5 Innovative Commercial Lighting Trends

Technology and innovation go hand in hand no matter the industry, but in recent years especially, businesses and organizations of all kinds have had an influx of creative solutions to boost efficiency. From smarter, automated software systems, AI-driven solutions, all the way to eco-conscious design ideas, the commercial sector has finally received an abundance of opportunities to improve operations across the board. That, fortunately, includes lighting systems, which have often been the bane of budgeting for many institutions, and not to mention a burden on our environment. 

In order to improve visibility, aesthetics, overall illumination and functionality in commercial buildings and their accompanying outdoor areas, lighting is rapidly moving towards smarter, innovative solutions. We’ll single out a few of the most promising trends that are bound to steal the spotlight, if you will, and hopefully make it easier for companies to choose green and effective lighting. 

1. Smart sensors and outdoor lighting

On one hand, sensors have become a security feature many commercial buildings truly need to use in this day and age. On the other hand, they have become widely accepted as one of the most affordable ways to gain greater control over various facility functionalities, lighting included.

Both indoor and outdoor lighting will be transformed with the help of smart, data-driven sensors. Starting with motion sensors that preserve energy and increase the lifespan of your lighting, all the way to sensors that can adapt intensity and hue based on the quality of natural light. 

2. LED-based lights becoming mainstream

For years, experts have raved about LED lights as the revolutionary opportunity for households as well as commercial buildings to ensure durable, lasting, and eye-friendly lighting. Now more than ever, companies are beginning to realize LED’s potential to cut costs, but also to boost performance in extremely intricate and sensitive procedures which are common in, let’s say, the medical sector. 

For example, innovative LED lights have various applications for precisely diffused lighting, which is extremely important in clean rooms. Improved visibility means safer procedures, better performance, and greater employee satisfaction. Combined with the environmental impact of LED lights, it’s expected that this will become the new norm in the commercial world, and especially in highly innovative industries, including the medical industry. 

3. Integrating lights with IoT

The Internet of Things is far from new in commercial use, but finally, it is now treated more as part of a more intricate picture, and not as a single solution. With such a mindset, more commercial organizations are integrating their IoT infrastructure with a wide array of functionalities, lighting included. For that to happen, lighting providers are increasingly coming up with smart yet simple ways to streamline this transition. 

Connecting your lighting features with your IoT infrastructure enables you to track building performance as well as energy expenditure, light use over time, and spot trends that can impact the bill and your sustainability policies. The IoT solution puts lighting in a whole new context and it’s been a long time coming, so we can expect more to turn to this smart way of controlling lighting and saving the planet in one fell swoop. 

4. Green, yet cost-effective

The LED lights as well as the various fixtures available today in the commercial sector are no longer out of reach in terms of price for businesses of different sizes. In fact, thanks to the smarter approach to their production, they have become more widely available to companies of all shapes and forms, enabling a revolution in terms of sustainability. 

As a result, we can expect a major wave of lighting conversions in the commercial sector, with more companies hurrying to embrace LED and other innovative, yet sustainable opportunities in lighting. Motion sensors, for example, as well as timers are becoming implemented more freely in different industries, allowing for greater savings in energy as well as costs.

5. Human-focused solutions on the rise

Today and even more so in the future, lighting will no longer be treated as merely a facet of function. Of course, it primarily serves a purpose, especially in a commercial setting of grander scales, but it will also be to the benefit of the people who spend time in that space. For example, more lighting providers will create illumination that mimics natural sunlight in order to improve the mood of the people who spend time in well-lit rooms.

The color of the light also affects the human eye, so it helps with the level of comfort as well as visibility, avoiding excessive eye strain and other, similar health issues. The intensity can also vary, creating a different ambiance for various rooms in your facilities, enabling companies to adapt the mood and the illumination depending on the room’s purpose, number of people using the room, and other factors. Add to that, the adjustability of these lights makes them an attractive option for large organizations, as people can use smartphones and other devices to control the lighting system. 

As a major source of energy use, it’s only natural that lighting is becoming the core focus for many large-scale enterprises in different industries. From medical institutions, manufacturing facilities, all the way to industrial companies, lighting can make a great difference in productivity and success. We are fortunate to live in a time when innovation is paving our way towards a brighter future, so to speak, one where innovative lighting can be cost-effective, while being sustainable and truly human-centric.