PKK Lighting 2017 Light Bulb Buying Guide – Part 1

Let PKK Lighting find the right Light Bulbs for your Business

PKK Lighting has been selling light bulbs to our commercial customers for many years and we are committed to providing that service well into the future.  As part of our commitment, we want to help educate our customers about the current light bulb market.  We want them to make informed choices about the light bulbs they purchase for their business or organization. This is the first in a series of posts to provide that education.
Buying light bulbs used to be easy.  When your old incandescent bulbs or fluorescent tubes burnt out, you could simply purchase replacements and install them quickly.  However, these bulbs and tubes were (and still are) very energy inefficient and were phased out (for the most part) and replaced.  They were first replaced by CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs) and then by LED (Light Emitting Diode) light bulbs.
Put simply, LEDs are electronic devices that are can be used throughout every space of office buildings, warehouses, grocery/department/convenience stores, and so on.  Manufacturers are adding cameras, sensors and even speakers to some LED fixtures to deliver more than just light.

Types of light bulbs we sell:

• LED light bulbs: instantly brighten and have color ranges from warm yellow to cool blue and colors in between. Some LEDs are dimmable (be sure to check before you buy) and use less energy than CFLs, thus saving you money on your energy bills. LEDs are typically more expensive but prices continue to drop.
• Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs: CFLs use about 75% less energy than the incandescent bulbs they replaced and last 7-10 times longer. Color ranges from warm yellow to cool blue, with colors in between.   They take longer to fully brighten, especially in frigid temperatures.  Most CFLs are not dimmable.  Also, CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, so be sure to recycle appropriately (or let PKK Lighting pick up your spent bulbs).
• Halogen bulbs: instantly brighten and color is usually a cool white or blue, although you can get a color filter that improves the light but sacrifices some brightness. Halogens have a life span about the same as standard incandescents but use 25-30% less energy.

Regardless of which type of light bulb you need, PKK Lighting can be your one-stop-shop for all your light bulb needs, especially the hard to find light bulbs.  Contact us today and we can help you find the right bulb for the job.
This post was originally published at https://www.pkklighting.com/pkk-lighting-2017-light-bulb-buying-guide-part-1/

Is it time for your organization or business to upgrade your lighting to LED?

If it's time for an LED upgrade, what type of fixture should you use, Integrated LED or LED Ready?

Integrated LED Fixtures: These LED fixtures may resemble LED ready fixtures, but the similarities end there.  Integrated LED fixtures come complete with the LED arrays already built into the fixture.  They are designed to provide a specific color and Lumen output and they do not have typical “bulbs” that can be replaced.  Integrated LED fixtures typically last for many years, often a decade or more.  When they do burn out, rather than shopping for a replacement LED bulb, customers will order a new LED array, or module.  However, with the advancements in LED technology we would encourage businesses to evaluate changing out their LED fixtures for more cost effective and updated functionality.
LED Ready fixtures: these fixtures are designed to use LED bulbs and typically are sold without the bulbs.  A primary benefit of the LED ready fixtures is that customers can select the appropriate bulb for their needs as long as the bulb is the right shape, size and wattage.  The initial installation of the fixtures is comparable to the Integrated fixtures, but replacing the bulb when it burns out is easier than replacing the LED array or module on the integrated fixture.

Which type of LED fixture is right for your commercial lighting need?

1. Is this a new installation or do you have existing fixtures? If you have existing fixtures and they are in need of significant repairs, it might make economic sense to replace them with integrated LED fixtures.
2. Do the fixtures comply with local building code requirements? Be sure to evaluate whether your new fixtures comply with local building codes before buying them. If you’re not sure, check with a lighting consultant.
3. What are the lifetime costs for the fixtures? There are many cost factors that enter into the lifetime costs of your LED light fixtures, including the original purchase, installation, ongoing maintenance, and energy costs. Be sure to consider all of the costs before making your decision to buy.

Contact the friendly team at PKK Lighting and we can discuss your next commercial lighting project and provide you with suggestions and recommendations.
This post was originally published at https://www.pkklighting.com/time-organization-business-upgrade-lighting-led/.