What are effective ways to improve lighting in an office?

Brighten Things Up With Better Office Lighting

The article "Brighten Things Up With Better Office Lighting" by David Spence discusses improving workplace lighting by switching from fluorescent to energy-efficient, long-lasting LED lights, incorporating task lights to supplement overhead lighting, using colorful lamps for ambiance, and maximizing natural light to create a more comfortable and cost-effective office environment.

Brighten Things Up With Better Office Lighting

By David Spence • 2mins read • January 16, 2019

Close-up of three white incandescent light bulbs in a row against a dark background.

Table of contents

Improving Lighting In Your Workplace

Switch from Fluorescent to LED

LED lighting is becoming more advanced, and more offices are embracing it as the better option. This is because LED lights last longer and use less energy. Some facility managers are opting to use later fluorescent technology, hoping to avoid the costs associated with retrofitting their building’s entire lighting structure. However, this solution is not efficient, given that they could save more money in the long run by simply making one big switch to LED. In the long run, doing so would be more convenient than having to buy new light technology every few years.

Task Lights

Nowadays, some offices are turning to task lights to make up for the inefficiency of overhead lights. They provides better lighting where workers need it, and they also give workers control over their immediate environment, which can lead to better satisfaction among workers overall. For offices that are concerned about being green, another bonus of task lights is that they conserve energy. Not only will they help with the problems caused by bad lighting, they’ll be gentle on the environment, too.

Colorful Lamps

Another option that will let workers control their working conditions while also adding a pop of color is lamps that break away from the monochrome of the usual office. Breaking up the monotony of the office will make a worker’s space more interesting, which will itself make the worker more engaged with the environment. If you’d like to create a more cohesive look in the office, you can install lamps that carry the company colors. Doing this will be an inexpensive way to brand your office, while addressing lighting issues at the same time.

Natural Lighting

Incorporating more natural lighting into the office is one of the best ways to solve problems caused by artificial lights. Natural light has been shown to have immense effects on workers’ productivity and happiness. Business efficiency consultant Andrew Jensen provides the following example: In the 1980s a post office in Reno, Nevada saw an increase in productivity, a decrease in mistakes made by machine operators, and a projected increase in revenue of half a million dollars. What happened? The office had introduced more natural light into its workspace.

Options for including natural light in the workplace include floor-to-ceiling windows and building atrium areas. This may sound expensive on the front end, but considering the energy costs of using artificial light and the problems they cause workers, the costs actually aren’t as bad as you would think.

Light can play a big role in your office’s productivity and happiness, and now that we’re in the 21st century, you have many options for configuring your office lighting to the right layout for your company. Try adopting some of the changes suggested above, and see if they make a difference in your office.

photo credit: samantha celeraviaphotopin cc

Author

David Spence

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