Office lighting is just as important as the lighting in your home. However, what works for your home will be very different to what works in the office. This is not just because office lighting is used during the day (for the most part). It’s important to choose the correct office lighting for:
- How much light you need in the office – taking into account cloudy days and night-time use of office.
- The look and the ambience you want to create
- Productivity (some lights are thought to enhance productivity; others can do the opposite)
- Worker’s health
- Energy saving needs
- Budget
Some general rules for ideal office lighting:
Energy savers and strip lights. If you opt for fluorescent lighting, go for slightly higher wattage ‘warm white’ globes. ‘Cool white’ globes can look brighter, but the light is harsh. It can create glare. This can contribute to headaches. It also has no ambience value. Since warm white is not as easy to come by (except in strip lights), you will need to sit with a lighting consultant to choose the right fittings for warm white globes.
LED lights are all the rage – and for good reason. They use a fraction of the electricity that even energy savers use. They can also be used in all sorts of ways to create great looks and ambience. They are ideal for down lights that can be angled to shine light on exactly where it’s needed. Adding dimmer switches can also help with energy savings and allow your staff to control the amount of lighting they need.
Halogen globes now come in energy efficient varieties. They are warmer in colour, and have great luminosity, but don’t last as long as LED or fluorescent lights.
Opt for halogen where you need ambience and warm light, as part of an overall ‘diverse globe’ lighting plan.
Last but not least: ensure every desk has a desk lamp with a flexible neck that can be angled for best effect. Desk lamps can save your company a lot of money as the need for other lighting will be less.
