Of the five lighting fixtures on this list, incandescent is the most common. These are traditional light bulbs: an electric current passes through a slender wire filament, the filament heats up, and white light is produced. Incandescent bulbs only last 500 – 1,000 hours and aren’t as efficient (18 LM/W) as other industrial lighting solutions, but they’re inexpensive and versatile, with usage in virtually any lighting environment: general, supplemental, and decorative.

Fluorescent

With a lifespan of 12,000 – 24,000 hours or more, and a maximum output of 105 LM/W, fluorescent lighting is exceptionally durable and efficient. In fact, they use a fifth of the wattage that incandescent bulbs use, but last 20 times longer. The construction of a fluorescent bulb is a bit more complex than the other solutions on this list. In layman’s terms, fluorescent light is the product of an electric arc passing through an inert gas.

High-Intensity Discharge (HID)

High-intensity discharge, or HID lighting, comes in three variations: mercury, high-pressure sodium, and metal halide. One of these gases is pressurized and fills an inner tube, through which an electric current passes. This process creates light, and an impressively powerful light at that. Though they take a few minutes to reach full brightness, HID lighting is a top choice for outdoor lighting, general lighting, and landscape lighting.

LED

Over the last decade, LED lighting’s popularity has increased tenfold. Like fluorescent lighting, LED offers high efficiency and a lengthy lifespan – so lengthy, in fact, that some LED bulbs and diodes can last for up to 100,000 hours. Also, unlike other lighting options, LEDs don’t burn out and cease functioning – they just become dimmer after years of use. Another big upside to pursuing an LED lighting solution is its eco-friendliness. LED lights have zero toxic chemicals, as opposed to fluorescent light bulbs which comprise several different materials, some of which are unsafe for the environment. And lastly, LED lighting is becoming an increasingly good investment, with many LED systems paying for themselves within two years.

Work with an Experienced Lighting Specialist

Industrial lighting fixtures are a topic our local lighting company knows plenty about. If your business’s lighting system is in need of repairs or bulb replacement, or if you’re interested in upgrading your current lighting scheme, contact the pros at Starbeam Lighting today.

The post Five Common Types Of Industrial Lighting Fixtures appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

LED Lighting: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 23:45:00 GMT

LED Lighting: A Cost-Benefit Analysis. If you’re a business owner or homeowner considering an LED retrofit, you’re probably aware that new LED lights will eventually pay for themselves. But how long does it take, and what do the numbers look like? Starbeam Lighting Solutions, a St. Louis company providing exceptional lighting solutions for almost 50 years, has the answers.

“Old” Lighting

The term “old” lighting refers specifically to incandescent bulbs and their successor, halogen. Both of these bulb types are highly inefficient. For example, to produce 800 lumens of light, an incandescent bulb requires 60 watts of electricity. This is a huge output of heat/energy for a relatively average amount of light. Halogen bulbs are slightly more efficient, but not by much. Achieving 800 lumens of light with a halogen light bulb requires 50 watts of energy. Also, it’s important to remember that these bulbs generate high turnover and are prone to malfunctioning at much faster rate than contemporary solutions.

LED Lighting

Now let’s take a closer look at LED lighting , the kind provided by our lighting company serving southern and central Illinois. Whereas incandescent and halogen light bulbs output 800 lumens at 60 and 50 watts respectively, LED lights require only 8.5 watts to produce the same amount of light. This means that LED lighting is around 6x more efficient than halogen and about 7x more efficient than incandescent.

Just how efficient is LED lighting? The numbers are jaw-dropping. An average incandescent bulb last around 1,200 hours, while a decent halogen bulb will net you around 2,500 hours. Compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs, the “corkscrew bulbs” which have been en vogue for the last decade or so, top out at close to 10,000 hours. On the other side of the spectrum is LED lighting, which is commonly rated to last for more than 30,000 hours . That’s triple the longevity of CFL, which only appeared in the last decade and which itself is far more efficient than the two “primitive” lighting technologies discussed herein.

What Is LED Lighting’s Cost-Benefit?

Consider that the majority of homes and businesses have some lights that are seldom on for more than a couple minutes per day, and other lights that are on for hours at a time. The annual cost to power a 60-watt incandescent bulb for two minutes/day is approx. 15 cents/year, but this cost jets up to about $30 when the same bulb burns nine hours per day, 260 days a year. On the flipside, an 8.5-watt LED bulb burning at the same rate costs only $4.40/year.

The upfront cost for an incandescent bulb is around 94 cents. For an LED bulb, the upfront cost is around $4.99. For simplicity’s sake, let’s round up to $1 and $5, respectively. After factoring in the huge differences between the two in terms of longevity and efficiency, and after averaging out bulbs that are seldom used versus bulbs that are on for hours, we can say with confidence that over a 10-year period, the “real” cost of purchasing, using, and replacing an incandescent bulb is about $236. For an LED bulb, the “real” cost is slightly less than $31.43. That’s per bulb , and so LED’s cost-benefit increases exponentially as the amount of bulbs in the home or business increases.

Work with Starbeam Lighting

Our lighting company serving St. Louis is available for all of your lighting needs, whether you’re interested in an LED retrofit, new warehouse lighting, or a state-of-the-art control system for your commercial lighting. Contact us today for more detailed information and a quote.

The post LED Lighting: A Cost-Benefit Analysis appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Changes Coming To Ameren Incentive

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 23:40:00 GMT

Changes Coming To Ameren Incentive. Energy efficiency and being green is a goal for many companies. Recycling programs, going paperless, and retrofitting costly existing lighting with LED or fluorescent lamps can help businesses realize exceptional cost savings, and at the same time help the environment.

If you’re considering retrofitting the lighting at your company, now is the perfect time to pull the trigger on those projects. You’d better act fast, though, because the clock is ticking on incentives that can save you even more money upfront (up to $500,000!).

Ameren Missouri has announced that they’ll be discontinuing their incentive program as of January 31, 2019. Just like car dealerships offering incentives on a purchase, there’s no guarantee that they’ll renew the program or make changes to it if they do decide to re-boot the rebates down the road. As an example of a potential change, this year we started out with phenomenal incentives, but in early August Ameren changed the program and lowered them by approximately 25 to 30%.

How do I apply for the Ameren incentive?
The process for applying for the incentive is easy, but there’s time involved, which is why noting that January 31 deadline is so important. If the incentive you’re calculated to receive is $10,000 or less, we can purchase the products, install your new lighting, and file the incentive paperwork for you. However (and this is a big however), if your project is calculated to receive an incentive of more than $10,000 or if it’s an exterior project, then Ameren has to inspect the site and give us pre-approval before we can order products and start the work. Inspections are currently being scheduled between 1 ½ – 2 ½ weeks out from the initial request, but with the deadline drawing near and more companies rushing to get their projects in the queue, we expect Ameren to run into a significant inspection backlog.

To give us some leeway to help ensure that every “i” is dotted and “t” is crossed, we’d like to have all retrofit projects completed by January 25th so we can be sure to get your paperwork filed correctly and on time. As long as the project is completed, and the application is submitted prior to January 31st, your incentive is guaranteed.

How much of an incentive will I receive?
Your incentive is based on how many watts are saved. For example, if you go from a 32-watt lamp down to a 12-watt lamp, you’d save 20 watts per lamp. A retrofit using fluorescent lamps receives 30¢ per watt. Replacing A-Style household-type bulbs with LEDs results in an incentive of $3 per lamp. Specialty lamps such as parlor lamps and spotlights receive $6 per lamp.

Do the math and see how much of an incentive you stand to receive to help you with your company’s project. If you’ve been on the fence about a retrofit, the time to get your project on the schedule is now. Don’t miss the January 31st deadline! Contact us today!

The post Changes Coming To Ameren Incentive appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Seven Signs You Should Invest In LED Lighting

Mon, 15 Oct 2018 18:19:00 GMT

Invest In LED Lighting. Are you a business owner thinking about installing LED lighting ? Starbeam Lighting Solutions in St. Louis offers seven signs your company should make the investment.

#1: Too Many Calls To Your Electrician

If you find that your business is spending thousands of dollars annually on maintenance for your lighting system, you’re not alone. Lots of businesses in the St. Louis metro area receive several visits a year from an electrician, needing lamps replaced and ballasts repaired. This is the unfortunate byproduct of using a traditional approach to business lighting. However, an LED setup has no such pitfalls. An LED system doesn’t depend on unreliable ballasts, and LED bulbs last up to 10x longer than traditional bulbs. Invest in LED lighting and your maintenance bill will plummet.

#2: Safety Is a Priority

Poor lighting is an oft-overlooked cause of workplace accidents. With an outdated lighting system that integrates yellow, dim bulbs, there’s a higher likelihood that visitors and employees will struggle to navigate your offices. This of course leads to a higher chance of mishaps, especially in areas where bulbs have burned out and not been replaced promptly. On the other hand, pursuing an LED retrofit ensures lighting that is brighter, crisper, and safer.

#3: You’re Ready For a Long-Term Lighting Solution

Every business wants to grow and improve, but this can be tough when the focus is constantly shifting towards maintenance issues. The good news is, when you introduce LED retrofit lighting into your company, you’re basically saying that you don’t want to replace a light bulb for the next decade. That’s how much more efficient and durable LED lighting is than traditional lighting.

#4: Clean Energy Is a Company Priority

Companies across a variety of are looking for ways to work cleaner and greener. One great way to do this is by installing an LED lighting system. LED lights are 90% efficient, which means that 90% of the electricity used is converted into light. On the flipside, outdated incandescent bulbs use more electricity for heat than they do for actual light (this is why incandescents get so hot). If you want your business to be a model of clean energy, LED lighting is the way to go.

#5: Your Current Lighting Is Glum and Uninspiring

Lighting plays a big role in terms employee mood and energy. An outdated incandescent system can sap people’s energy, and in some cases make them feel sleepy from the get-go. But LED lighting is the opposite: it’s proven to increase mood and stimulate productivity.

#6: You Want To Decrease Overhead

Decreasing overhead is a perpetual battle for most companies. If you count yours in this number, consider switching to an LED lighting system. For reasons mentioned above (longer-lasting, more efficient, productivity-boosting), LED lighting is a surefire overhead-buster.

#7: You’ve Had It With High Electrical Bills

We’ve saved the most common sign for last. Lots of businesses with lighting systems near St. Louis wish they could spend less on electricity and more on growth and innovation. Guess what – LED lighting can help you do just that. With an LED system in place, you should expect to save 30% or more on your monthly electric bill.

Make the Switch Today

If you’re ready to make the change to LED, contact our well-established lighting company serving the St. Louis Metro Area. We have the experience and the tools to help your business benefit from LED lighting on a number of fronts, from saving money to increasing safety and productivity.

The post Seven Signs You Should Invest In LED Lighting appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Industrial Lighting and Sustainability

Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:18:00 GMT

Sustainability seems to be on everyone’s mind lately, and that’s a good thing. Books, articles, classes, and consultants are sharing the benefits for individuals and businesses alike. There’s so much information, and so many options, that it can be confusing to pick a starting point on the path to sustainability. Here’s your lightbulb moment: the answer may be as close as your light fixtures, and enlisting the help of our team of professionals at Starbeam Lighting.

Sustainability in Business

Before we go much further, let’s establish a working definition of what sustainability is. The School of Sustainability at Arizona State University distills this complex concept to a concise set of principles that are often known as the triple bottom line (3BL). It can be expressed as three distinct pillars:

People: Beneficial to our neighbors
Planet: Good for the environment
Profit: Your sustainability initiatives should make economic sense

In order to be most effective, a sustainability solution should meet each of these three criteria. And, as ASU notes, “Sustainability is not about doing ‘less bad.’ It is about doing ‘more good.’”

Lighting and Sustainability

Now that we have some idea of how sustainability works, how does your industrial or commercial lighting fit into the big picture? Let’s start by looking at the Planet pillar from our definition above. The IIDA cites a Department of Energy study that pegs global energy use for lighting alone at $230 billion per year. Here in the states, annual energy costs for lighting hover in the 20-25% range. A number of developments — LEED standards, energy efficiency requirements, and high-efficiency lighting — all aim to reduce energy consumption; this, in turn, would mean the need for less energy generation, less use of fossil fuels to generate that energy, and a lower environmental impact due to extraction and burning of those fossil fuels.

Technology alone isn’t the answer, however. One reason that Starbeam Lighting conducts lighting audits is because many businesses, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities are incorrectly lit. Poor lighting is wasteful, but it also has health and safety implications for your business. Your personnel suffer (the People “P”), and so does your bottom line due to accidents, lost productivity, and lower morale (there’s your Profit “P”).

Sustainable Lighting Products

Sometimes the results of your lighting efficiency audit will surprise you. That’s due, in part, to the fact that more light fixtures won’t always be the solution. From time to time, we find that making intelligent use of available light through windows and skylights can cut back on daytime light use.

Other times, a lighting retrofit can result in significant savings. Modern LED fixtures consume far less energy than their traditional counterparts. But even a poorly-conceived LED retrofit can pose issues since the wrong fixtures (like a high bay light when a pendant would be more effective) can also lead to poor light and resource use.

Finally, timing matters. Many businesses have areas that are perfectly lit, but they’re lit when they don’t need to be. The cost in wasted light and energy adds up quickly. A task bay that’s only occasionally used, a supply closet that’s used even less frequently than that, and even your employee restrooms can benefit from smart lighting and smarter lighting controls that cut back on wasted energy.

Getting Started

There’s another core sustainability principle that binds all the others together: It works best when it’s a group effort. No single company or individual can make a more sustainable industry, much less a sustainable world. Sustainability is collaborative by definition and requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. The good news is, if your business is looking for the cost savings and environmental benefits of sustainability, you don’t have to go it alone. Starbeam Lighting can illuminate your path to sustainability through energy-efficient industrial lighting . Call us for a consultation today!

The post Industrial Lighting and Sustainability appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

The Most Common Misconceptions of an LED Retrofit

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 07:51:00 GMT

Misconceptions of an LED Retrofit. At Starbeam Lighting, we’ve here to help your LED lighting retrofit process go as smoothly as possible. When it comes time to make the switch, we understand that not everyone in your company may be onboard. If you’re facing this problem as you attempt to bring your system into the 21st Century, we can help with some of the more common objections we hear — and the benefits that make it all worthwhile.

LED Lighting is Too Expensive!

It’s true that the up-front cost of an LED retrofit can seem prohibitive. With that being said, it’s important to look not only at the short term, but also at the longer-term cost savings afforded by LED lighting. LED lights last longer, so you spend less on replacements and maintenance. They use less energy. And there are also ways to defray your installation costs, as we’ll explain below.

How Do I Know This Stuff Won’t Be Obsolete Next Year?

This is an understandable concern; it seems like just a few years ago that CFL bulbs were supposed to be the best thing going, and now everyone’s talking about LEDs, after all. But this isn’t new technology; it’s already been around for a couple of decades, and continues to improve — while getting cheaper — with every passing year.

We’d Might As Well Wait. It’ll Be Cheaper Next Year.

Yes, we did just say that the price of LED lighting continues to trend downward. But it also helps to look at the cost curve; the drop in prices is less precipitous than it once was, and is at a point where the time you wait to save a little money isn’t going to offset the money your business could be saving right now .

LEDs Can’t Be That Much Better

We beg to differ. One thing we’ve learned through our extensive experience selling and installing commercial LED lighting is that LEDs outperform traditional counterparts like fluorescent, incandescent, and halogen lights by so many metrics that their long-term cost savings is only one of the many benefits offered.

The Benefits of LED Lighting

Now that we’ve covered some of the more common misconceptions to LED lighting retrofits, let’s take a closer look at the benefits our clients have seen post-installation.

Safety

Better, brighter light makes for safer work spaces. There are LED solutions for nearly every application, from high bays for warehouse and factory floors, to task lighting or color-balanced commercial lighting . Not only will it show your space in its best light — literally — but it also prevents accidents, injuries, and eye strain.

Low Maintenance

Depending on the types of lights you’re replacing, LEDs last anywhere from four to forty times longer. Given the time and labor spent on maintenance — to say nothing of frequent outlays for replacement lights — this alone can significantly cut your annual expenses.

Energy Efficiency Improvements

LEDs don’t just last longer than their conventional counterparts. They use far less energy. Once you combine the savings on electricity with the savings afforded by lower maintenance, it becomes clear that your system will earn its keep.

Energy Efficiency Rebates

Because of their significant energy savings, LEDs may pay for themselves in another way. Efficient lighting rebates available at the federal, state, and utility levels can significantly defray the cost of a retrofit. As a certified Ameren Ally, we can help you through the entire qualification and rebate process.

Your Objections and Questions Answered

Each business has different needs, which leads in turn to different questions, different people to bring on board, and different objections. Rather than assuming or worrying, contact Starbeam Lighting for a free lighting audit . We will assess your current needs and estimate both the short-term costs and long-term savings you could realize from an LED retrofit.

The post The Most Common Misconceptions of an LED Retrofit appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Finding the Right Industrial Lighting Fixtures

Sun, 15 Jul 2018 12:12:00 GMT

Finding the Right Industrial Lighting Fixtures. Industrial lighting is much different than lighting your home or apartment. Your business may need multiple kinds of lights, and must be able to intelligently scale your system to your needs. Get it wrong and you could be hurting your business by losing customers or making your employees’ work environment unsafe. Get it right — starting with a free lighting consultation from Starbeam Lighting Solutions — and you can save money, earn rebates, and find an ROI faster than you imagined possible.

Advantages of LED Industrial Lighting

LED industrial lighting needs to strike a delicate balance between efficiency, productivity, and safety. If your lighting isn’t up to par, it’s much harder to meet those goals; you stand to lose productivity, your workplace will be more accident-prone, and the money you thought you saved on a cheap solution ends up coming out of your budget in other ways. For anything from a factory to a large building site, let us help.

Warehouse Lighting Fixtures

Warehousing and distribution rely on speed and accuracy, and you’ll get neither if your employees can’t see what they’re doing. The right lighting helps with picking, sorting, packing, and storage, and keeps your business humming.

Indoor Lighting Fixtures

In many situations, light from outdoors is either nonexistent, or — just as often — inadequate for everyday tasks. We offer a diverse industrial lighting portfolio along with four decades’ experience to each space and each project, so we keep your space lit and your budget under control.

High Bay Lighting: Whether you’re lighting an aircraft hanger, factory floor or warehouse, this is the traditional standby
Industrial Lamps: A bright but controlled radius makes industrial lamps well-suited for task lighting and other applications where you need just a bit more light
Pendant Lights: Like industrial lighting, pendant lights are a good solution for lower areas where high bays simply aren’t practical
Recessed Lighting: The ninja of lighting — hidden but powerful — recessed lighting is great for lighting areas that are accessible to the public
Track Lighting: Like its residential cousin, industrial track lighting is versatile and capable of illuminating large areas

Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor LED fixtures improve night time visibility, but they also improve security and limit your liability due to injury. And outdoor LED lighting can be used to beautify as well as illuminate.

Specialty Lighting

Each business’s needs are different, but even with that stipulation, some businesses have more specialized needs than others. Contact us for a range of specialty lighting solutions, including task lighting and lighting solutions for hazardous environments.

Lighting Upgrades for Commercial, Warehouse & Office

The expenses of older industrial lighting can be subtle enough to go unnoticed until you have an alternative. You may be spending too much on your energy bills or replacement parts, or losing money due to reduced productivity. A lighting system retrofit won’t simply save a few dollars; you can recoup your investment in 12 to 24 months.

Commercial Lighting Control Systems

An advanced lighting system needs advanced lighting controls . Not only can you maximize visibility, but a smarter lighting system can ensure that you maximize energy savings without sacrificing illumination.

Why Starbeam Lighting Solutions?

Starbeam Lighting Solutions doesn’t just build lighting systems; we build relationships based on trust. Whether it’s an extensive lighting retrofit or replacement parts, you’ll get the expertise you need and the attention you deserve. Take advantage of a free lighting audit from Starbeam Lighting Solutions to find energy savings and the best interior and exterior commercial lighting.

The post Finding the Right Industrial Lighting Fixtures appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Everything You Wanted to Know about LED Lighting And MORE

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 18:39:00 GMT

Everything You Wanted to Know about LED. LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting is becoming increasingly popular for commercial and residential use. It can be retrofitted as well as built in to new construction, and it provides long-term reduction in energy and expense. But investing in LED lighting can be expensive, so it’s important to know what you’re getting into before you make the leap.

How Does LED Lighting Work?

LED lights have been around since the 1960s, first being primarily used in digital clocks and television remote controls.

LED Lighting Lowers your Electric Bill

LED bulbs and fixtures use far less energy than incandescent or fluorescent lighting. In fact, they use at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting. Where an incandescent lamp used to take 60 watts to achieve a certain level of light, an LED lamp uses a mere 8 watts. It’s easy to see how this can help you save on operating expenses.

Yes, LEDs may cost more at the outset, but they offer bigger savings. In addition to saving on your energy bill, LEDs have an amazing lifespan, lasting, on average, 20 years or 10,000 hours of use. Their fluorescent and HID retrofitted replacements can last at least 45 years or an amazing 50,000 hours of use. During that lifespan, you will recoup the initial cost of the product through energy savings dozens of times over.

LEDs Don’t Contain Mercury

LEDs are mercury-free, which makes them more eco-friendly. Standard fluorescent bulbs use an electric current to energize mercury vapor, which produces short-wave ultraviolet light that then causes a phosphor coating on the inside of the lamp to glow. When these bulbs break, special cleanup and recycling is mandated by law.

LEDs Provide More Natural Light

Next time you’re in a room with fluorescent lights, pay attention to the subtle green hue they produce. Before the advent of digital photography, photographers used a pink or red lens filter when shooting a scene that had fluorescent lighting to mitigate this color cast. When measuring the quality of light, a Color Rendering Index (or CRI) number is assigned to a product. High-quality LED bulbs and lamps typically score higher on this index and come much closer to replicating natural light than fluorescents.

Lumens Indicate Brightness

You’ll find some amount of confusion regarding bulb brightness and color. Brightness is measured in lumens, not watts. In incandescent lamps, brightness, or lumens produced, were a direct result of the lamp’s wattage (watts being the amount of electricity a lamp uses). For instance, a 60-watt incandescent lamp is rated at 800 lumens, a 75-watt lamp is 1100 lumens, and a 100-watt lamp is 1600 lumens. Today, LED bulbs are much brighter (i.e. higher lumens) but use a much lower wattage.

Kelvin = Color

All standard bulbs and fixtures produce white light; however, within that white light a color temperature scale exists called the Kelvin (K) scale. On the scale, white light can lean warmer – a yellow or reddish hue in the 2700K to 3500K range – or it can have a cooler, blueish hue closer to late afternoon on a clear day falling between 5000K and 6500K. The temperature of the light is highly important to the look and feel of the intended space and application.

LEDs Aren’t as Hot

Have you ever stood on a stage under blazingly hot lights, or touched the lens of a bulb that had been on for a while? Incandescent and fluorescent lamps project heat as well as light. Yes, LEDs still produce heat, but they don’t project it. Instead, they slowly distribute it from their “heat sync.” This means that the lamp or fixture isn’t adding a huge amount of extra heat to your home, office or facility that your air conditioning has to compensate for. If your AC is working less, then so is your bank account.

If you’re looking to reduce your energy costs and to minimize your environmental impact, then LED lighting is a great option. For more information on LED lighting for a new build or a retrofit, contact us at 314-997-0077 or on our website.

The post Everything You Wanted to Know about LED Lighting And MORE appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Choosing the Best Recessed Lighting

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 18:27:00 GMT

Best Recessed Lighting. In a previous post, we discussed several of the many types of lighting that are available to you. Today, we’re going to drill down and get into specifics for recessed lighting. Picking out recessed lighting – also referred to as pot lights, downlights, or can lights – for your projects can seem like a complicated process, but it doesn’t have to be.

Recessed lights are made up of two major components: the housing and the trim, both of which are selected separately. The housing is the part that is hidden inside the ceiling, and it comprises all of the electrical components, such as the actual light source, wiring and mounting hardware. The other component is the trim, which refers to the part that’s seen on the exterior of the ceiling. The trim dictates the style of the lighting.

What’s Your Lighting For?

Before you even think about shopping for your lights, you need to have a plan crafted with either a lighting designer or your contractor. What is your goal with recessed lighting? To simply illuminate the room? To highlight art or certain architectural qualities? Are you layering these on top of pendants, sconces or other ceiling fixtures? Or, are you doing some combination of the three? Be sure you take into consideration the other lighting that’s in the room as well as the height of the ceiling. These factors dictate the number of recessed lights you’ll need and will help you determine appropriate sizes.

What About the Light Source?

You basically have three types of lighting to choose from when selecting recessed lighting: incandescent, fluorescent and LED. Although they have a higher initial cost, many designers, contractors and consumers are gravitating toward LED they use far less energy and last much longer than the other two types.

To differentiate the various hues of white, artificial light sources are labeled with a correlated color temperature, or CCT. CCT is measured in degrees of Kelvin (K), which refers to the tone of white light that will be radiated from the fixture. Warm light with a yellow cast typically is in the 2,700K to 3,000K range while 3,500K to 4,000K provides a cooler, bluer light. This choice, of course, comes down to personal preference, but typically, in residential settings, 2,700K to 3,000K are used, and in commercial settings, 3,500K to 4,000K is most common.
Another number to consider when selecting lighting is the Color Rendering Index (CRI), which is the measurement of a light source’s ability to reveal realistic colors on items such as artwork where that’s an important requirement. On the CRI lighting scale of 0 to 100, LED light sources with an 85 to 90 CRI are considered very good at color rendering; white, halogen incandescent is 100 CRI. Fluorescent lighting is usually very poor at reproducing acceptable CRI.

What Size, Shape and Style of Recessed Lighting Do You Need?

Recessed lights are typically available in 2” to 6” size apertures. As a general rule, smaller sized downlights are used for more contemporary spaces and larger apertures for more traditionally styled spaces.

Whether the light is on or off, the ceiling aperture and trim is always visible, so it’s important to choose a trim that’s aesthetically appealing.

Some aspects of style to think about include:

Trim Appearance
- A flangeless trim, in which the light is flush with the ceiling surface, gives a high-end look.
- Flanged trims are ringed with a thin ceiling lip that sits on the surface of the ceiling.
Trim Shape
- Square aperture trims provide a more contemporary architectural appeal.
- Round aperture trims are more classic and at home in a transitional setting.
Trim Style
- Bevel Trims give visual depth and architectural appeal.
- Flat trims lean toward a minimalistic aesthetic.

Other considerations:

Trim colors — Many downlight trims come in colors other than black or white, such as satin nickel, brass or bronze.
Dimming — Look for downlights that provide this feature. A dimmable light will not only let you set the mood for the room, but also helps save energy.

Take your time in planning the recessed lighting layout that will suit your needs and preferences and get professional advice. Our team is a great place to start! Contact us at 314-997-0077 or on our website.

The post Choosing the Best Recessed Lighting appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Incandescent, HID, Fluorescent, and LED

Fri, 11 May 2018 17:54:00 GMT

What’s the big difference?

Incandescent HID Fluorescent. Back in the day, the two main things you had to consider when buying lighting for your facility were choosing from incandescent, fluorescent, or metal halide and deciding on the wattage of the bulbs.

In 2008, the EPA’s and DOE’s Energy Star program added lighting to its list of products that help businesses and individuals save money and protect the environment through better energy efficiency. Their designation is awarded only to bulbs that meet strict efficiency, quality, and lifetime criteria. So, what’s the big difference among these lighting sources, and which one is best for your business?

Incandescent Lighting

Incandescent light is the electric light we’re all familiar with. It uses a wire filament heated to such a high temperature that it glows with visible light. Incandescent bulbs are much less efficient than most other types of electric lighting. They’re relatively inexpensive, but they convert less than 5% of the energy they use into visible light, with standard light bulbs averaging about only 2.2%. They also need frequent replacement, making them more costly and impractical for use in commercial facilities. Because of their enormous inefficiency, several countries, including the United States, are in the process of phasing out incandescent light bulbs, and others have already banned their use.

High-intensity discharge lamps (HID lamps)
HID lamps produce light through an electric arc between tungsten electrodes housed inside a translucent or transparent fused quartz or fused aluminum oxide arc tube. The tube is filled with noble gas (helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon) and often also contains metal or metal salts. The noble gas enables the arc’s initial strike.

These lamps are typically used when a high level of lighting over a larger area is required. Typical applications include gyms and football stadiums, warehouses, movie theaters, outdoor activity areas, roadways, and parking lots.

Fluorescent Lighting

A fluorescent light is a low-pressure mercury-vapor gas-discharge bulb that uses fluorescence, a type of luminescence, to produce visible light. An electric current in the gas energizes mercury vapor, which produces short-wave ultraviolet light that then causes a phosphor coating on the inside of the lamp to glow. Energy Star-qualified fluorescent lighting uses 75% less energy and lasts up to ten times longer than incandescent lights.

Fluorescent lamp fixtures are more costly than incandescent lamps because they require a ballast to regulate the current through the lamp, but the lower overall energy cost typically offsets the higher initial installation cost. New technologies have enabled outdated fluorescent fixtures to be retrofitted with even more energy efficient LED lighting.

LED Lighting

Energy Star-qualified light-emitting diode (LED) lighting:

Reduces energy costs by using at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting, saving on operating expenses.
Reduces maintenance costs because the bulbs lasts 35 to 50 times longer than incandescent lighting and about 2 to 5 times longer than fluorescent lighting. This means your facilities employees will be making fewer bulb-replacements.
Reduces cooling costs because they produce very little heat.

To qualify for Energy Star certification, LED lighting products must pass a variety of tests to prove that the products will display the following characteristics:

Brightness is equal to or greater than existing lighting technologies (incandescent or fluorescent) and light is well distributed over the area lighted by the fixture.
Light output remains constant over time, only decreasing towards the end of the rated lifetime (at least 35,000 hours or 12 years based on use of 8 hours per day).
Excellent color quality. The shade of white light appears clear and consistent over time.
Efficiency is as good as or better than fluorescent lighting.
Light comes on instantly when turned on.
No flicker when dimmed.
No off-state power draw, meaning the fixture does not use power when it is turned off, with the exception of external controls, whose power should not exceed 0.5 watts in the off state.

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when thinking about your lighting needs. If you’re wondering exactly which of these types of lighting will work for your particular application, give us a call! Our experts can come out to your location and conduct a site audit and find the lighting that is perfect for your situation.

The post Incandescent, HID, Fluorescent, and LED appeared first on Starbeam Lighting .

Grace Lofts: A Story of Success

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 18:34:49 GMT

McGowan Brothers Development (MBD) is a real estate company that began as a family-owned business in the spring of 1997. MBD has refurbished nearly a dozen turn-of-the-century warehouse buildings in downtown St. Louis.

Their main focus is on acquiring, rehabilitating, managing, and leasing the individual units. They also manage residential and commercial buildings, as well as several restaurants.

As part of the upkeep on the many properties they manage, McGowan Brothers is responsible for maintaining safe and appropriate lighting in their parking garages. At Grace Lofts, the lighting consisted of low-efficiency 175W HID and F32T8 fluorescent lamps.

"The lighting in our parking garages had begun to look dated, and the old lamps weren't giving us as much light as we needed. In addition, many of the fixtures needed repair," says Matt Ryffel, property manager for MBD.

He called Starbeam Lighting Solutions to see how they could help with the lighting at Grace Lofts.

Josh Bissey, lighting expert at Starbeam Lighting Solutions, conducted an audit of the existing lighting in the parking garage. "They had older metal halide canopy lighting that had lower wattage. Some of the lamps had broken lenses. Some of them just needed new ballasts or had other things wrong with them," he says.

"Basically, McGowan Brothers just wanted to replace everything."

Josh also spoke with Matt about the key components to consider when calculating lighting costs.

"First of course is the cost of the actual fixture, next is the cost of the energy to make light, and the third component, which many people don't consider, is the cost of maintenance over the lifetime of the fixture."

"By converting to LED, you save on the fixture cost through the rebate, the energy cost because they are so much more efficient, and on maintenance because they just last longer without changing bulbs.”

"Starbeam showed me a number of options, and they worked with me to find a solution that fit within the budget we had for lighting upgrades," Ryffle says. "They provided us with LED fixtures that improved and updated the look of our garages and lowered our electric bill at the same time.”

After installing their new Westgate CDL2-45-CW and Eiko LED18T8F/48/840-G6DR lighting, the parking deck at Grace Lofts has brighter, more uniform light. They've also reduced energy consumption for their garage lighting by at least 75% .

Additionally, Josh from Starbeam helped them through the Ameren Incentive application process, and McGowan received $1,700 for installing the new energy-efficient lighting.

Ameren estimates that by replacing their old, inefficient lighting with new lamps, at a cost of $1500 after incentive, McGowan Brothers will save nearly $4000 annually on their electric bill.

The lighting will pay for itself in a matter of months, yielding a whopping 258% return on investment .

Blog - Starbeam Lighting

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