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

It goes without saying that we are in unprecedented times.

Can you think of another time when construction nearly came to a complete stop?

As projects start to pick up again, it's a great time to reassess your plans and prepare for the future. Ideas that might have worked pre-pandemic might not work anymore.

Germicidal UV fixtures are gaining popularity in industries that never used them before. Now schools, hotels, office buildings, restaurants, and retail stores are considering them as a way to protect employees, customers, and tenants.

With an efficacy rate of 99.9% or higher, it's no surprise these products are considered as an option to disinfect spaces.

But choosing the right germicidal UV fixture at the right price can be complicated.

If you've taken a look at UV products, you've probably seen images or videos of a UV robot moving room to room while disinfecting surfaces.

Mobile UV units are one of the most flexible UV product options, and industries outside of healthcare are starting to catch on.

But with prices ranging from $3,000 to $20,000 or more, how do you know which product is right for you?

Scientists have known about the disinfection capabilities of ultraviolet (UV) light for decades. Now, it's considered an important tool in the fight against COVID-19.

A scientist at Columbia University found UV-C is effective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in laboratory settings.

Linear LED tubes have become more competitive over the years, and with that comes more options than ever. So, if you’re operating with discontinued T12 fluorescent tubes, you’re probably beginning to weigh the options for a retrofit.

T12 fluorescent tubes are hard to come by these days, but that's not to say they've disappeared entirely. 

The tubes began to be phased out in mid-2012, which we wrote about at length in our post, "The phase out of T12s: Everything you need to know about discontinued tubes."

But if you still have T12s in your sockets and you're looking to save money on lighting in the next year, there are a number of ways to go about retrofitting to LED or a more efficient fluorescent option.

Businesses are searching for new ways to protect their building during and after COVID-19. Requiring temperature checks is one of the more popular options and will likely become part of our normal routine.

You will probably start to notice UV-C products in places you never though about before. Airplanes, subways, buses, restaurants, banks, and healthcare facilities are all using the powers of germicidal UV to try to get rid of as many pathogens as possible during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Can you actually retrofit T12 to LED without changing out the ballast?

Actually, yes. But before you make a decision, there are other LED solutions to consider for a high-efficiency lighting option for existing T12s.

Air disinfection is critical to protecting your employees during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

One option to consider to keep your air clean: installing UV systems on HVAC equipment.