An up-to-date parking lot lighting system is essential to having a safe and secure property. While you may have installed good parking lot lights years ago, it’s likely that you need an upgrade if your facility is ten years or older. Outdoor lights—both parking lot and facility lighting—used to concentrate on cosmetic enhancement instead of focusing on providing an area that’s safe to walk and drive in, as well as offer security from crime. The foundation of many lawsuits have been opened due to negligence in inadequate parking lot lighting.
Consider these factors that show it’s time to replace and/or update your parking lot lighting.
Uniformity of Lighting
Does the light being radiated shine consistently throughout the area it’s lighting? Good parking lot lights shine equally throughout their intended light coverage. You should not find the right side of the lamp shining brighter than the left side of the lit area—if that's the case, it's time to replace your parking lot lights.
Lighting Efficiency
Consider how much light is emitted per watt of electricity. Are the bulbs efficient for the amount of light being produced? If your lighting system is consuming a large amount of energy without producing a matching brightness, it could be time to think about replacing your parking lot lights. LED lights typically have higher sticker price, but the money saved in energy-efficient lighting will pay off in the long run.
Light Intensity
Dim lights are a clear indicator that new or updated parking lot lights are needed. When you replace your old lights with fresh, bright lights, you’ll remember how bright parking lot lights need to be consistently. Replace your dim parking lot lights with new lighting, and feel confident about the safety and security brighter lots will bring to your parking lot.
Lighting Color
Do your lights accurately reflect the color of the objects they’re illuminating? The Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a scale from 1–100 with 100 being a light source like the sun. The higher the CRI, the more accurate the color is reflected in the light. Typical parking lot lights (high pressure sodium lights) have a CRI of 49, while LED lights score in the low 80’s. Test your parking lot lights to find out what they score, and update or replace accordingly.
If it’s time for you to replace your parking lot lots, think about an LED lighting system. LED bulb life lasts longer. LED lights also consume electricity more efficiently, reducing your utility bill. Contact Electro-Matic LED Lighting for all of your LED lighting needs.
