In commercial buildings like warehouses, workshops, and industrial units—especially those with little or no heating systems—choosing the right lighting solutions is becoming increasingly important. Effective lighting not only enhances visibility and safety but also plays a crucial role in improving a building’s energy rating, which can significantly impact operational costs and environmental footprint.
One of the key factors to consider is the efficiency of light fittings, measured by lumens per watt. This metric, calculated by dividing the total lumens produced by the wattage of the fitting, indicates how effectively a light source converts energy into visible light. Another important measurement is the light output ratio (LOR), which assesses the percentage of useful light that reaches the workspace compared to the total light output. The LOR considers any light that may be lost within the fitting, ensuring that only the usable illumination is considered in efficiency evaluations.
In temperature-controlled buildings with heating or air-conditioning systems, lighting efficiency still offers benefits but does not impact the building’s energy rating as significantly as in unheated spaces. In warehouses and other large, unheated buildings, however, efficient lighting can produce notable improvements in energy performance. This positively affects the building’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating, making the space more sustainable and cost-effective in the long run. Thoughtfully selecting high-efficiency lighting is thus a practical and impactful investment for any large-scale, minimally heated commercial environment, offering both environmental and economic advantages.