Lighting plays a crucial role in creating comfortable, safe, and efficient environments in commercial operations, particularly in senior living communities and hospitals. Let's explore the various lighting considerations for these spaces, focusing on current technologies, costs, health impacts, and future trends.
This is obviously a high-level exploration as lighting in commerical spaces has become quite an art form. There are several less than obvious health benefits for getting this right.
At the end of this posting, there are 2 case studies that highlight the ROI of implementing more modern lighting. Bottom line, it will take an average of 6 years, depending on your labor rates, to recover the investment. Also consider that there are some hard to quantify benefits as you read further.
Remember the adage; just because we can do a thing does not mean we should do that thing!
In my opinion, switching from incandescent to CFL, while highly promoted as that technology was introduced, quickly became problematic for several reasons. The quality of the light, and the robustness of the equipment. Not to mention the environmental impacts. Bottom line, CFL’s never quite hit their sweet spot.
LED and perhaps OLED seem to be a better approach, yet the retrofit is still a major undertaking. One consideration is a staged rollout instead of a system-wide replacement. Most organizations won’t see those deep savings for 6 years and the cost of money as of this writing makes this less than a no-brainer. While upgrading the lighting, and surrounding technology, during an apartment or condo reno is obvious, the longer resident occupancy rates do occasionally make sense to schedule a smooth rollout.
You don’t have to do a system-wide roll out. You can test in a few units or one of the common areas to test a configuration or technology. Implementing other building automation may also be valuable during a technology install or refresh.
Let’s take a deeper look at a few things.
Current Lighting Technologies:
- Incandescent and Halogen:
- Traditional lighting options still found in some older facilities
- Inefficient and short-lived compared to modern alternatives
- Produce warm, familiar light but consume more energy
- Fluorescent and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs):
- Common in many commercial spaces
- More energy-efficient than incandescent, but contain mercury
- Can produce flickering and harsh light, potentially affecting residents and patients
- LED (Light Emitting Diode):
- Rapidly becoming the standard for energy-efficient lighting
- Long-lasting and highly customizable in terms of color temperature and intensity
- Initially more expensive but offer significant long-term savings
- OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode):
- Emerging technology with potential for flexible, thin lighting panels
- Produces soft, diffused light, ideal for certain healthcare environments
- Offers new design options for more unique and pleasing environments
- An upcoming technology to keep an eye on as it matures
Costs and Considerations:
- Acquisition Costs:
- LED fixtures can cost 2-4 times more than traditional lighting initially
- However, prices have decreased significantly in recent years (DOE report, 2019)
- Installation and Replacement:
- Labor costs for retrofitting can be substantial, especially in occupied spaces
- Disruption to daily operations must be considered, particularly in healthcare settings
- Long-term Savings:
- LED lights can use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs (Energy.gov)
- Lifespan of LEDs can be 25 times longer than traditional bulbs, reducing replacement frequency, although depending on the fixture, this may not hold true. Fixtures with poor ventilation or higher vibration may not yield these benefits
- Maintenance Considerations:
- LEDs require less frequent replacement, reducing maintenance time and costs (see lifespan above)
- Smart lighting systems may require specialized technicians for troubleshooting
Health and Well-being Impacts:
- Circadian Rhythm:
- Proper lighting can support natural sleep-wake cycles, crucial for senior health
- Tunable white light can mimic natural daylight patterns
- Changing the light intensity and color at different times of the day and night help boost mood and reinforce circadian rhythms. This can have dramatic affects for those residents with mobility and cognitive challenges
- Visual Comfort:
- Reduced glare and proper color rendering are essential for aging eyes and medical procedures
- Flicker-free lighting can prevent eye strain and headaches
- Fall Prevention:
- Adequate and even lighting in corridors and common areas can reduce fall risks in senior living spaces
Environmental Considerations:
While not the focus of this post, it's worth noting that LED lights have a lower environmental impact compared to CFLs, which contain mercury and require special disposal procedures.
Evolving Technology and Smart Lighting:
- IoT Integration:
- Smart lighting systems can be controlled via smartphones or central management systems
- Occupancy sensors and daylight harvesting can significantly reduce energy consumption
- Color-Tuning:
- Adjustable color temperature can support circadian rhythms and improve sleep quality. When integrated with building automation, this feature makes a significant impact
- Particularly beneficial in hospital settings for patient recovery
- Li-Fi (Light Fidelity):
- Emerging technology using light for wireless data transmission. This may hold some significant opportunity in environments where RF and EMF hold harm factors
- Potential for secure, high-speed internet in healthcare settings
- Interesting technology for building automation, sensors, and other non-fixed location devices
- Human-Centric Lighting:
- Systems designed to support human biological needs throughout the day
- Can improve mood, productivity, and overall well-being
- As the tech-savvy generation becomes the majority of our occupancy, it is just kewl
Case Studies and Implementation:
With any case study, your mileage may vary. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
- Senior Living Community: Sunnyvale Retirement Home, California
- Facility: 100-unit senior living facility
- Retrofit: Complete LED replacement with smart controls
- Initial Investment: $250,000 (including fixtures, labor, and smart system installation)
- Annual Energy Savings: $45,000 (60% reduction from previous costs)
- Payback Period: 5.5 years
- Additional Benefits: • Improved resident satisfaction and sleep quality • Reduced maintenance calls by 75% • Enhanced safety with better illumination in common areas • Ability to adjust lighting for various activities and times of day (Source: ENERGY STAR Success Story, 2023)
- Hospital Retrofit: Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
- Scope: Full LED retrofit with tunable lighting in 300 patient rooms and common areas
- Initial Investment: $1.2 million
- Annual Energy Savings: $180,000 (40% reduction)
- Payback Period: 6.7 years
- Additional Benefits: • Improved patient sleep scores by 28% • Reduced nurse call button usage during night hours by 35% • Enhanced staff alertness during night shifts • Positive impact on patient recovery times, reducing average stay by 0.8 days (Source: Healthcare Facilities Today, 2022)
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Happy computing
\\//\\//olf
Founder, Newcare International