Are you looking for better lighting solutions for your workshop, factory, or garage? We know you’ve got lots of projects on your list, don’t let outdated lighting hold you back from accomplishing your business goals! The market is saturated with new LED shop light products, some with exciting solar features. Follow our guide to determine how to select the best solar-powered LED Shop Lights today.
What Are LED Shop Lights?
The first thing you need to know as a consumer is that LED “shop lights” are actually a rebrand by major retailer chains. Also known as LED high bays, these lights are any fixtures hung higher than 12′ and over 10,000 lumens. Picture the type of lighting you’d see in a warehouse, a factory, a gymnasium, or any large open area with relatively high ceilings.
LED shop lights provide the appropriate foot-candle levels to properly illuminate the right amount of vertical as well as horizontal space. In general, high bay lights hang from the ceiling from hooks, chains, or pendants, or are fixed to the ceiling directly.
In the past, shop lights utilized metal halide (MH), high-pressure sodium (HPS), and even fluorescent lamps. How are LED shop lights different from these outdated high bay lighting sources? Unlike metal halide lighting, LED shop lights warm up quickly and do not waste energy on heat output. LED shop lights outperform high-pressure sodium lamps when it comes to color rendering and overall lifespan, and they are preferred as a safer alternative to fluorescent lights because they do not contain toxic mercury.
What Should I Look For When Shopping LED Shop Lights?
Whether you are shopping for new ones or are in the market to upgrade your current shop lights, you know it’s an investment and you want to get the best ROI possible. You’ll be counting on your shop lights to create a bright and safe work environment. Nowadays it seems like there are endless possibilities when it comes to shopping for LED shop lights or high bays, it can be overwhelming! So, how do you choose the best shop lights 2021?
Follow our advice and prioritize these key features during your search:
Color Temperature
We’ve all had the experience of flipping a switch, turning on an LED light, and having to shield our eyes from a harsh bright white glow. LED sometimes gets a bad wrap for having an “artificial” or “blindingly bright” color, but that’s not entirely fair. In truth, LED lighting comes in a wide array of colors, and lighting color quality matters; what you’d want for the office is not necessarily what you’d choose for your home living room.
In the lighting world, this color quality factor is called color temperature. The difference between LED color temperatures is one of the most important things to consider when installing new fixtures for your shop. For example, if seeing color very accurately is important to the work you do in your shop space, you are probably already aware that the right lighting is critical. Lighting strongly affects the way our eyes perceive color and so does lighting color temperature.
Lighting color temperature is measured in two main ways: the Kelvin temperature scale, and the color rendering index.
Image credit: LyvEco.com
Kelvin temperature scale
Color temperature is measured in degrees on the Kelvin scale from 1,000 to 10,000. Color temperature is typically separated into three categories: warm white, cool white, and daylight. It’s really all about the ambiance you’re going for. Warm white (1,000-2,700K) is cozy, what you’d want for your bedroom or kitchen. Cool white (3,000-4,500K) is bright and neutral, often used in bathrooms and entryways. Daylight (5,000K+) is a crisp blue-white light that mimics daylight and really brings things into focus. This is what is most often used in garages and workshops for task lighting. For the best LED shop lights, we recommend selecting a product with 5,000K+.
Color rendering index
Some light renders color better than others. Have you ever stood in front of a mirror in a fitting room and had a problem telling the difference between black and navy clothes? That’s a sure sign the lighting source had very low CRI.
CRI essentially measures how colors look under a light source compared with actual sunlight. This index helps discern naturalness, hue discrimination, vividness, and color naming accuracy. The color rendering index is measured on a scale of 0-100. A 100 score means that colors under the light source appear exactly as they would in natural light.
High-quality LED shop lights should score at least 90/100 on the color rendering index. Here are a few fast facts about CRI to help you narrow down your lighting search:
- Lights with a CRI measured greater than 80 are considered to be more than acceptable for most applications
- Lights with a CRI that is measured greater than 90 are generally considered “High CRI” lights
- High CRI LED lighting uses a fraction of the energy used in traditional lighting, while still rendering beautiful, vibrant colors
- Your state may offer financial incentives for the installation of efficient high CRI lighting
Optical Efficiency
There are two main types of LED high bays or shop lights: tube conversions or LED strips for fixtures. With a standard LED tube conversion, the light shines in all directions. This seems typical, but in reality, that is light that may actually be wasted. It’s not focused in any certain direction. The other type is LED strips for fixtures. This product shines light downward only, where it is needed. This means greater optical efficiency!
When LED shop lights emit light in a specific direction, it reduces the need for reflectors and diffusers that can trap light. As a result, this makes the LED lighting more efficient for task lighting.
Energy Savings
We know that for shop owners, finding new ways to cut your expenses without lowering the quality of your products and services is a top priority. Installing energy-efficient LED lighting solutions within your shop is a fast and simple way that you can do this!
Studies by the U.S. government studies report that LED lights can consume up to 75% less energy than their fluorescent or incandescent counterparts. In addition, they have also been found to last 25 times longer in most cases. For high-energy consumers, these lights last at least twice as long and use 50% less electricity.
LEDs are highly efficient light sources that come with many advantages for business owners, here are just a few:
- Greatly reduce maintenance costs
- Improve performance in colder weather compared to incandescent lights
- Incredible durability due to no filaments or glass enclosures
- Non-toxic design free from mercury and lead means increased safety for workers
- Decreased operating costs and fewer energy expenditures
- LEDs have the ability to remain unaffected by constant on and off light cycling compared to traditional lighting solutions.
To get detailed information on energy savings, check out the 2021 Energy-Efficiency Lighting Guide for Businesses and Building Owners.
Want to learn more about the energy savings opportunities that come with making the switch to LED shop lights? Book a call with our team today.
Are There Solar Functions Available For LED Shop Lights?
So you’re excited about the idea of new LED shop lights, but did you know that there are renewable energy functions available too? Exciting new solar functions can help reduce your carbon footprint and take your business to the next level of green energy.
Sustainable Energy and Lighting Features
Some LED shop lights now come equipped with solar fusion technology. Solar fusion technology converts dc energy from sunlight into usable energy for your LED lights. This 21st-century business solution utilizes solar panels on the roof to collect renewable energy from the sun, which goes to the fusion box where the energy is converted and then channeled directly into your LED shop lights. It’s that simple!
Want more information on product details? Bizreps has a variety of LED shop lights with solar fusion functions that we are excited to share with you. Contact us today!
How Can I Afford Solar-Powered Lighting?
Many business owners assume that installing solar panels and investing in solar energy is expensive or just out of their budget. But don’t jump to conclusions just yet. To encourage the expanded use of solar power, governments, utilities, and other organizations offer solar tax breaks and financial incentives to make solar more accessible for today’s shop owners. As a result, you can reduce the net cost of your solar panel system by anywhere from 26 to 50 percent. In some cases, you can even make a full return on your investment!
Team up with a BizReps associate to learn more about what government grants you may be eligible for and how to apply for them.
Want to be sure you’re purchasing the best solar-powered LED shop lights out there? Book a call with our team at bizreps.ca/schedule! We work with companies that are ready to take the next step into better lighting, more efficient lighting that’s going to save money and energy. There are many possible LED lighting solutions that we’re ready to share with you.