Commercial vs. Residential Light Fixtures

You’re probably paying too much on your energy bills as a result of using the wrong lighting fixtures for your business. Commercial lighting can account for close to 35% of your business’s energy use. See below to find out the difference between commercial and residential light fixtures and what type of bulb is best for your business.

Commercial vs. Residential Light Fixtures

Think about the lighting used around your office. Does it provide you with the best opportunity to accommodate business activities? By utilizing different colors, designs and intensities commercial lighting options offer custom solutions for various applications.

Residential fluorescents produce a weaker magnetic interference compared to commercial ballasts. Commercial ballasts are used with fluorescent lights to limit current to fluorescent bulbs and prevent them from increasing uncontrollably, overheating and burning out.

Commercial fluorescents must be installed properly by a certified electrician in order to protect against fire hazards and interference with electronics. That’s where we come in.

What Bulb Is Best?

• Incandescent: Older technology makes incandescent bulbs less efficient than other choices and best utilized for task lighting requiring high levels of brightness. Beginning in 2012, the Department of Energy requires these bulbs to produce the same amount of light using less wattage. There are many types including: general service/standard, reflectorized, and xenon.
• Halogen: Twice as efficient as an incandescent, they produce a very bright white light and are commonly used in outdoor applications such as security and stadium lighting.
• Fluorescent : The most commonly used commercial lighting, fluorescents and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), use 1/5 to 1/3 as much electricity as an incandescent. They also last 10 times longer and have comparable lumen ratings (the rating of the amount of light a light source produces). A CFL can be used in place of an incandescent in standard light sockets for energy savings. All fluorescents contain mercury, and should be disposed of properly.
• HID/Metal halide: High-intensity discharge bulbs have a long life, are extremely efficient, and produce large quantities of very bright light. However with the exception of metal halides, they do not produce pleasing light colors. They are commonly used in warehouses and industrial applications.
• LED: Light emitting diodes used in LED lighting are typically more efficient and longer lasting than any other type of light bulb, using 75 percent less energy than an incandescent and lasting 35 to 50 times longer.

If you’re considering replacing the light bulbs or fixtures in your business, give Mr. Electric of Tampa Bay a call today at (813) 314-7160 to discuss your options. We’ll get you set up with the best lighting solutions for your business and help you save on your energy bills.