Practical advice on commercial lighting from LED retrofits to lighting design.

As lighting experts, we know that lighting is not always the easiest part of job. But an electrician who understands a few key ins-and-outs of lighting can help add significant value to an electrical job.

If you've spent any time in construction, you've been in this scenario: you get plans for your next project and start the bid-gathering process. Most estimates come back within a typical range, but the bid for lighting is way out of budget. Other times, the lighting bid may look good, but there's a late-in-the-game surprise — a 12+ week lead time that's now throwing a wrench in your schedule.

Now what?

In situations like this, value engineering a lighting package tends to come up. We've value engineered countless projects, and we've also written about ways to avoid the value engineering crunch and still save money. There is value behind value engineering — when you do it the right way.

When you start a new lighting project, cost is often one of the first deciding factors. Lighting rebates can often help reduce product prices, but finding the right ones and making sure you follow all of the necessary steps to qualify can be time-consuming.

For more than 10 years, LED rebates have been an incentive to upgrade to more energy efficient lighting. The same is true in 2022. 

UV solutions can create a cleaner, safer environment for everyone who walks into your facility. UVC is a known disinfectant for air, water, and nonporous surfaces, and in studies has been shown to inactivate SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

When you're working on a new construction project, value engineering and savings seem to go hand-in-hand. But we like to take a different approach to value engineering and saving our clients money.

California's Energy Code, commonly known as Title 24, has been in place for decades, but we still answer questions on the topic almost every single day. Just what is it and what kind of effect does it have on your lighting?

As it's published in Section 6 of the California Code of Regulations, Title 24 is a broad set of requirements for “energy conservation, green design, construction and maintenance, fire and life safety, and accessibility” that apply to the “structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems” in a building. The code applies to all buildings in California, not just state-owned buildings.

California updates its energy code every three years. Construction projects with permit applications applied for on or after January 1, 2023 must follow the 2022 Energy Code. If a permit is applied for before then, buildings follow the 2019 Building Efficiency Standards.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many industries to rethink how to protect their employees, customers, and tenants.

One of the biggest takeaways: clean air should be a priority. UVC fixtures for HVAC systems are an effective tool to eliminate pathogens in facilities and improve indoor air quality (IAQ).

Just as a new year ushers in a new round of resolutions, it also brings about new laws, ordinances, and codes.

Buckle your seatbelts. More states are mandating restrictions on certain lighting products, essentially banning the sale of some light bulbs.