It can be challenging to find the balance between effectively lighting your healthcare facility and saving money. Keep reading to learn seven ways to save money on lighting and how GCE National can help!
The Financial Impact of Paying Too Much for Lighting
Your healthcare facility can feel the financial impact of paying too much for lighting in many ways. When you pay too much for lighting, there is a trickle-down effect on other parts of your business. Healthcare facilities can quickly lose money and business if their lights are not budgeted for correctly. Paying too much for lighting can mean buying high-energy lights, out-of-date technology, high maintenance fees, or installation fees. When you spend extra on lighting, there is no doubt that your patients could suffer as well.
Risk of Overpaying on Lighting for Patients
When you pay too much for lighting, it affects more than just your electricity bills. It is vital to watch where your money goes, especially in a healthcare facility. Healthcare facilities should take special care of their budget and money. If a facility does not appropriately budget, their patients and credibility will suffer. The more money that goes toward lighting and electricity, is less money that can go toward patient care.
For example, wasting money on an energy-draining lighting system could be better used for comfortable furniture or newer hospital equipment.
Seven Ways to Reduce Costs
There are many ways that a healthcare facility can reduce its overall lighting costs. Below are seven tips that are easy to implement and best for your budget!
Accessible Lighting for Patients
Applying accessible lighting for patients can benefit your electrical bill and patient experience. Consider making room lights accessible and adjustable for patients. Not only will this allow your patients the comforts of control, but this also allows you to save energy. Patients can control the brightness and power of their lights throughout the day, rather than an automated system.
Replace Old Lighting
Old lighting is one of the leading culprits for overall lighting costs. Outdated technology was not designed to be energy efficient; it was designed to be the biggest and brightest. Many old lights, such as incandescent lights, can cause your electricity bill to skyrocket. Newer technology uses the scientific significance of our carbon footprint to improve energy usage.
Choosing Energy Efficient Lighting
Speaking of our carbon footprint, it is crucial to monitor energy usage. Businesses such as hospitals, production plants, and other twenty-four-seven industries use an astronomical amount of energy. By choosing energy-efficient lighting, you can reduce your environmental impact and reduce your overall cost. Using energy-efficient lights, such as LED, where you use lights the most, can save you a substantial amount of money—for example, places such as parking lots, work stations, elevators, stairwells, etc.
Choose Multi-Purpose Lighting
Choosing a multi-purpose light can mean selecting a double-headed fixture, color-changing bulb, tables with built-in lighting, table lamps with sound reduction, etc. By using a multi-purpose light, you can accomplish multiple tasks at one time. For example, tables with built-in lighting allow patients and visitors a place to set items as well as lights to see. You can reduce your overall costs with multi-purpose lighting.
Automated Lighting
Automated lighting is one of the most popular options for saving money. There are many examples of automated lighting, and they can aid both you and your patients. These lights can automatically adjust based on the time of day; this can help regulate the patient’s internal clocks. The adjusted lights will use less energy if they are automatically dim. Another example of automated lighting is sensor lights. By using a motion sensor light, you can reduce the amount of time the light is on.
Utilize Natural Light
Utilizing natural lights allow you as a healthcare facility to save money by reducing the amount of lighting needed. During the day, lights can be dimmed or shut off completely. Using bright lights of an evening can decrease your overall electricity costs. Natural light also aids in patient recovery. Research has proven that natural light can uplift an individual’s spirits. Many suffer from seasonal depression because there is a lack of natural light. If you utilize natural light, you can improve your patient’s experience in your healthcare facility.
Talk to a Professional
Another way that healthcare facilities can save money on lighting is by talking to a professional. Lighting experts know all there is to know about saving money and lowering energy outputs. Speaking to an expert can help you learn more about lighting a healthcare facility for the good of your patients and your overall costs.
