Benefits of upgrading to LED lighting in Medical Facilities

TAMPA, Fla. - Nov. 19, 2015 - PRLog -- The healthcare industry has experienced budgetary turmoil over the past several years due to unpredictable legislation, rising costs and a changing market. But hospitals and other facilities can look forward to relief from the commercial lighting industry. Healthcare facilities of all sizes can benefit from LED lighting for increased energy efficiency, reduced maintenance costs and improved environments.  LED technology is being embraced by facilities because of the benefits it provides and below are a few that are vital to healthcare facilities.

Energy Savings

·         The healthcare industry is driven by 24/7 electricity usage and hospitals are the second largest energy consumers in the country. The change to LED technology has helped hospitals lower their energy bill and reduce their carbon footprint. The use of LED lighting in healthcare facilities is an effective strategy for achieving energy savings while improving the visual quality of light and maintaining light levels.

·         Lighting represents an average of 16 percent of a hospital's total energy consumption, and more than 40 percent of its electricity use. Upgrading the facilities lighting system can help reduce energy consumption dramatically.

Maintenance

LED technology holds the promise of dramatically lower energy consumption. This translates directly into a friendlier monthly bill from the local electric utility, an immediate benefit. But that’s not where the advantage of LED lighting ends. Maintenance budgets will also see a reduction, since the new generation of lighting requires little maintenance, meaning bulb and ballast changes, over a longer lifespan- sometimes as long as 15 years.

·         With the longer life span of LED bulbs, that equates to lower maintenance.

·         The sealed LED lighting units protect the harmful bacteria from spreading in the hospital. In addition the fully sealed unit’s stops dust, deadly bugs and harmful bacteria from gathering around the light fittings

·         Due to the  efficiency of LED lights and the lack of heat given off, LED lighting reduces air conditioning costs

Safety

Fluorescent lighting technology necessarily mercury to work. Mercury is highly toxic to our bodies, so it’s ironic that the typical hospital, dedicated to caring for the sick, and have tens of thousands of fragile glass tubes ensconced directly above their patients, filled with toxic chemicals and surging with electricity. LED products contain no mercury, no lead, and only trace elements at most of any substance that might be considered mildly toxic.

·         LED lights are MRI safe because they do not use metals that are affected by magnetic fields, nor do they emit radio frequencies.

·         LED tubes and bulbs are dimmable making them ideal for CT scan and ultrasound rooms where dimming may be required for better observation and patient comfort

·          LED hospital lighting uses no mercury which improves safety,

Additional Advantages

·         LED fixtures also deliver almost full spectrum light, compared to fluorescents which deliver only a small part of the light spectrum

·         There are many spaces that require varied degrees of lighting within hospitals, such as hallways, nursing stations, waiting rooms, exterior walkways and patient rooms. Because of the increased controllability of LED lighting, they are a better fit for healthcare facilities.

o   Glare and flicker in patient rooms can interfere with diagnosis, treatment and the healing process, and is unacceptable in operating rooms and where imaging equipment is being used.  Control of lighting is paramount to assure a good visual field for treatment while reducing fatigue for care givers.

·         Flickering: fluorescent lighting actually blinks on and off at a high frequency, usaually 120 times per second. This can translate into migraines, eye fatigue and general lethargy. A healthcare facility might see the effects of this problem in lower worker productivity and a higher number of sick days. Making the change to LED lighting eliminates this phenomenon, because LEDs emit consistent light. If the fixture employs a high quality diode, the appearance of the entire room can be vastly improved as well. It’s important to specify an LED solution which  exceeds all safety standards.

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If you would like to learn more about LED lighting, or would like a FREE ENERGY AUDITon your facility, we would be happy to serve. Call 813-623-2481 today.