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LED lighting fixtures are among the most cost-effective and reliable lighting options for commercial and public buildings. As they are up to 90% more efficient when compared to their incandescent counterparts, it stands to reason that they represent excellent value for money in large-scale lighting installations. However, what type of lifespan is associated with LED lights?

When you are responsible for property management and need an electrical contractor, there are certainly plenty of potential suppliers, service and installation companies out there. However, which specialist lighting contractor is best? If you plan to upgrade your interior or exterior illumination to energy-efficient LED lighting, then quality and price will probably be foremost in your thoughts. However, is there anything else of which property owners ought to be aware? Below, we discuss eight essentials to bear in mind when choosing an electrical lighting contractor.

Although LED cost per unit is higher compared to incandescent lighting, energy savings are high. The Energy Savings Trust estimates the annual running cost of one halogen is £11, and the equivalent LED, just £2. Nowadays in new builds, LEDs are being installed as a matter of course. With halogens already being phased out, people and businesses are reaping the financial reward of lower utility bills by switching from halogen and fluorescent lighting to LEDs.

An innovative and energy efficient alternative to incandescent and fluorescent lighting, LED lighting uses significantly less electricity than its predecessors. Organisations and businesses can reduce consumption and benefit from lower utility bills. However, there are other advantages that we detail below, along with the potential savings and how they offset the initial expenditure.

At Lowe & Oliver we specialise in lighting architecture for historic buildings, museums and exclusive property redevelopments, where each project requires a different approach. We also undertake large scale LED lighting upgrades in the industrial and commercial sectors, and have been awarded a Royal Warrant for our work on royal palaces.

Image: Lowe and Oliver carried out the refurbishment which included LED lighting upgrade for HQube Headquarters.

In the short time energy saving Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), have been available in the mainstream lighting market, the technology has continued apace. Now, with LED specific dimmers, motion controllers and colour rendering available, they have been adopted as the lighting of choice in new commercial builds, and are the most popular upgrade in commercial properties. With incandescent lighting already obsolete, and compact fluorescent lighting due to be phased out in 2020, the choice of whether to upgrade will soon be taken out of your hands. So, how do you work out the average cost of upgrading your business lighting?

While LED lighting isn’t strictly a legal requirement, a string of important government documents published over the past 20 years has increasingly tightened the performance criteria for lights used in public buildings. Lighting requirements are designed to phase out inefficient types of lighting rather than select positively for one alternative or another. It just happens that LED lights are currently the most affordable and energy efficient alternative to incandescent and fluorescent lighting.

LED lighting is a cost-effective, energy-saving alternative to conventional lighting options, even in historic and non-standard buildings. For universities, palaces, churches and museums, LED lighting offers enormous versatility to create different atmospheres in different parts of the building, shape user experiences and also cut the cost of lighting.

Upgrading an ageing and inefficient lighting infrastructure to a modern LED-based design is a large undertaking, especially in an extensive or complex building. When dealing with historic buildings in particular, there may be extensive electrical work required before the lighting upgrade can even take place, such as replacing antiquated wiring, or making special design considerations to preserve the character of the building. This comes with a price tag that can be quite high, so how do you justify an LED lighting upgrade in an organisation where budgets are tight?

While there are many LED lighting contractors more than happy to take your money, there are probably only a few with the experience and industry knowledge suitable to take on your project. All too often, organisations make common mistakes when choosing their contractor, resulting in communication issues, delays or a mismatch of skills.