Commercial Lighting Design and Installation

One of the “dirty little secrets” about commercial buildings, especially those used for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution centers, is that they are notoriously poorly lit. There are several reasons for this phenomenon, but it is safe to say that most of the lighting fixtures that are now commercially available are traditional high-intensity discharge (HID) fixtures that offer a much greater amount of light. Included in this HID category are three fixtures: high-pressure sodium (HPS), Metal-Halide (MH), and Mercury-Vapor (MV). Overall, Metal-Halide is probably the most prevalent of the three.

Pro Circuit, Inc. will evaluate your current lighting and energy use, and come up with a proposal that can lead to considerable savings in both energy and dollars. If you are a KCP&L customer, we will explore your rebate options for even further savings. Pro Circuit will perform the review and rebate filing free of charge. Overall, we’ll craft a lighting design and installation plan that is both energy and cost-efficient.

Energy-Efficient Lighting Solutions

Many US-based manufacturers have accepted the conventional wisdom that HID fixtures represent the state-of-the-art in energy efficient lighting. It has also been said that HID fixtures are better sources of heat than light. In fact, most HID fixtures burn at over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Another major problem with HID fixtures is that they lose 30% to 40% of their efficacy within the first year of their usage.

Finally, there is a new energy efficient lighting option: a fluorescent T8 driven light fixture with a reflector designed to harvest 100% of the light produced by the 360 degrees (instead of the conventional 180 degrees) of the bulb. The latest in lighting science delivers the 50% energy savings (i.e., the latest generation of fluorescent T8 lamp and electronic ballast). The reflector design is the element that delivers the 50% to 100% more light usually found in previously poorly lit facilities.

Two other important facts favor fluorescent lighting. First, the T8 fluorescent bulb keeps 93% of efficacy over its five year life. Secondly, the light produced by fluorescent technology is “full spectrum,” which is the equivalent of sunlight at high noon. With 50% energy savings, 50% more light, and 50% return on investment, energy efficient lighting is that rare example of practical environmentalism.