6 bright ways LED lighting supports workplace productivity.
Cutting operational costs without sacrificing quality or efficiency can be challenging for small to medium-sized businesses. Happily, controlling energy costs and making energy efficiency upgrades is a great way to protect your business’s profit margins while improving your work environment.
Which brings us to LED lighting: Upgrading your lighting systems is one of the most efficient ways to combat escalating operational costs.
And we’re making it easier than ever to brighten your workplace and protect your profits with our Fast Track Lighting incentives!
If you lease your space, you may still be able to upgrade your lighting and save on energy costs. Check out “How to talk to your landlord about energy upgrades” for a few conversation-starters and tips.
Calculate your LED lighting energy savings.
Upgrading inefficient metal halide and fluorescent fixtures to LED lighting can yield outstanding financial returns while also delivering serendipitous side effects.
Before we jump into six surprising benefits of LED lighting, let’s take a moment to consider the financial benefits: By implementing a comprehensive upgrade, you can enjoy energy savings of up to 75% with a payback period as short as 6-10 months.
Consider this hypothetical example: A standard 1,000-watt metal halide fixture with ballast consumes 1,150 watts annually, generating over $500 in electricity costs based on 12-hour daily operation at $0.10 per kWh. Over five years, that single fixture costs more than $2,500 to operate.
By comparison, a 300-watt LED replacing a 1,150-watt metal halide system not only provides similar or superior light output but also costs about $130 per year to operate. That’s approximately $650 over five years, for a savings of around $1,850. Please note: These figures do not represent your actual savings and are intended for illustrative purposes only.
Beyond the significant energy savings, LEDs also offer cascading savings over time. For starters, metal halide lights typically last 15,000 hours, while LEDs can last 50,000+ hours. FacilitiesManagement.com also notes that “ballast replacements in traditional systems are extremely expensive, adding another layer of maintenance costs that LEDs eliminate. These shorter light lifecycles and costly ballast failures contribute to significantly higher long-term maintenance expenses and operational complexity.”
We understand that running a small business means watching every dollar — maximizing the ROI of energy efficiency upgrades is a great way to get started. But now, let’s talk about five surprising ways lighting improvements can help boost your business … beyond the bottom line.
#1 — Improve focus and reduce fatigue.
Dim lighting can cause drowsiness and strain the eyes. On the other end of the spectrum, a well-lit space can reduce eye strain and fatigue, leading to a more focused and engaged workforce (HR Future).
When task areas are well-lit, your employees may make fewer errors and complete visual tasks more quickly. Offices, workshops and retail floors all benefit when light levels are matched to the task — as an example, fine assembly or inspection areas need higher illuminance than a breakroom.
#2 — LEDs may boost productivity.
LED lights often come equipped with features designed to adapt to the needs of your business. Dimmability options, color temperature flexibility and compatibility with smart lighting systems add to the appeal of LED lighting.
Good lighting conditions and controls contribute to a more vibrant work environment, which can significantly boost employee morale and efficiency. Tasks are completed more accurately and quickly when employees are happy, comfortable and can see clearly, leading to higher quality work and increased productivity.
Modern LED tubes also offer excellent color rendering, which means colors appear more natural and vibrant. This is especially important in environments such as retail stores and workshops, where detail and accuracy are important.
Add lighting controls, such as occupancy sensors, daylight dimming and programmable schedules, into your upgrade mix, and you get light that adapts to real work rhythms: brighter during critical tasks and softer for collaboration or breaks. This flexibility can reduce distractions and support concentration. These features make LED lights not just a functional choice but also a strategic investment in workplace productivity.
Sources: epa.gov; hrfuture.net; pecnw.com
#3 — Daylight and circadian-aware lighting improve wellness, sleep and alertness
Natural daylight synchronizes circadian rhythms — that’s your internal clock that regulates sleep, alertness and mood. Research shows that employees with good daylight exposure or LED lighting adjusted to the daylight spectrum report better sleep, higher alertness and improved well-being.
Newer “circadian-effective” lighting systems provide blue-enriched daytime light and dimmer, warmer light in the evening that can extend those benefits indoors. It stands to reason that healthier, better-rested employees will be more engaged and productive.
How much can you save?
Calculate your potential savings from incentive-eligible energy upgrades from TVA EnergyRight Business and Industrial Team and your local power company.
#4 — Improved lighting may lead to a reduction in workplace accidents and injuries.
On shop floors, loading docks, kitchens and construction sites, inadequate lighting increases the risk of slips, trips and costly errors. Industry Today reports that “Poor visibility is the leading cause of slip, trip and fall hazards and contact with moving objects—some of the biggest risks in any facility. LED fixtures produce bright, white, uniform light that improves visibility, and helps workers spot hazards and stay out of harm’s way.”
#5 — LED lighting can improve employee comfort.
Compared to incandescent bulbs, which release 90% of their energy as heat, and compact fluorescents, which release 80% of their energy as heat, LEDs emit very little heat energy.
This efficiency enables better temperature control in workplaces, which can improve both comfort and safety for your team. Reducing heat waste not only fosters a more pleasant workspace, but it also decreases the cost of air-conditioning. And finally, the reduced heat output may also contribute to a lower risk of overheating in electronic devices and other critical systems, thereby extending their lifespans and reliability.
#6 — Brighten your customers’ experience with the LED lighting.
If productivity extends to customer experience (and we think that’s a pretty easy case to make), then it’s worth noting that LED lighting can actively shape how your customers feel the moment they walk through your business’s door. For some retailers, bright lighting makes products look sharper, and more appealing. For others, softer tones can create an inviting, comfortable atmosphere that encourages guests to sit back, relax and enjoy the moment.
How TVA EnergyRight and your local power company can help.
For more tips and free energy-saving items such as a smart thermostat, smart plug, weatherstripping and more, request a Smart Energy Starter Kit. Some businesses may even qualify for free LED tubes!
Good lighting is an investment in productivity, employee well-being and your business’s bottom line. Learn more about our lighting incentives today.
