Introduction
Lighting is a fundamental feature of your office. Just like the layout, the lighting can be designed to maximize the functionality of your office. Lighting affects just about every aspect of human life and behavior. Did you know that bright lights can make people respond emotionally? Or, that dim lighting can cause interrupted sleep?
The importance and nuanced effect of lighting can’t be ignored in developing a carefully planned office space. Because of the extensive effects and great importance of the lighting in your office, is it essential to plan your lighting from every possible angle? In the following article, we will take a look at some of the most important things to consider as you make these very important decisions.
1. Fitting LEDs is Energy Efficient and Provides Quality Light
Fluorescent tubes have been the lighting option of choice for a very long time. Not only are they very cheap to buy, but you can install them in just about any location and can provide ample lighting to very large areas. Some of the more common problems with these fluorescent tubes are that they can develop a problem during the course of their service life. They can start to flicker as they age, and this produces an inconsistent quality of life. Combined with the buzzing sounds they make; this makes fluorescent lights a poor idea for the office space.
So, the best alternative for the fluorescent light is one that comes highly recommended throughout our designs, the LED light. LEDs are the most cost-effective option available on the market. Especially when comparing them to fluorescent lighting. For example, LEDs are more energy-efficient than fluorescent lighting or any other form of lighting, like HID. This means that it costs a lot less to operate LEDs and they use much less wattage to operate. Another environmental benefit of LEDs is that they are free of mercury and the same toxic chemicals in fluorescent bulbs, which are harmful to the environment.
Need More LED T8
T8 tubes are among the most common sizes of LED tubes in office spaces. The ‘8’ in T8 refers to the diameter of the inch in 1/8 of an inch, the T8 is 8/8 of an inch or 1 inch. T8s can last for as long as 50,000 hours of use and this is 20,000 hours more longevity than the average fluorescent tube.
To create a more stylish interior and comfortable lighting effect, you can fit the LED T8 tube into suspending ceilings just like other traditional lights. Led panels to allow for comfortable office lighting that is ample for maximum visibility and also comfortable.
If you are thinking about new designs for your office but aren’t sure where to begin, take a look at our top recommendation according to CDM2 here.
2. Utilize natural
One of the best assets to apply abundantly in your office space is natural light. Natural lighting is aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, inviting, healthy, and inspiring. As a rule, natural lighting should be the primary source of lighting, and the rest of the office plans lain around this single notion. The ultimate goal of your office is to allow people to feel connected to the outside space. Good levels of visibility in the office space can gradually improve productivity by 40% and creativity by 15%.
Natural light is healthy! Employees that are getting plenty of natural light will have more energy for exercise, sleep better, and enjoy a higher quality of life than those that don’t get much natural light. There is sufficient anecdotal evidence to show that apartments that do not receive natural light generate 20% lower income than those with windows that let in plenty of natural light. Therefore, if you actually are a landlord, it is worth considering applying as much natural light into the design of your office as possible.
Saving Energy Cost
Managing the use of the natural light afforded you is also a good way to reduce energy costs. The more natural light you allow into your office, the less you will have to pay for energy to provide light for your various operations. You may consider applying integrated lighting control systems, better known as daylight harvesting systems, which can be applied to regulate the level of artificial lighting in accordance with the light provided naturally.
3. Install a lighting control system
Lighting control systems are designed to save energy throughout your office by applying what is needed as it is needed. This is done by analyzing the use each area of the office gets. Then, adjusting the lighting already in place to suit the needs. This is a good way to save on replacement fixtures and lighting, while still streamlining your energy expenses considerably.
Occupancy control sensors will engage the lighting systems as they are needed and switch them off when the room is empty. There are actually many different applications for lighting control systems. You can fine-tune the use you are getting from lighting systems. Moreover, you can install dimmer switches to reduce the amount of energy usage. Blinds and perforated blinds can also allow for control of the amount of sunlight that will enter the office.
4. Lighting suitable for every task
Each area of operations in the modern workplace needs good lighting. It needs to assist the operations that will be taking place there. There is a tendency to leave this important piece of planning to the very last stages, but it should be the most important design concept around which the layout and functional plan of the entire office space is built. This is the only way to reach a perfect level of lighting for the unique needs of the office space.
One of the most common errors in the use of excessive overhead lighting in open office plans. This is important because these lights need to illuminate the desks of the workers. But this plan is a recipe for headaches and poor health. The best approach is to consider how you can layer lighting to meet the needs of the room precisely. There will be ambient lighting and task-focused lighting as needed for each individual project. For example, you can use adjustable desk lamps for tasks that need direct lighting. Plus, use a general overhead light to provide comfortable illumination for the rest of the space.
5. Use zones in different areas
Finally, you can use lighting to add some prestige and style to your décor. It will strike that stunning first impression with your clients and potential customers. You can use accent lighting to add dimension and draw attention to specific sections of your office layout. Here are some of the different ways you can apply this in your office layout:
You can suspend large pendant lights over a large table to indicate it’s a place where meetings take place. Spotlights add a sense of distance as they illuminate hallways and corridors and direct foot traffic in specific directions.
Breakout areas and lounges are the perfect places to add quirkier lighting design choices. This is where you can consider multicolored lights, odd-looking lampshades, and different patterns and designs. Then be sure to install dimmer switches, standing lamps, and tabletop lamps to allow people more control over the light they use for their needs.
Author Bio:
Arslan Hassan is an electrical engineer with a passion for writing, designing, and anything tech-related. His educational background in the technical field has given him the edge to write on many topics. He occasionally writes blog articles for Carpet Cleaning London.
