Shiny and bright, is it right?

How to make energy-efficient lighting work for your clients, your properties and the environment

LED lighting is rightly appraised as the cooler, longer-lasting and brighter alternative to hot and energy inefficient incandescent lightbulbs. Yet research argues that if we spend prolonged periods exposed to undimmed LED screens, the blue light they emit may not be the healthiest option for our eyes and overall health.

Prioto is currently working with the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) looking at sourcing different LEDs to prevent health issues. This blog will focus on some of the main talking points to arise from the advent of cleaner lighting.

Blue light emission is found in our laptops, TV screens, mobile phones, and tablets – how many devices do you and your employees use daily? Is it possible that the swathes of blue light can have a detrimental impact on our health? The retina, the inner lining at the back of our eyes, is made up of delicate cells that are light sensitive. We’re advised against looking at our screens before bedtime because the undimmed blue light wavelengths can suppress melatonin production, which hinders sleep. In fact, we’ve possibly suffered the itchy, dry eyes that come from prolonged spells in front of our laptops, but to suggest that extensive damage – macular degeneration – is the foregone conclusion has not been proven and is actually hotly contested. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t pay attention, and if you run a business that relies on lighting to create an atmosphere, it is crucial to be mindful of your customers’ needs.

High street shops face an uphill battle when competing with online retailers, and that isn’t just about competitive pricing. Many of us still like to shop in person, but the conditions must be so accurate that we don’t even realise that they aren’t until something feels wrong. Many people believe LED blue light wavelengths can prolong headaches and migraines, cause dizziness and nausea, and that light sensitivity can lead to light-induced vertigo. How many of us arrive home after a spell of retail therapy or even a few hours in a supermarket where the lights have been unusually bright (or worse still, flickering) to end up with a headache?

Getting customers into your shop and keeping them there until the point of sale can be the difference between making a profit or a loss. In their own way, these factors apply to several industries, not just retail: the hospitality and fitness industries spring to mind, whether it’s a bar or hotel, a restaurant or a gym.

Restaurants, bars, hotels and gyms go to a great deal of effort to ensure you receive the best experience possible by creating the perfect atmosphere. Lighting plays a massive part in that, but it is also one of the most expensive outlays in any business, and alongside heat, can account for 80% energy waste. With Prioto’s tailored solutions, we can design and install a lighting system for you, whether you own a shoe shop in a mall, a small family-run restaurant or a large bar. We can design ambient lighting that is programmed – by you – to complement the working day. If you’re worried about the lighting (and heating) bills in your restaurant, Prioto can ensure they can be controlled at the touch of a button – from the moment the staff arrive, and prep begins; until you open for business and customers appear; through until last orders, clean up and close down.

Contact us to discuss your lighting requirements and how Prioto can save your business money.