Electrical contractors in addition to providing power through out a building also work with lighting. As Thomas Edison has made famous, we get light from electricity. However, since Edison’s day, the options have grown and so has the energy efficiency. Retrofitting a commercial space with new lighting can save money and improve efficiency. Giving significant thought to lighting for new construction is an imperative.

When considering which type of lighting to use- the use of light needs to be considered, where it will be used, and how often.

Light Use
Not all light is created equal, so considering how it will be used is a necessary consideration. Different lighting has ratings for color rendition, which is a measure of how closely a light source can render color as sunlight does. Lighting can also be categorized as warm or cold lighting. Simply put cold lighting puts off light with a blue-green color and warm lighting with a yellow-red color. The question of light use is a question of how colors are to be represented.

Location of Lighting
Proximity to surface areas will need to be examined when choosing a light source. If lighting will be placed high above a floor, say twenty feet or more, a High Intensity Discharge (HID) light can be used. It floods a broad area with light well and efficiently, an area like a warehouse, gymnasium, or a high atrium. For lower level lighting under one story, more traditional lighting can be considered like fluorescent or incandescent lighting.

Frequency of Use
How long a light source will be used is a consideration also. HID lighting is very energy efficient. A typical lamp for HID is metal halide or mercury vapor, both of which take a great while (up to thirty minutes) to warm up to full efficiency. Not something to be turned on and off. On the other hand areas where light use will be limited but full efficiency is needed immediately like a supply closet, traditional incandescent lighting would serve well.

Once all these factors are considered an electrician can recommend which light could be used where. At this point is when more aesthetic questions can be asked, as certain lighting requires different deployments. Some lighting cannot or should not be recessed or other lighting fixtures may need to be covered by unattractive safety glass, etc. Some of those questions may belong more to an interior designer, who help you decide from the choices an electrician gives you.