Lighting Systems

We all take lighting for granted. After all, you walk in a room, flick a switch, and there’s light, right? What we don’t think about is how that light got there. Or how much thought went into what type of light it is? What type of fixture is used or where it is mounted? How powerful is the light itself? How much energy does that lighting use? These are just a few of the questions you must ask yourself when selecting lighting systems. Zeo Systems can help you with these questions. We have wide ranging experience with designing, installing, maintaining, upgrading and repairing lighting systems in a variety of environments including:

Houses of Worship

  • Churches
  • Synagogues
  • Eastern religious spaces
  • Non-Denominational religious spaces

Schools

  • Universities/Colleges
  • Public and secular schools
  • Private and religious schools
  • Libraries
  • Cafeterias

Municipal / Government Settings

  • Courtrooms
  • Meeting/Conference rooms
  • Office spaces
  • Institutional settings
  • Hospitals
  • Prisons
  • Nursing Homes

Corporate Environments

  • Office spaces
  • Conference rooms
  • Lunch/Break rooms

Restaurants

  • Inside & Outside lighting
  • Entrance ways
  • Dining & catering rooms

Bars & Nightclubs

  • Bar backlighting
  • Performance areas

Theaters & Performance Spaces

  • Stages
  • Backstage areas
  • Lobbies & entrance ways

Industrial & Warehouse Spaces

  • Workspaces
  • Stock areas
  • Lunch/break rooms
  • Office spaces

Retail Spaces / Franchise Outlets

  • Entrance ways
  • Retail floors
  • Stockrooms

Health Clubs

  • Workout spaces
  • Locker rooms

Factors to Consider

Several factors can affect the lighting systems chosen for a particular space. The purpose of the lighting is one such factor that may not come initially to mind. Often an environment needs to be created that will function as a hybrid between office and industrial spaces. Is the lighting being used to increase worker’s abilities to see each other or the task at hand, to direct attention to featured merchandise as in a retail setting, to set a mood, to highlight a performer or performance? These decisions will affect the type of lighting installed, the type of control systems built in, the amount of lighting, etc. Varying types of lighting include, but are certainly not limited to:

  • Performance lighting
  • Ambient or Atmospheric lighting
  • Direct lighting
  • Spot lighting
  • Wash lighting

There is also the psychological aspect of lighting that needs to be considered. What is the lighting in your space saying to your customers or clients? How is it making them feel? Is it focusing their attention where you want it to be?

Go Green?

In addition to the mechanical and psychological factors, an increasingly important issue to be considered is whether or not to ‘Go Green’ in your lighting solutions. Actually, it’s not whether to ‘Go Green’ or not, it’s to what extent. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 set in motion the phase out of incandescent lighting in order to require the use of the more efficient forms of lighting. The Energy Star program for lighting adheres to the stricter efficiency guidelines set down by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and require that to earn an ‘Energy Star’ efficiency rating that the lighting or fixture must meeting the following criteria:

  • Uses ¼ the energy of traditional lighting
  • Reduces energy bills and bulb replacement
  • Lifetime of at least 10,000 hours
  • Even light distribution

These performance requirements are periodically updated. In 2011, the EPA upped the required efficiency standard to 30% above current standards. In 2013 this was updated to 40%. It is almost certain these standards will continue to be adjusted upward to continually reduce the carbon footprint of industry as a whole in the US.

Compact fluorescent bulbs require mercury to create light. With mercury there is a disposal issue as mercury is a heavy metal and therefore subject to specific disposal regulations. LED (light-emitting diodes) lights require no mercury and are even more efficient their fluorescent counterparts. Expectations are that by 2020, 80% of the North American lighting market will have converted to LED lighting.

Energy Star Qualified light-emitting diode (LED) Lighting:

  • Reduces energy costs — LED’s use at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting, saving on operating expenses.
  • Reduces maintenance costs — LED’s last approximately 35 to 50 times longer than incandescent lighting and about 2 to 5 times longer than fluorescent lighting; which means less bulb-replacements, no ladders, & no ongoing disposal issues.
  • Reduces cooling costs — LED’s 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 a variety of characteristics including:

  • Brightness 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 (at least 35,000 hours or 12 years based on use of 8 hours per day).
  • Excellent color quality. The shade of light appears clear and consistent over time.
  • 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.

Energy efficiency is the number one reason sited for looking into a retrograde or replacement of lighting. As you can see, reducing the amount of energy consumed can not only help your bottom line, but keeps you in line with current regulations as well as telling your clientele that your business has a social conscience and a concern for the environment. Zeo Systems can help you discern what the best choices for your business would be while keeping also keeping an eye on savings & social concern.

Programming and Lighting Control Systems

Another important part of the picture is the control system. An area that contains a ‘brain center’ for your lights may be essential depending on your uses. Timers, dimmers, even on & off can be programmed. No need for an outside logo sign to be on during broad daylight, right? But can you depend on your staff to turn it on at the correct moment when dusk hits and it will grab people’s eye? Zeo Systems can install a central control system that will handle this and any other task you need you lights to accomplish ‘on their own’.

Simply stated, there is a lot more to your lighting needs than meets the eye. Contact us for a free consultation and have Zeo Systems “Let there be Light!”.