Tony O Lighting Blog

When developing a site lighting system, the most important thing to keep foremost in mind at all times is lumens per watt efficiency. Because energy costs are continuing to rise, new laws are now requiring a .15 watt per square foot maximum for outdoor site lights, making it necessary to both choose fixtures that are more efficient and to pay closer attention to site geometry to pinpoint optimal locations for fixture placement. Working with a vendor of specification grade commercial lighting such as RLLD Commercial Lighting will help you propose a system that is aesthetically pleasing, economically viable, and fully compliant with regulatory codes.

Parking Lot Lighting

Parking lot lighting represents a critical element of site lighting and must balance functional lighting levels, aesthetics, energy efficiency, and regulatory compliance in order to be truly effective. Higher poles tend to light larger areas, helping keep the site’s overall lighting in compliance with energy efficiency codes. This must be balanced, however, against any local dark sky laws that limit pole height to a maximum height. As a general rule, it is almost always a better idea to use cut off luminaire designs with tempered glass lenses and reflectors formed from specular facets. These fixtures do a better job of keeping glare at a minimum and dispersing light over greater distances, keeping power consumption down while simultaneously increasing the total square footage they illuminate.

Architectural Building Lighting

When it comes to buildings themselves, site lighting must accent the architecture without overpowering it. In order to do this, it is necessary to light only the most significant features of a building rather than the whole building itself. This not only helps curb energy expenses and minimized light pollution, but it also creates a secondary effect of accenting that which is truly important about a particular buildings design, and it represents savings as well on the number of luminaires necessary for a truly superior outcome.

A few areas almost always require the attention of site lighting designers. The building entrance itself will need vertical light over the vestibule or front door, and any signage on the building itself will require emphasis in order to advertise company branding. Columns will require lighting as well in order to maintain the building’s sense of balance and proportion, and anything positioned on the rooftop will need its own special light as well.

Fixture positioning is the key to success when it comes to building site lighting. Hiding the light source as much as possible creates a more aesthetic sense of seemingly sourceless light that makes the structure itself stand out even more. Wall packs, canopy lights, roof mounted lights, and a wide range of sign lights can be installed in strategic locations so as to make them virtually invisible to the casual viewer. When working with a vendor of specification grade architectural lighting fixtures such as RLLD Commercial Lighting, the options expand even further when one considers the wide range of options in wattages, luminaire mounts, reflectors, and cut off designs the contractor has available.

Landscape Site Lighting

The significance of the landscape to a site lighting theme depends on three things: the site geometry itself, the amount of actual greenery versus structure and pavement, and the type of industry representative of the business. Some businesses such as strip centers and commercial office parks have almost no greenery whatsoever, so outdoor site lighting takes the forms of low voltage step lights or garden lights around trees and flower beds. More ornate corporate campuses with park like areas require a bit more attention and almost always synthesize general landscape lighting with security perimeter lighting. Much like building lighting, this can be done very effectively without exorbitant expense on large numbers of fixtures. They key here again is to highlight features of the landscape rather than light then entire area. Pathways and decorative benches can be lit quite cost effectively with fluorescent lighting bollards. Low voltage halogen lights can be used to accent waterways, commemorative statues, ponds, and fountains. Decorative lighting posts with ornamental fixtures can be used to create historical themes or aesthetic elements in key locations without overkill or over spending.

RLLD Commercial Lighting not only provides detailed information on these and many other subjects free of charge to all of our clients, but also publishes information on new technology and industry trends to all who enroll in our online community program. Contact us now for more information.