Commercial Site Lighting Design

When developing a site lighting system, the most important thing to keep foremost in mind at all times is lumens per watt efficiency. As energy costs rise to staggering new levels, new laws are now requiring a .15 watt per square foot maximum for outdoor site lights. This makes it necessary to select fixtures that are more efficient and to pay closer attention to site geometry in order to pinpoint the best locations for fixture placement. Regulations have also become much stricter on regulating glare and lighting pollution. Cheaper area lighting fixtures that are unable to shield from glare or to prevent light spillage not only represent an aesthetic disappointment to most clients, but also create a nuisance to neighbors and a possible safety hazard to drivers. By choosing from only specification grade equipment, propose a system that is aesthetically pleasing, economically viable, and fully compliant with regulatory codes.

PARKING LOT LIGHTING
Parking lot lights are critical elements of site lighting and must balance the practical demands of safe lighting levels, aesthetics, energy efficiency, and regulatory compliance in order to be truly effective. Higher light poles tend to light larger areas, helping keep the facility in compliance with energy efficiency codes. This must be balanced, however, against any local dark sky laws that limit pole height to a maximum height. As a general rule, it is almost always a better idea to use cut off fixtures designs with tempered glass lenses and reflectors formed from specular facets for commercial outdoor lighting. These luminaires do a better job of keeping glare at a minimum and dispersing light over greater distances, keeping power consumption down while simultaneously increasing the total square footage they illuminate.

ARCHITECTURAL BUILDING LIGHTING
When it comes to lighting building structures themselves, site lighting must accent the building without overpowering its architecture. In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to light only the most significant features of a building rather than the whole building itself. This helps to curb energy expenses and to minimize light pollution. It also creates a secondary effect of accenting that which is truly important about a particular buildings design, and it represents savings as well on the number of luminaires necessary for a truly superior outcome.

A few areas require the special focus of the site lighting designer. The building entrance itself needs vertical light over the vestibule or front door, and any signs on the building itself will require emphasis in order to advertise company branding. Columns require light in order to maintain the buildingʼs sense of balance and proportion, and anything positioned on the rooftop will need its own special light as well.

Light fixture locations and angle of incidence is the key to success when it comes to building exterior lighting. The more you can hide the light source, the more you can create a more aesthetic sense of seemingly sourceless light that makes the structure stand out. Wall packs, canopy lights, roof mounted lights, and a wide selection of sign lights can be installed in strategic locations so as to make them virtually invisible to the casual viewer.

LANDSCAPE SITE LIGHTING
The significance of the landscape to a site lighting theme depends on three things: site geometry itself, amount of actual greenery, and the type of industry. Some businesses such as retail strip centers and shopping malls have very little greenery, so outdoor landscape lighting takes the forms of low voltage step lights or garden lights around trees and flower beds. On the other hand, elaborate corporate campuses with park like areas require a bit more attention and almost always synthesize general landscape lighting with security perimeter lighting. They trick here again is to highlight features of the landscape rather than light then entire area. Pathways and decorative benches can be lit quite cost effectively with fluorescent lighting bollards. Low voltage halogen lights can be used to accent waterways, commemorative statues, ponds, and fountains. Decorative light posts and ornamental fixtures can be used to create historical themes or aesthetic keynotes in key locations without overkill or over spending.

RLLD Commercial Lighting not only provides detailed information on these and many other subjects free of charge to all of our clients, but also publishes information on new technology and industry trends to all who enroll in our online community program. Contact us now for more information.

RLLD Commercial Lighting carries a wide variety of industrial, commercial and architectural landscape lighting fixtures. If you can not find what you are looking for on our website, our lighting blog you can contact us toll free at 1-866-654-3961 and we will find it for you. Our home office is located in Houston, Texas with warehouses located throughout the United States that enable us to service all 50 states including New York NY, Los Angeles CA, Miami, FL. Chicago, IL. Denver CO., New Orleans, La., Cleveland, Ohio, Kansas City, Mo., Mesa, Arizona, Virginia Beach, Va., Omaha, Nebraska, Oakland, California, Miami, Florida, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Arlington, Texas, Beaumont, Texas, Denton, TX, McKinney, Texas, Midland, TX, Killeen, Texas, Dallas TX, San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, ALBQ, NYC, LA, MPLS.