Anyone who works in an office is aware that employees tend to complain about the lighting. It seems like there’s always someone who thinks the lights are too dim, too bright, or too ugly. Lighting issues are much more than a slight inconvenience, however—inadequate light can cause serious problems that impact an organization’s bottom line. Let’s take a closer look at the issue of lighting in the workplace.
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There’s no doubt that many office environments suffer from inadequate lighting. In fact, a study by the American Society of Interior Design revealed that no less than 68% of office workers claim to be dissatisfied with the lighting at their workplace. Bad lighting, as we will see, can take on several forms.
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When offices use dim lighting, employees may suffer from a variety of physical and psychological ailments as a direct result. It’s difficult to read properly in poor light, so employees may experience eyestrain. In turn, this can lead to headaches. Many people find that dim light conditions dampen their mood.
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Harsh office lighting is more common than dim lighting. Excessively bright lighting can also cause problems. Bright lights often create a glare on computer monitors, which obstructs the visibility of words on the screen. Some people also find that bright lights can trigger migraine headaches.
The issue of lighting standards in the workplace has even attracted attention from researchers. A study published in the Journal of Public Affairs, Administration and Management (Volume 3, Issue 1, 2009) found that out of all office design elements, lighting is the most important in affecting worker productivity. The spatial arrangement of office furniture, noise level, and room temperature are all less significant.
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Several other case studies have found that proper lighting in an office environment helps optimize worker productivity. For example: A post office in Reno, Nevada, increased its revenue by $500,000 a year simply by installing better lights. The boost can be largely attributed to the substantial decrease in worker error.
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Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) remain widely used in office environments, but some workers complain that these are too harsh. Another solution is provided by LED lamps. LED stands for light-emitting diode. A “solid-state” lighting solution that produces very little heat, the LED lamp is becoming increasingly popular among organizations that seek to maintain well-lit office spaces.
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When installed in an office space, LED lamps provide a comfortably bright environment. LED light bulbs last far longer than conventional incandescent bulbs. An LED bulb can be expected to function for 50,000 hours—but an incandescent bulb has a life expectancy of only 1,200 hours. Unlike incandescent bulbs, LED bulbs tend to fail gradually by slowly dimming over time. You won't be surprised by a sudden light failure. They are also much more energy efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs.
• http://www.andrewjensen.net/how-officelighting-affects-productivity/ • http://www.scientificjournals.org/journals200 9/articles/1460.pdf • http://www.tes.com/led-lamps.html
Founded in 1985, Telecom Electric Supply Company (TES) provides wholesale batteries, flashlights, lamps, and related accessories. Based in Plano, Texas, TES is one of the largest minority-owned electrical suppliers in the region.
Bad lighting is a problem that afflicts many workplace environments, leading to lost productivity and poor employee morale. LED lamps supply an effective, energy-efficient solution to this common problem.