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How Schools can be Improved by Optimal Lighting

Posted by Natalie Young

Feb 14, 2014 11:33:00 AM

prop 39 optimal lighting for schoolsThis article is the first in a 4 part series on Prop 39 Funding. 
The California Clean Energy Jobs Act, known as Prop 39, was adopted in December 2013. The bill allocates funding to support energy efficiency and alternative energy projects, as well as improvements and repairs to help cut down on operating costs and improve health and safety conditions in public schools.
Over five years, schools will receive about $2.5 billion through the act.

 

School administrators have to balance many considerations as they strive to provide the best education possible for their students. Maintaining an optimal environment for learning is a top priority, so factors such as comfortable furniture, temperature, and break time figure into the equation. However, one essential feature that’s sometimes overlooked is lighting. Without proper illumination in the classroom, both students and teachers can suffer from fatigue and problems paying attention. Studies have shown how schools are improved by optimal lighting, especially when they install high efficiency LED lighting.

  • Boosting Student Productivity

To appreciate how schools are improved by optimal lighting, it’s important to understand how LEDs work. This type of technology replicates natural daylight, using both blue and white tones to simulate the sun’s rays. The result makes the classroom experience feel as if it's taking place outdoors. Students at schools that have installed LED lighting improved standardized test scores and completed projects faster when compared to pre-LED levels.

Students also reported that they actually feel better with the new lighting. They’re able to pay attention for longer periods without suffering from exhaustion. The science behind this phenomenon is founded in circadian rhythms, which regulate the human body’s response to environmental factors. LED lighting stimulates this effect to make a person feel more alert in the morning.

  • Benefits for Teachers

While students are a key focus when analyzing how schools are improved by optimal lighting, school administrators should not overlook the advantages it provides for teachers. No matter what grade level, teachers deal with various sources of stress throughout the day in their classrooms. When comparing feedback from teachers before and after LED lighting installation, many reported that they actually felt more invigorated. The mid-afternoon, right after lunch, is a notorious time period when teachers’ energy levels dipped. With the new lighting, they experienced less fatigue.

  • LEDs are Cost Effective

Despite substantial proof of how schools are improved by optimal lighting, many school administrators are reluctant to implement LED bulbs. Looking at the considerable benefits it provides to teachers and students, there is the assumption that these systems are cost prohibitive. However, the same studies that measured productivity, test scores, and alertness in the classroom also weighed the energy consumption of LEDs. Not only were the schools’ electric bills reduced by up to 70%, but they also saw lower costs related to broken and replacement bulbs. While the upfront expense of implementing an LED lighting system might seem high, amortizing the cost over several years proves that it's a smart investment.

Reviewing the benefits detailed by schools that have installed high efficiency lighting, it's easy to see why more and more administrators are going the LED route. Student test scores increased, while they also report feeling more alert and fight less to stay awake. Teachers experience less grogginess and higher energy levels throughout the day. When weighing these advantages and seeing the utility savings, we can expect LED lighting to be installed in more schools in the coming years.

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Topics: Energy Control Solutions, adding value through lighting and energy solutions, prop 39, lighting for schools

Do Home Lighting Solutions Increase Value?

Posted by Jimm Reifsnyder

Nov 12, 2013 4:30:00 AM

Do lighting solutions increase valueHelping clients see the value in a coordinated lighting solution is a challenge all lighting reps face. Here are some quick facts to help you the next time a client asks the all-too-familiar question: Is this really a valuable investment?

If savings are a part of the value equation, a good lighting solution is definitely a big plus. Lighting alone can account for up to 20 percent of a household’s yearly electricity usage. And if you have clients who are concerned about the bigger energy-savings picture, consider this:

If every home in the U.S. replaced just two standard light switches with Lutron dimmers, the overall savings would total $1.5 billion annually in electricity!

Sophisticated lighting and energy control systems also add to the desirability (and value) of individual homes when it’s time to sell. In the last few years we’ve seen a dramatic increase in “smart” homes. A lot of the technology is still fairly new, so you won’t find a lot of empirical evidence about how this technology impacts home prices. But there are some pretty clear trends in the housing industry that show people asking for the ability to control heating, cooling, shades, lighting, watering and electronic devices with the touch of a button (or even remotely) in their new homes. It stands to reason that homes with these features will command a higher price on the used market as well.

That’s one of the reasons we’re so pleased to represent Lutron’s residential lighting and energy control solutions in the Southern California market. Whether your clients are looking for single-room solutions or whole-home solutions, we can help you provide them with a wide range of options that will make their homes more comfortable, safe and energy efficient. Click here to get an idea of the broad array of home lighting and energy control options you’ll be able to present to your clients.

If you’d like to discuss other ways you can help your customers add value to their homes, please shoot me a note, and let’s put together a solution that you and your customers will be happy with.

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Topics: adding value through lighting and energy solutions, Southern California residential lighting, whole home lighting and energy solutions

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