On the heels of a tumultuous year, industrial markets are anxious to implement tactics and strategies that can help them hedge their bets, to ensure a more stable, predictable year ahead. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that agility and efficient operating practices are the key to being able to pivot and survive when market conditions throw a wrench into the works.
Many may be surprised to learn that upgrading facility lighting to high-efficiency industrial LED fixtures is one of the best investments in a more resilient, sustainable future for any company. While lighting isn’t often considered a strategic operating tactic, with the right technology in place, it can form a strong foundation for more efficient, productive and cost-effective operations for years to come.
The lessons of 2020
Fariyal Khanbabi, CEO, Dialight
Over the last year, we’ve seen a surge in innovation in LED lighting technology that’s paved the way to a more sustainable, efficient, and intelligent future. Advances in power supplies and diode technology have made industrial LED fixtures as much as 80% more efficient than comparable high-pressure sodium (HPS) and other high-intensity discharge (HID) systems. With light efficacy pushing 200 lumens per watt without sacrificing fixture performance, companies that invest in LED lighting technology are enjoying better visibility, improved workplace safety, longer and higher return on investment (ROI), and greater overall operating efficiency.
In addition to advances in fixture components, 2020 also saw a version of Moore’s Law—the notion of things simultaneously becoming smaller yet more powerful—creep into lighting, with fixtures like the Dialight Reliant High Bay offering industrial-grade durability and performance in a compact, lighter-weight fixture for easier handling and installation and more flexible mounting options. The broad adoption of smart sensors and industrial IoT integration has also boosted energy efficiency, enabling more sustainable operations at companies in every industrial sector.
The future looks greener
In the coming year, expect sustainability to become a top priority in the lighting purchase decision. While many companies have been moving toward a lower carbon footprint and greener operations, heightened awareness and media coverage around climate change have added more pressure to lower emissions and reduce environmental impact.
Dialight’s Reliant High Bay LED lighting (Image: Dialight) Click for larger image.
Investing in LED lighting can be a key driver in achieving those goals across any industrial sector in 2021. With advances in energy efficiency and lighting efficacy, LED is already the most environmentally-friendly lighting source on the planet. And, with offerings from top manufacturers promising long-life, no-maintenance performance for a decade or more, upgrading to LED lighting can also drastically reduce industrial waste.
With fixtures that last up to four-times longer than legacy lighting, an LED retrofit can drastically reduce waste and the cost of consumables, while potentially eliminating the need for hazmat disposal of toxic materials, such as the mercury contained in most conventional bulbs.
Sustainability drives decision-making up the org chain
Media coverage and public pressure aren’t the only factors driving the push for more sustainable operations. With the new presidential administration, many companies are also bracing for more stringent environmental policies that will likely force the adoption of more earth-friendly operations. At the same time, many companies are finding that sustainability initiatives can improve financial performance and create a competitive advantage, adding even more incentive.
With the potential to impact major key performance indicators, lighting purchase decisions will likely move from the day-to-day facility operations personnel, to the corporate sustainability director as part of an overall strategy. For facilities personnel, that could mean more capital investment and more urgency to implement lighting upgrades, which in turn can help fuel productivity.
A new perspective on employee safety
High-quality LED lighting has always played a key role in employee safety, improving visibility and even enhancing alertness to reduce the risk of accidents. The crisp, white lighting has proven to lower the risk of slip, trip, and fall hazards and ward off fatigue, which is especially important in 24-hour operations where employees often work overnight shifts.
But going forward, as Covid-19 precautions force companies to implement physical distancing requirements and operate with fewer employees due to Covid-related absences, advanced lighting is even more critical to safety. Under current legacy lighting, spacing employees for safety may force some to work in poorly-lit areas that weren’t originally designed with foot-candle requirements in mind.
And since most conventional lighting isn’t capable of precision light placement, companies are forced to use supplemental lighting, which can take up valuable floor space, put an extra load on circuits or create extension cord hassles and tripping hazards.
To solve that problem, 2021 may be the best time to upgrade to advanced industrial LED lighting fixtures that employ precision optics to create specific light patterns to suit each working condition. By configuring the lighting design to place light where it’s needed and avoid wasting it in areas where it’s not, companies can achieve optimal visibility in a safe, physically-distanced work environment. And, with fewer employees on the production floor during this time, companies can take advantage of the opportunity to upgrade with minimal impact on production and worker efficiency.
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