Commercial Holiday Lighting SErvices in Chicago.

You may not think of fluorescent as a new, groundbreaking technology – and it isn’t. However, newer high efficiency fluorescent technologies have improved substantially within the last 10-15 years. With their highly efficient electronic ballasts and high lumen lamps, newer T8 and T5 HO (High Output) are an attractive choice for replacing older T12, HID, and incandescent lighting. With a 20,000 – 30,000 hour lifespan, high luminous efficacy, wide variety of sizes and applications, and relatively low cost – High Efficiency fluorescent will remain a great choice for a wide variety of applications

Pros: Lower cost compared to LED and Induction, retrofit kits available, easy to find lamps and ballasts

Cons: Short lifespan (relative to LED and Induction), contains mercury, limited outdoor applications due to size, relamping can be relatively expensive (especially for T5 HO)

Best Applications: Indoor commercial and retail, high and low bay warehouse lighting, task lighting.

INDUCTION LIGHTING

Despite offering outstanding longevity and energy savings, Induction lighting is the least known and least appreciated fluorescent lighting technology.

Induction technology addresses the two biggest causes of fluorescent lamp failures, filament wear and gas leakage. By utilizing two electromagnets that surround a sealed circular or rectangular fluorescent tube, induction lighting has no filaments to burn out or connections where gas can leak.

Because of this, Induction lighting currently offers the greatest lifespan of any available light source – 100,000 hours. Through recent advances in electronic ballast and electromagnetic field shaping, induction lighting also maintains similar efficiency as modern, high-efficiency fluorescent lighting. This makes it an outstanding choice for outdoor area lighting and areas that are difficult to access.

Pros: Exceptional Lifespan (100,000 hrs.), retrofit kits available, proven longevity and light output

Cons: Higher initial investment than fluorescent, not well suited to mounting heights above 35 ft

Best Applications: High and low bay warehouse lighting, outdoor pole and wall pack lighting,

difficult to access locations

LED LIGHTING

There’s almost a 100% chance that there is at least one LED light source within a few feet of you right now. Invented in the 1950’s, engineers immediately recognized the Light Emitting Diode’s potential for use in early computers, calculators, and displays. From there, it’s taken almost 60 years for Haitz’s Law, the LED equivalent to Moore’s Law, to show itself to be true; by the late 2000’s LED was finally becoming the super-efficient, high output light source it was projected to be.

Although LED lighting is the typically the most expensive of these three future technologies, the benefits of upgrading usually significantly outweigh waiting for LED’s to drop further in cost – especially when replacing high-wattage commercial lighting, home landscape lighting, or frequently used indoor lighting.

Pros: Long Life (25,000 – 100,000 hrs.), exceptional energy efficiency, available in all commonly available lamps and fixture types, mercury free, marketable as green technology

Cons: Higher initial investment than other technologies

Best Applications: All indoor and outdoor applications, cold start and rough service applications, direct light bulb replacement