Enlightening Advantages of LED Lighting that all Consumers Should Know:

1. Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings:

• LED lights consume significantly less energy than traditional lighting sources.
• How LED lights translate into substantial energy cost savings for homeowners and businesses.
• The environmental benefits of reduced energy consumption.

2. Longevity and Durability:

• LED lights have an impressively long lifespan, far surpassing incandescent and fluorescent bulbs.
• Reduced maintenance costs due to fewer replacements and longer-lasting fixtures.
• How LED lights contribute to waste reduction.

3. Superior Quality of Light:

• The quality of light emitted by LEDs, including color rendering and brightness.
• The importance of proper lighting for comfort, productivity, and well-being.
• LED lights’ flicker-free and instant-on capabilities.

4. Environmental Sustainability:

• Reduced carbon footprint due to lower energy consumption and longer lifespan.
• The absence of hazardous materials like mercury, found in fluorescent bulbs.
• How LED lighting aligns with green building and sustainability initiatives.

The Distinctive Quality of LED Edmonton Products

LED Edmonton is synonymous with innovation. Their products incorporate the latest advancements in LED technology, ensuring that customers have access to state-of-the-art lighting solutions. Whether it’s smart lighting systems that allow you to control your lights remotely or color-tunable fixtures that create the perfect ambiance, LED Edmonton is at the forefront of innovation. This dedication to staying ahead of the curve ensures that customers receive not only efficient lighting but also products that enhance their lives in unexpected ways.

LED Edmonton prides itself on quality above all else:

1. Advanced Technology and Innovation

• LED Edmonton’s commitment to staying at the forefront of LED technology.
• The incorporation of cutting-edge features such as smart lighting and color tuning.
• How innovation enhances the user experience and overall quality of lighting.

2. Rigorous Testing and Certification

• LED Edmonton’s quality control processes, including testing for performance and safety.
• Certifications and standards met by LED Edmonton products.
• The importance of ensuring product quality in LED lighting.

3. Diverse Product Range

• The extensive selection of LED products available from LED Edmonton.
• Customization options to suit various applications and preferences.
• Why having a diverse product range matters to customers.

4. Energy Efficiency and Savings

• How LED Edmonton’s products are engineered for maximum energy efficiency.
• Real-world examples of energy and cost savings achieved with LED Edmonton lighting solutions.
• ROI considerations for businesses and homeowners.

Exceptional Customer Service: The LED Edmonton Difference

Navigating the world of LED lighting can be overwhelming, especially with the rapidly evolving technology. LED Edmonton’s knowledgeable staff is there to guide you through the process. They offer expert advice on product selection, installation, and maintenance. Their expertise ensures that you make informed decisions, resulting in lighting solutions that are not just efficient but also tailored to your specific needs. LED Edmonton firmly believes that one size does not fit all when it comes to lighting solutions. They go the extra mile to understand their customers’ unique needs and preferences. Whether you’re looking to revamp your home lighting or require specialized lighting for your business, LED Edmonton’s team of experts takes the time to understand your requirements. This personalized approach ensures that you receive lighting solutions that not only meet but exceed your expectations.

What can you expect from LED Edmonton:

1. Personalized Lighting Solutions:

• LED Edmonton’s commitment to understanding customers’ unique lighting needs.
• The importance of tailored lighting solutions for different spaces.
• Customer testimonials showcasing personalized service.

2. Expert Guidance and Advice:

• The expertise and knowledge of LED Edmonton’s staff.
• Assistance with product selection, installation, and maintenance.
• The value of expert guidance in making informed lighting decisions.

3. Reliability and Warranty Support:

• LED Edmonton’s warranty and after-sales support.
• How LED Edmonton ensures customer satisfaction even after the sale.
• Stories of customers benefiting from LED Edmonton’s reliability.

4. Sustainability and Community Engagement:

• LED Edmonton’s commitment to sustainability beyond their products.
• Community involvement, initiatives, and partnerships.
• How a socially responsible company enhances the customer experience.

The adoption of LED lighting represents a transformative shift towards energy efficiency, sustainability, and superior lighting quality. LED Edmonton exemplifies these ideals through their top-tier products and unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service. The advantages of LED lighting are clear, and when paired with the quality and support provided by LED Edmonton, the choice becomes even brighter. Illuminate your world with LED Edmonton, where the future of lighting is shining today.

The post Illuminating Excellence: The Bright Choice of LED Lights in Edmonton appeared first on Smart Energy Alternates.

(1) Energy savings:

LED lights are much more energy-efficient than traditional lighting options, which means they can help you save on your energy bills. This is especially important in a cold climate like Alberta, where lighting can account for a significant portion of your energy usage.

(2) Durability:

LED lights are very durable and long-lasting, making them a great choice for Alberta’s harsh climate. They are resistant to temperature fluctuations, moisture and vibrations, which means they are less likely to break or fail.

(3) Environmental benefits:

LED lights are much more environmentally friendly than traditional bulbs, as they do not contain toxic materials such as mercury. They also produce less heat and emit less carbon dioxide, which helps reduce your carbon footprint.

(4) Improved lighting quality:

LED lights produce a bright, high-quality light that is similar to natural daylight. This makes them ideal for use in areas where clear, bright lighting is important, such as offices, schools and hospitals.

(5) Cost savings:

While LED lights may have a higher upfront cost than traditional bulbs, they offer significant long-term cost savings due to their energy efficiency and long lifespan. This means that over time, you can save money on your energy bills and on replacement bulbs.

Overall, LED Edmonton offers a wide range of benefits, including energy savings, durability, environmental benefits, improved lighting quality and cost savings. Visit LED Edmonton online and get top quality LED Lighting: www.LedEdmonton.com

The post Reasons why you need to visit or order online from LED Edmonton appeared first on Smart Energy Alternates.

(1) Energy Efficiency:

LED lights are incredibly energy-efficient and can use up to 80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. This means they can help reduce your energy bills and save you money in the long run.

(2) Long Lifespan:

LED lights last much longer than traditional bulbs, with an average lifespan of around 25,000 hours. This means you won’t have to replace them as frequently, which can save you money and reduce waste..

(3) Sustainability:

LED lights are much more durable than traditional bulbs, as they are not made of fragile glass and are less likely to break or shatter. They are also more resistant to temperature changes and vibrations.

(4) Environmentally Safe:

LED lights are more environmentally friendly than traditional bulbs, as they do not contain toxic materials such as mercury. They are also 100% recyclable, which means they can be disposed of safely and responsibly.

(5) Versatility:

LED lights come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, making them suitable for a wide range of applications. They can be used for everything from interior lighting to outdoor signage, and are even used in automotive lighting.

(6) Instant Lighting:

LED lights turn on instantly without any warm-up time, and do not flicker or hum like traditional bulbs. They also emit very little heat, which makes them safer to use.

Overall, LED lights offer a cost-effective, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly lighting solution that can be used in a variety of applications. Visit LED Edmonton online and get top quality LED Lighting!

www.LEDEdmonton.com

The post The benefits of LED lights appeared first on Smart Energy Alternates.

(1) Energy Efficiency:

LED lights use significantly less energy compared to incandescent bulbs, which means they can help you save on your energy bills. They are up to 80% more efficient than traditional bulbs.

(2) Durability:

LED lights are made of durable materials and are more resistant to damage caused by shocks, vibrations and temperature changes. They have a longer lifespan, which means they need to be replaced less frequently, resulting in long-term cost savings.

(3) Environmentally Friendly:

LED lights are more environmentally friendly because they contain no harmful chemicals such as mercury or lead, which can be found in traditional lighting options. Additionally, because they use less energy, they reduce carbon emissions

(4) Versatility:

LED lights come in a wide range of sizes, shapes and colors, making them suitable for a variety of applications. They can be used for indoor and outdoor lighting, automotive lighting, commercial lighting and more.

(5) Instant Lighting:

Unlike traditional lighting options, LED lights turn on instantly without any delay or flickering. They also do not emit any UV radiation or produce heat, making them safer to use.

Overall, LED lights are a cost-effective, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly lighting option that can be used in a variety of settings. Visit LED Edmonton online today and place your order ASAP!

www.LEDEdmonton.com

The post Reasons to use LED lights appeared first on Smart Energy Alternates.

(1) Cameras

Security cameras will make you and your family feel very safe. You can view every room in your home to see if there is anything unexpected going on while you are away. You could also use the camera to check in and see how your pet is doing!

(2) Smart Thermostat

There are thermostats that allow you to control, schedule and monitor your homes’ temperatures, from your backyard or a friend’s house right from your Smartphone. They can learn your behaviors and automatically adjust settings for maximum comfort and efficiency. It can also remind you to change your filters, tell you how much energy you are using and even change functions to account for the differences between a heat pump or radiant heaters.

(3) Programmable LED lighting

Screw in the lights, download the app and control your lighting all right from your phone or tablet. You can turn the lights on or off, change the color, dim or brighten them. You can also program some lights to perform any combination of brightness and color. You can control as many as 50 lights on one bridge from your phone. You can also use motion sensored strip lighting that will light up your hallway at night just enough without blinding you.

(4) Motion Sensors

Motion sensors are very important in making your house a smart home. They will make you and your family feel safer when you are not home. If there is any suspicious movement going on in your home, you will be notified instantly on your Smartphone.

(5) Automated Pet Feeding Devices

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Have a furry little friend but work long hours or have to rush to an appointment right after work? This is perfect for you. This device can be set up on a feeding schedule or you can chose when you feed them by pressing a button on your smartphone. In some devices, there is a built-in speaker allowing you to record a voice message that can be played at each meal time to call your pet.

(6) Automatic Door Locks & Garage Doors

Smart locks can replace your front deadbolt, and they do much more than lock and unlock your door without a key. You can get alerts on your Smartphone of who’s entering and leaving your home. You can also email limited-access digital “keys” to visitors when you are not home.

(7) Smart Refrigerators

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These fridges are one of the newer smart home appliances. They can create dinner recipes based on ingredients stored inside and for shopping lists for items that you may run out of soon. You can also talk to the fridge and ask it about other smart appliances in your home or simple questions.

(8) Smart Trash Cans

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You can now purchase smart trash cans. They have a sensor that monitors everything you throw away, and you can set it up so that when you run out of that item it orders more of it for you.

(9) Smart Washing Machine & Dryer

You can download an app and check when your laundry is done using your Smartphone. You are able to check the status of your laundry from anywhere. With some, you can set up text notifications to let you know when their cycle has ended.

(10) Smart Washing Machine & Dryer

Smart coffee makers are great for anyone who is in a rush in the morning and just doesn’t have time to make coffee. Smart coffee makers allow you to control the time when your coffee is brewed, and can be made in an instant or you can have it set on a timer so that it’s ready before you even get out of bed.

Article Source: https://home.howstuffworks.com/smart-home2.htm

The post Make Your House a Smart Home with these Innovative Ideas appeared first on Smart Energy Alternates.

(1) String Lighting

You don’t have to put those string lights away after the holidays. There are so many elegant ways to incorporate string lights into your home decor! String lights are a simple yet aesthetically pleasing way to add light to your backyard or garden. All you have to do is string them up whichever way you want, plug them in (or purchase solar powered ones) and you’re ready to enjoy your night outside.

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(2) Step LED Lighting

When putting strip lights under your furniture or along the base of stairs, it not only looks pleasing, but it also creates a safer space as you can now clearly see where you’re walking outside!

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(3) Lanterns

Lanterns have long been loved as stylish outdoor essentials, but did you know they could be used for so much more than just a light? When it comes to providing extra light to a patio, an LED lantern makes for an illuminating option and safety feature; lanterns light your outdoor surrounding and provide light. You can find lanterns in different sizes, colors and styles to fit the look of your patio or outdoor landscape.  

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(4) Flower Planters

With colour-changing modes and different shapes and sizes, your flowers and plants have the ability to light up at night! These planters are usually powered by the sun (allowing them to last up to 10 hours) and can display anywhere in your garden or on your patio.

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(5) Deck Lighting

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To keep your family and friends safe, install solar deck lights to light the pathway of your deck. Solar powered deck lights turn on automatically at dusk and stay on for about 8 hours, keeping everyone (and family pets) who are walking on it safe. Recessed deck accent lighting can be used to define the edges of your deck, helping to ensure that no one accidentally walks over the edge because they don’t know where it is. Another potential danger in the dark is your stairs. Riser lighting is available to illuminate each step, for added safety and awareness. Read more about the safety of deck lights.

The post Outdoor Lighting Ideas To Brighten Your Backyard This Summer appeared first on Smart Energy Alternates.

Research shows that LED lights display characteristics that are better for safety and overall health than those of incandescent, fluorescent and halogen fixtures. Natural light tells us when it’s time to wake up and go to sleep. On the other hand, manmade light sources are responsible for enabling an array of different activities when natural light is simply not available. As a result, we are exposed to light of all different kinds every day and that light has an effect on our overall health and wellbeing.  

Research indicates that LED lighting can provide a variety of health benefits. Here are 11 reasons why LEDs are good for your health.

Hum

LEDs safely and silently offer full-spectrum light. Fluorescent lights are well known for emitting a distracting droning sound. And in fact, researcher John Ott discovered that fluorescent lights and the noise pollution associated with them cause “irritability, fatigue, hyperactivity and attention deficits” (Ott, John N. (1973). Health and Light: The Effects of Natural and Artificial Light on Man and Other Living Things).  LEDs produce no hum at all.

Burnout

Most incandescent bulbs burn out in less than a year, while most LED lights last up to 50,000 hours. Colour matching across a group of lighting fixtures reduces eye strain, and slower burnout rates means fixtures will retain color consistency for a longer period of time.

Flicker

LED lights display a very small amount of flicker to no flickering at all because they are typically powered by constant DC voltage. In contrast, lighting fixtures that run on alternating current systems display flickering at 120 Hz cycles per second, or double the typical US power line frequency of 60 Hz cycles per second. Fluorescent and incandescent lights both display such flickering, which is difficult for the human eye to perceive, but causes problems nonetheless. Common ailments associated with flickering, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, include “headaches, eye strain and general eye discomfort.”  In fact, a study published by Lighting Research and Technology in 1989 found that exposing workers to lights without flickering “resulted in more than a 50 percent drop in complaints of eye strain and headaches.”

Furthermore, the stroboscopic effect flickering creates can pose a threat to those working around large machinery or moving parts. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “when objects move or rotate rapidly, [flickering light] makes them look as if they are moving more slowly than their actual speeds – they may even appear stationary if the object is moving at the same rate as the flicker frequency. This could [pose] a safety hazard if someone mistakenly thought that equipment was stationary or was moving slowly.”

Therefore, LED lights reduce the negative health effects and safety risks associated with flickering that fluorescent and incandescent lights pose.

Decreased Occurrence of Headaches

We are all familiar with the notorious flickering fluorescent bulbs. For those who suffer from headaches and migraines, fluorescents can have devastating side effects. The good news is that there is now an alternative!  LED bulbs do not flicker, and in turn can help ease headaches.

Heat

LED light fixtures stay relatively cool even when turned on for long periods of time. Fluorescent lamps can reach temperatures of 180F degrees, and incandescent and halogen lights can reach 200F degrees. Besides safety issues that come from touching hot bulbs, these temperatures can also create unsanitary conditions and hot spots in places like grocery stores and delis where raw meat is stored.

Mercury

LEDs do not contain mercury, so they can be disposed of safely and easily. Mercury is a very toxic and dangerous substance that exists in most kinds of light bulbs such as incandescent and fluorescent bulbs except for LEDs. The presence of mercury makes disposing of other bulbs time consuming and dangerous.

UV Emissions

LEDs do not emit UV radiation, and are therefore safe for desktop and close proximity applications. Fluorescent bulbs emit UV radiation, which can cause skin cancer and premature aging, as well as headaches and eyestrain. A study published in the August 2008 issue of Oxford University Press found “the UV emissions from a significant percentage of the tested CFLs may result in foreseeable overexposure of the skin when these lamps are used in desk or task lighting applications.”

Balances Circadian Rhythm

Recent developments in LED lighting technology has allowed LEDs to imitate natural light.  Research indicates that proper exposure to natural light promotes a regular and healthy circadian rhythm and LEDs seem to do the trick. So swap those fluorescents in your office for LEDs and enjoy the sleep benefits!

Increased Learning Performance

LEDs are an optimal investment for schools. When LEDs are applied in a learning environment, research suggests that learning performance is increased. Let’s help students succeed!

Increased Productivity

Implementing LED technology can help your employees to find success in their careers. Organizations that implement LED lighting in office spaces and work areas have recognized an increase in productivity.

Decreased Stress and Anxiety

We all know how spending  a day outdoors can help reduce stress. LED lighting can offer help when we may not be able to consistently get outdoors in busy day to day life. LED lighting has been associated with decreased levels of anxiety and stress in indoor environments.

We all know that LED lighting is good for the environment; but, we are now finding that LED lighting is good for people too! Making the switch to LED is one simple way to have a positive impact on people. LED lights are the smarter and safer choice for efficient, stylish and affordable lighting.

Source:

https://macelectricco.com/five-health-benefits-led-lighting/

https://www.elementalled.com/led-lighting-offers-major-health-benefits-when-compared-to-conventional-counterparts/

The post LED Lighting appeared first on Smart Energy Alternates.

Source: http://www.ledsmagazine.com/articles/print/volume-14/issue-5/features/horticultural-lighting/buyers-benefit-from-led-grow-light-guidance.html

LED-based horticultural lighting is on the rise. People who will be using this lighting will need education on how to select the optimal fixtures for the projects. Here is your guide to navigating spec sheets and performance calculations for best results.

The future population is estimated to grow to 10 billion by 2050. There are growing concerns about energy, food availability and water for such a high number of people. To produce enough food to feed our fellow human residents and maintain our current water supply, several different practices must be adopted within the agricultural sector. One potential fix to the issue is growing vegetables in water through aquaponics, hydroponics, or aeroponics. LED-based horticultural lighting works as a great companion technology to boost crop production for indoor applications, especially in warehouses which are known as vertical or urban farming in comparison to greenhousing.

These practices utilize at least 90% less water than the irrigation practices used in outdoor agriculture.The 3 water systems are soil-less methods of agriculture that can produce 5× the amount of food in the same area as typical outdoor agricultural methods. With water and food availability possibly being the greatest future challenge facing the human race, these systems will provide relief to those concerns.

The ability to stack the water and lighting systems in shelves allows for an efficient and condensed use of space. Utilizing LED grow lights designed to deliver the right amount of light spectra for each crop, provides more photosynthetic active radiation than what most plants receive from the sun. When equipped with horticultural solid-state lighting, plants reach their maximum photosynthetic potential every day. Growers need to be careful about giving their crop too much of the heat energy that comes with any light source. Periods of no light exposure must be set aside each day for the plants. The reduced heat and the lower electricity operating costs of LEDs have opened a whole new phase in agriculture.

Reaping the economic benefits

Source: http://www.ledsmagazine.com/horticulture/articles/italian-basil-grows-quicker-and-healthier-by-replacing-hps-with-horticultural-led-lighting-using-osram-s-oslon.html

These horticultural systems are economically efficient but it does depend on the following factors: type of plant; sales region; and cost of electricity. Indoor farmers can stack leafy greens 4 or 5 high and turn the crops more than once a month. The trans-continental cost of each head of lettuce with diesel fuel is about $0.30, while horticultural SSL can grow the same amount of lettuce for less than $0.15. Fresh, local, and organic vegetables are now more affordable than ever with LEDs.

LED manufacturers and solution providers often look to retrofit existing buildings in regions that have higher-than-average electricity costs. Given that off-peak electricity is in less demand and lower cost than peak power, next-generation indoor farmers will be able to power their LEDs using off-peak electricity and supplement as they need with clearstory natural light during the day and skylights. Having LEDs in remnant warehouses and any of the water-saving systems is a cost-effective way to overcome the challenges of the energy, water, and food security.

A guide to buying grow lights

Source: http://www.ledsmagazine.com/horticulture/articles/italian-basil-grows-quicker-and-healthier-by-replacing-hps-with-horticultural-led-lighting-using-osram-s-oslon.html

Finding the right grow light for your horticulture project can be a difficult and daunting task. Units of measurement such as wavelength, wattage, PAR, lumens, micromoles, and photosynthetic photon flux density commonly lead to misconceptions over the quality and efficiency of a grow light.

Navigating specification sheets. Lumens are a common unit of measurement in lighting spec sheets. The problem with lumens is that they are measure of responsivity by the human eye to various energy wavelengths.

Understanding the correct color of the lighting is a crucial aspect for anyone looking to take a horticulture venture. Whether you are looking for a wavelength combination, full spectrum, or a specific wavelength, having the right color is essential for optimal growth in plants.

When deciding on horticultural lighting another factor is wattage and comparing it. A fixture with a higher wattage does not necessarily mean it is more powerful and beneficial when used for horticulture applications.

STEM factors into leading-edge agriculture

Source: http://www.ledsmagazine.com/content/dam/leds/PDFs/ledsmsbrochure062217.pdf

With the lighting, students can learn about how different wavelengths are optimal for photosynthesis for different plants. They can also build their own systems from scratch, which forces them to understand how the water will flow, maintaining pH and water temperature, and monitoring the electrical conductivity rating which reveals how much fertilizer salts are in the water. These experiments will be highly engaging for students and will provide a great way to better understand the science behind these agricultural systems.

Produce grown in-house at educational facilities using indoor agricultural systems that leverage LED horticultural lighting could deliver both a learning opportunity and improved nutrition on campus for students.

Children are becoming more susceptible to becoming overweight and obese, and it is imperative for students to have healthier options available. By having an agricultural system placed in a school, fresh vegetables can be readily available to students. This will make it much more likely for adolescents to include vegetables in their daily diets since they could be working directly with them in a consistent manner. The systems need to be put to use in schools because of the combination of better nutrition and a more engaged science curriculum.

Source: http://www.ledsmagazine.com/articles/print/volume-14/issue-5/features/horticultural-lighting/buyers-benefit-from-led-grow-light-guidance.html

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The human body reacts to sunlight and darkness by releasing hormones that direct our internal clock, known as our circadian system. Recent research demonstrates that building occupants’ circadian rhythms can be disrupted when they spend a great amount of time indoors without access to the Earth’s natural lighting cycle.

Upsetting our internal clock can affect our ability to perform or concentrate, and literally puts us at risk for a lot of diseases. Human Centric Lighting extends the scope of lighting beyond the traditional architectural design approach that focuses on aesthetics, visibility and safety, and considers additional lighting aspects in order to better improve occupant productivity, wellness and health. Human Centric Lighting design objective is to implement systems using a science based approach, considering both visual and non-visual effects of light from a physiological and psychological perspective.

Human Centric Lighting applications are designed to mirror the Earth’s natural lighting cycle. Indoor lights, with more blue components or higher color temperatures, operate during the day to simulate the daytime circadian cycle outdoors. Warm temperature low light levels, with greater amber and red components, are used in the evening to simulate the nighttime part of the circadian cycle. Adjusting the lights helps stimulate people during the day when they need to be sharp and alert. It also assists in relaxing them during the evening as they prepare for a good night’s sleep. With Human Centric Lighting, lights are adjusted for color temperature, brightness or/and color to improve mood and concentration.

Human Circadian Rhythm

The repetitive 24 hour human circadian rhythm is where the concept of Human Centric Lighting came from.

According to The Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the world’s leading center for lighting research and education, “biological rhythms that repeat approximately every 24 hours are called circadian rhythms. Light is the main stimulus that helps the circadian clock, and thus circadian rhythms keep a synchronized rhythm with the 24 hour day. Without this synchronization, research has shown that we may experience long-term decrements in physiological function, neurobehavioral performance and sleep, and are put at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain forms of cancer.”  

Jet lag is a well explained and commonly experienced form of circadian disruption. We all have felt that non-stop tiredness after flying across multiple time zones. That inability to stay focused and lack of alertness is the result of disrupting our circadian rhythm.

Matching Light Characteristics with Human Circadian Rhythms

Human Centric Lighting systems use LED technology and intelligent lighting control systems to match light characteristics that map to natural human circadian rhythms because we know the effect that daylight has on humans. The intent of these systems is to enhance productivity and performance, as well as address the psychological and physiological problems that are created by disruptions to our circadian clock. While circadian rhythms are built into the human body, they alter to the environment by external cues – these cues are primarily daylight.

Healthcare

Human Centric Lighting is a very attractive environment for the healthcare industry. These smart lighting applications have been found to be good to many types of patients in various healthcare settings.

A report from the National Center for Biotechnology Information explains that critically ill patients in the intensive care unit suffer disproportionately from sleep deprivation and frequent sleep disturbances. The brain trauma ward at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark implemented a Human Centric Lighting system to address patient sleep issues in the hope that it would help patients recover faster.

Another area in healthcare where Human Centric Lighting is helping make progress is with Alzheimer’s and related dementias (ADRD) patients. This can result in nocturnal wandering, sleep problems and associated daytime irritability. It is common for patients suffering with ADRD to have their circadian rhythms upended because they are spending most of their time inside and therefore not receiving sufficient natural daylight. Studies from the LRC concluded that a light treatment made to increase circadian stimulation during the day can be used to increase quality of life in those with ADRD. Further research at LRC shows that along with improving behavior, sleep and mood in people with ADRD, lighting has the potential to delay the transition of those living at home to more controlled environments.  

Commercial Real Estate

Disturbing or interrupting circadian rhythms can also affect office employees from a productivity and performance perspective. A study by the University of Twente, VU Amsterdam and CBRE Netherlands in 2016 confirmed the connection between people’s health, well-being and ability to perform and their working environment. For this research, a lighting system with a timer on a circadian friendly schedule was installed. Warm light in the morning, strong bright light in the afternoon and dimmed light in the evening were programmed. Participants who were working with the lighting settings perceived their work performance as 18% better overall. 71% of them felt more energized, 78% felt happier and 78% felt healthier. Above all, the outcome of the study showed a 12% increase in task accuracy and 10% improvement in productivity.

Education

Human Centric Lighting systems have also proven to have advantages in educational settings. High school students are reported to have trouble with being alert earlier in the day. Setting levels of light to match daylight has helped with morning alertness in teenagers. For young students, lighting can be tuned to help them settle down for nap times and then adjust for an increase in awareness during classroom testing times and learning periods.

Source: http://www.ledinside.com/knowledge/2018/2/human_centric_lighting_takes_led_technology_to_the_next_level

The post Human Centric Lighting Trends For 2018 appeared first on Smart Energy Alternates.

LED Bulbs for Lower Energy Usage
Homeowners can light their homes for less money by swapping out traditional light bulbs for energy-efficient lighting such as LED bulbs. On top of using less energy, they also last longer than your traditional bulb. LED lightbulbs incorporate recent lighting standards and, when used as suggested, can save homeowners considerable amounts every year. LED bulbs can replace 40W, 60W and 75W incandescent bulbs.

In addition to choosing LED lighting, homeowners can use lighting controls and dimmers to save on electricity. Select products compatible with the LED bulbs. Finally, turn off lights when a room will not be used.

Choose ENERGY STAR Appliances
When it is time for a new appliance, such as a refrigerator, dishwasher, air conditioner unit or new furnace, choose appliances with the ENERGY STAR label. By using energyefficient appliances, residential and commercial property owners have saved almost $300 billion on energy bills. If you plan to sell in the near future, updated appliances can help your home sell at a higher price. Check for tax credits for even more savings.

Maintain the appliances purchased to reduce the amount of energy needed for optimal performance. Appliances requiring maintenance periodically include dishwashers, washer-dryers and HVAC systems. Try to run a dishwasher or dryer only for full loads and schedule any washing during off-peak periods to reduce energy consumption. Unplug appliances when they will not be used.

Check for Leaks
Drafty homes can leave owners spending more money to cool or heat a home. Being more energy-efficient can be as easy as sealing air-leaks and adding attic insulation. This can significantly reduce bills for owners. Have an assessment performed to identify any leaks in areas such as over windows or doors and take steps suggested to seal off leaks; caulk, insulate and/or weather strip

the area.

Use Less Water
Using less water in a home can be easily done. Taking shorter showers, not running the water when brushing teeth and choosing native plants for gardens are simple ways homeowners can reduce water consumption. In addition to these free and low-cost ways to decrease consumption, purchasing water-efficient shower heads, faucets heads, washing machines, dishwashers and toilets can save a homeowner a considerable amount of water.

Recycle and Reuse
It is believed that the “provision of goods” results in approximately 29 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. When homeowners choose to reuse, buy second hand or repair rather than buy new, they are helping to reduce the need to extract resources, manufacture, transport and dispose of goods. Various social media groups can help homeowners reuse, recycle and upcycle furniture, clothes and other goods.

Consider Solar Power
Not every homeowner may want to purchase a solar panel system but leasing is also an option which can cut energy costs for residents. Clean alternatives, such as solar, wind and geothermal, may be available for residential use in a specific area. In order to make solar panel installation more affordable, look into federal tax credits.

Go Healthy
Choosing a healthier lifestyle by reducing meat consumption, biking rather than taking the car, and even spending more time outdoors can translate to a smaller carbon footprint. Many of these free and low-cost tips can make it easy to save energy and resources, as well as cut energy costs. Even the bigger investments can pay for themselves over time. If you’re looking to save money, the environment, or both, these tips are all great places to start.

Written by Justin Havre

Visit Justin’s Page! http://www.calgaryhomesforsale.ca/blog/

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