Stairwell lighting isn’t always front-of-mind for commercial building managers.
However, installing the right lighting in your building’s stairwells and communal areas can improve building safety, reduce energy bills, and make the space more pleasant for everyone.
The problem with traditional incandescent bulbs is they only convert 5% of their energy into light: the rest is turned into heat. This means it takes a lot of energy to light your stairwell and, the bulbs burn out much quicker than their energy-efficient counterparts.
Here’s how LED lighting reduces maintenance in Edinburgh’s commercial buildings.
A longer lifespan
Traditional halogen bulbs are reported to last around 2,000 hours, which equates to two or three years when used for a few hours a day. In a commercial building, the lights are likely on a lot more than this. LED bulbs, on the other hand, have a typical lifespan of 25,000 hours. There are even brands which have lasted up to 100,000 hours.
For building managers, this means much fewer replacements and lower maintenance costs.
Traditional bulbs convert 95% of their energy into heat. This makes them prone to overheating and causing damage to the light fixture itself. In a commercial building with lots of light fixtures, the cost of repairing these issues can be steep.
LEDs don’t have ballasts or strikers in their hardware, which also helps to cut down on the maintenance of the lighting system as these components are often the cause of faults in traditional bulbs.
Reducing Risk
With less maintenance comes less risk for you, your staff, and external contractors.
In areas like stairwells, there’s an increased risk of falls for building users and those repairing lighting issues. These jobs often require ladders and additional equipment to access hard-to-reach fixtures.
With LED bulbs, the risk of injury during maintenance jobs is greatly reduced.
Upfront cost-versus long-term savings
While there is generally a higher upfront cost when it comes to fitting LED light systems, it’s a one-off investment that will bring significant long-term savings in your maintenance expenses.
The upfront investment will depend on the building and how you go about the upgrade. We recently explored the different ways of switching to LED lighting for building managers and property owners in Edinburgh.
On top of their reduced maintenance needs, LEDs also significantly reduce energy bills for commercial buildings.
When you upgrade from fluorescent to LED lighting, the average yearly saving is £11.17 per bulb. In a commercial building, this quickly adds up to a significant reduction in your monthly bills.
Upgrade to LED with Lumen Electrical
At Lumen Electrical, we understand the importance of businesses reducing their environmental impact and the additional savings they can make along the way.
Our team of experts is here to guide you as you upgrade your lighting system to LED. We can advise you on how to make the switch, save money, and improve safety – all while reducing your carbon footprint.
Working exclusively in Edinburgh, we understand the local building codes and the needs of businesses. We can assess the compatibility of your existing fixtures, complete any wiring repairs safely and efficiently, and help you install your new lighting.
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We hope this blog has helped you understand how LED bulbs can reduce maintenance needs for commercial buildings in Edinburgh. Fewer replacements are just one of the reasons why it’s time to switch!
If you’d like to learn how we can help you make a change in your commercial building, speak to one of our experts today.
More posts on saving money with LEDs
How LED bulbs help Edinburgh businesses save on energy bills