Home » News » Understanding the Basic Lighting Types and What to Consider when Analyzing Lighting Control Options

Understanding the Basic Lighting Types and What to Consider when Analyzing Lighting Control Options

Analyzing Lighting Control Options:- Apart from transforming your space, the right lighting can have a huge effect on your mood. Each space in a home often has varying lighting needs. A proper lighting approach combines various lighting types to create an ample space where occupants can relax and work with ease. Read on to understand some of the basic lighting types you can adopt in your space and considerations to make when assessing lighting control options.

Types of Lighting Home Owners can Choose From

The lighting industry has evolved rapidly in recent years. With these innovations comes a wide range of lighting controls and lighting options to choose from. Some of the basic options include:

  • Ambient Lighting

Ambient or general lighting plays a critical role in any proper lighting plan that provides a room with an overall glow. Apart from setting the ambiance in the space, proper lighting generates sufficient light allowing occupants to run their tasks safely and with minimal struggle. 

Often, general lighting is created with overhead fixtures such as track lights, angle pot lights, chandeliers, and different types of ceiling lamps. Independent fixtures such as table and floor lamps can also be ideal for ambient lighting.  

  • Task Lighting

Task lighting is designed to enable users accomplish a particular task. This lighting option is confined and can be generated by various sources allowing you to adapt the lighting for a specific area. You can either darken or brighten the area based on your needs. Apart from being bright enough, proper task lighting should reduce glare. This lighting option is ideal for various activities like reading, crafting, cooking, and studying.  

  • Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is designed to create a central point. It develops upon a room’s ambient lighting by incorporating dimension. It can be an ideal option for highlighting a specific feature such as a plant or a piece of art. You can use accent lighting properly through wall-mounted fixtures such as sconces and picture lights or angle and track lighting. Wall-mounted fixtures can be positioned to develop a spotlight. 

Considerations to make when Assessing Lighting Controls Options

Facility managers and building owners understand the magnitude of energy savings they can make by choosing LED lighting technologies over fluorescent lamps. LEDs are not only energy-efficient but also more durable than conventional fluorescent technologies. Still, facility managers can utilize various options to achieve additional energy and save cost and time on LEDs. 

Building managers can combine one of the most effective solutions with LEDs to achieve precise and efficient energy consumption. This solution is the implementation of controls and automation. Intelligent control systems are fast becoming popular. They range from simple sensor systems and sophisticated internet-based programs that facilitate remote control and monitoring. 

When choosing LED lighting system controls pick a cost and user-friendly option and ensure they meet the needs of the entire building. To establish the right automation level that meets your facility’s needs and your budget, consider the following factors.  

  • Assess Your Building’s Needs

Every building is different and has varying lighting needs. For example, retail store lighting is different from the lighting you would find in hospitals and manufacturing plants. Each of these facilities has distinct requirements and budget restrictions. 

Start by assessing the size and function of your facility to understand how complex your control system will be. For instance, if you run a small business in the facility, chances are that you will need simple controls like sensors that switch lights on and off accordingly because such buildings have less strict lighting demands. 

Smaller businesses often focus on making money and energy savings which they can achieve with simple controls. Controls can also be complex, offering varying options and customizations depending on the facility’s size and needs. 

Some small and large businesses may adopt a routine where simple times are used when the facility is unoccupied outside working hours. Buildings that require continuous lighting may adopt daylighting and dimming strategies to retain one preferred light output across the day. 

Hospital facilities will need complex controls to deliver constant high-quality lighting and in places where automation is required to customize different lighting elements like color temperature. 

Facility managers can leverage the various controls to create a customized solution that is ideal for their lighting automation needs. Facilities should also consider the extra work that advanced complexity attracts.  

  • Determine how Complex Automation Systems will Benefit Maintenance and Lighting

Control systems may need extra maintenance and time. However, the actual time feedback and interconnectivity it offers is a vital tool for building owners and facility managers seeking efficiency on their lighting systems. 

Internet-based intelligent control systems provide real-time insight into a building’s operations like the evaluation of wattage usage per fixture, regulation of lighting output across the entire building, and recognition of the required maintenance functions. 

The actual-time feedback is ideal in allowing employees to respond to lighting faults immediately and enable facility managers to make informed decisions. Control systems are ideal for facilities with the available resources to offer the monitoring and solutions required. Staff will also ensure that lighting systems are working appropriately. 

  • Ensure Staff are Qualified Enough to Handle the Facility’s Needs

After determining the type of control systems you need to ensure your staff is skilled enough to handle the maintenance and monitoring tasks that come with the adoption of advanced technologies. 

Advanced monitoring and control technologies do not involve a set and forget solution to maintenance needs and lighting energy. Intelligent control systems will serve you based on the magnitude of effort you accord them. When you adopt complex lighting controls, your staff will need more time to use and interact with the solutions. 

  • Determine Energy Saving Goals

According to experts, lighting consumes approximately 10% of a building’s electrical usage. With the introduction of various energy-efficient lighting systems, this number has declined sharply. Lighting can highly influence electrical costs, according to experts in the energy sector. Combining energy-efficient LED fixtures that save approximately 65% with controls that offer an extra 15% energy savings can help buildings make further savings. 

Finally

Facility managers should focus on determining their facility’s needs, demands, and resources. Doing so helps them determine the ideal automated solution that meets their needs and maintenance staffs understand. The proper controls allow facility managers to make informed decisions that increase return on investment.

Also Read – Pcs Revenue Control Systems Scam (March) Get Informed!

Leave a Comment