You can create a more productive working environment and be able to lower utility costs with energy-efficient lights.
In most successful companies, lighting has become one of the most important investments.
There is a good reason — just imagine how much better and efficient you feel while walking down the street when it’s a sunny day than a cloudy, rainy one.
The same is true when it comes to closed areas and working in an office.
For this reason, we will go through several types of lights used in offices to help you understand the importance and help you find the option that suits your needs.
Advantages of Proper Office Illumination
First, no one can deny that the type of lighting you are exposed to has a serious impact on productivity and creativity.
You might be much more motivated to work if your mood is lifted, and you are in sync with the natural circadian rhythm.
With this in mind, it is safe to say that investing in efficient office illumination goes a long way when it comes to both short-term and long-term health.
It can reduce headaches and eye strain, as well as eliminate poor posture. The idea is to make sure that the light is neither too dim nor too bright, as both can negatively affect your state of mind and trigger a series of issues.
Apart from health benefits, proper lighting will also prevent workplace hazards. This is extremely important if your workplace involves a lot of heavy machinery or other potentially harmful tools.
Different Types of Lighting to Use in Your Office
As we mentioned above, there are several different types of office lights that you may want to consider. Keep in mind that the main differences are related to the emitted light, energy efficiency, and price.
The first type that we want to talk about is the incandescent light. If you look in modern offices, this is a type of illumination that you won’t find. The reason is that it burns at a hotter temperature and is nowhere near as energy-efficient as the two that we will mention below.
While it may not be ideal for general lighting, this type can work well for task-related or decorative illumination.
Additionally, it is seen as eco-friendly due to the tungsten metal from which the filament is made and the fact that it can quickly reach the maximum lumen output.
The second type is fluorescent lighting, which offers a higher yet slower lumen output than the incandescent mentioned above lights.
Keep in mind that these burn at cooler temperatures and offer much greater durability. These mostly come in T5/8 bulbs, which are quite common for open-ended offices due to their easy installation.
However, fluorescent lights aren’t seen as eco-friendly, mostly due to the filament’s mercury.
Last but certainly not least are LEDs, which are undoubtedly the best solution if we are talking about energy efficiency and longevity.
While these are more expensive in the short-term, they last up to 100 times longer than incandescent lights. Most importantly, they operate at lower temperatures.
What Type of Light Should You Choose?
You should always try to have your workstation set by a natural light source, which is the best office illumination solution.
However, when it comes to ambient lighting, our personal recommendation is LEDs.
Yes, the initial cost of these is higher than if you were to go for fluorescent or incandescent lighting. This can be an issue for smaller companies. Still, in the long run, it is an energy-efficient and money-saving investment.
Additionally, you can adapt these according to the season or time of day to prevent health issues related to excessively dim or bright lighting.
These issues can include migraines, eye strain, increased blinking, blurred or double vision, and sensitivity to natural light.
Final Thoughts
Taking everything into consideration, it all comes down to a well-thought-out plan that should include the size of your office, as well as the types of lights you will use.
We hope that by highlighting each option’s pros and cons, we will have helped you make the right decision to succeed in your goal of creating a healthy and productive workspace.