Prepare Your Emergency Plans! Check Those Exit Sign Batteries

 Lighting Tips  No Responses »
May 102013
 
PinExt Prepare Your Emergency Plans! Check Those Exit Sign Batteries

Edge LitLEDEXITSign1 Prepare Your Emergency Plans! Check Those Exit Sign Batteries

My lights have already gone out once this spring, thanks to a lovely, unexpected North Carolina thunderstorm. Lucky for me, I live in an apartment with small rooms and large windows. During the day, electric lights don’t make that much of a difference.

However, if you’re charged managing a large shopping mall, school, theater, or office, your power outage protocol isn’t nearly as simple.

When the lights go out, it’s up to you to ensure the people’s safety.

Are you prepared?

Most importantly, you’ve got to maintain functional exit signs, because they might be the only thing during an outage that stands between order and panic. When the power goes out, your lighted exit signs will too, unless they have functional backup batteries.

We suggest you make it a goal to inspect the exit sign batteries around your establishment at least once every three months. Most exit signs have convenient “push to test buttons” that let you do this in a matter of seconds.

What if the battery isn’t working? Continue reading »

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The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Glass Envelope

 Thoughts on Light  No Responses »
Apr 302013
 
PinExt The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Glass Envelope

LED Reflector Lamp The Difference Between LEDs and CFLs: Glass Envelope
If you’re deciding which light source to use for your next project, look no further! In this blog series, we’re going in-depth to explore the differences between LEDs and CFLs, so you can make the best decision. In this post, we’re talking about structure…

LEDs and CFLs are built very differently.

LED light bulbs use glass or plastic envelopes of almost any thickness. They’re built to last, even in the most demanding circumstances. CFLs, on the other hand, have a daintier construction. If you drop one, the thinner glass envelope could easily break. This can be a problem, especially because CFLs contain trace amounts of mercury that will be released when the light bulb shatters.

To prevent CFLs from cracking so easily, some manufacturers have begun encasing CFLs in silicone coatings, so even if the glass breaks the shards and mercury will stay within the silicone, not allowed to get into your environment. The CFL’s traditional spiral is covered by a more conventionally shaped envelope like this: Continue reading »

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Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Lighting in April

 Pegasus Lighting Roundup  No Responses »
Apr 292013
 
PinExt Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Lighting in April

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Image via Midwest Energy News


A lot has been happening in the lighting world lately. Here are this month’s highlights…

In Lighting News…

Turkeys Love LEDs: A Minnesota turkey farmer is using LED lights to keep his turkeys happy and healthy. Every morning, Mike Langmo uses his dimmable, programmable LED lights to simulate a sunrise for his flock. There’s evidence that this practice is helping regulate their circadian rhythms, possibly contributing to their health and well-being. Read how it works here.

LED Prices Dropping: Two months ago, Cree announced they would be selling an LED light bulb for less than $10 in the US. Now, Osram has revealed that their new LED replacement for the 40W incandescent will retail at €9.95 in Germany. With prices going down this rapidly, LED light bulbs are becoming more attractive to consumers. Read more about this event here.

Most Efficient LED?: Philips has also been stepping up their game this month, claiming to have created the world’s most efficient lamp. It’s an LED tube light replacement prototype that produces 200 lumens of pure white light for every watt it uses. Learn the details here. Continue reading »

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How To Make Your Museum Lighting More Energy-Efficient

 Energy-Efficient Lighting  No Responses »
Apr 092013
 
PinExt How To Make Your Museum Lighting More Energy Efficient

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We’re teaching how to go green and save energy with the lights in every space we can think of! Click here to browse the entire energy-efficient lighting series.

The right lighting is essential for any museum. Each exhibit needs a lighting scheme that will preserve the artistic, historical, or scientific integrity of the articles on display. And it just has to look good too.

If you’ve already landed on a lighting scheme that works for your museum, you’re probably apprehensive to change it, even if you could save money.

Good news: Upgrading your museum lighting is easier than you might think. There are a ton of small, barely noticeable changes you can make to your museum lighting that will save you energy. Also, newer energy-efficient lighting options may actually provide more versatile, higher quality light for your displays.

Let’s get started, shall we?

Small Changes:  

1. Guide Lights

If you have dark areas in your museum – night simulations or moody displays – you’ll always need small guide lights to keep your visitors safe and comfortable. These are things like step lights along staircases and rope lights along pathways or handrails. These lights will never add to or take away from the integrity of your display. They’re just there. So why not save a little energy with them?

The most energy-efficient step lights and guide lights you can find on the market are probably LEDs. They’ll last much longer than older incandescent lights and most fluorescent lights, and they’ll produce the same brightness while only using a fraction of the energy.

2. Exit Signs

Exit signs are necessary features in any museum, but it’s not necessary that you use a lot of energy to operate them. A good LED exit sign only costs $2 to operate every year. Compare that to the $39 it costs to run a single incandescent exit sign. The LED will pay for itself within a year!

If you’re even more ambitious about saving energy, you can opt for photoluminescent exit signs. They’re made with a special material that absorbs ambient light and emits it when the lights go dark. No maintenance or electricity required. Continue reading »

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How To Make A Sign Stand Out: Wall Washing Lights

 Product Spotlight  No Responses »
Apr 042013
 
PinExt How To Make A Sign Stand Out: Wall Washing Lights

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Choosing new lights for your business?

When lighting signs, facades, displays, or landscape features, you should keep in mind that quality lighting can say a lot about you.

No matter how much time, energy, and funding you put into designing the perfect look for your company – the exact color red for your logo, or that perfect slogan to display out front – the wrong lighting will make it look cheap.

You want lights that won’t distort your colors. You want lights that are trustworthy; that won’t flicker or burn out quickly. You want to stand out!

After much searching, we’ve found just the thing: LED Wall Washing Lights.

Each of our new wall washing lights will bathe your displays in up to 2,600 lumens of flattering, neutral white light that can project up to 65 feet. They use minimal wattage (ranging from 21.6 – 64.8 watts, depending on the fixture), and every one of our LEDs has an impressive 60,000-hour rated life. All our fixtures are simple to install, with their own cords and grounded plugs. When it comes to beautiful, reliable lights, you can’t do better. Continue reading »

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How To Make Your Hotel Lighting More Energy-Efficient

 Energy-Efficient Lighting  No Responses »
Apr 022013
 
PinExt How To Make Your Hotel Lighting More Energy Efficient

stock photo foyer How To Make Your Hotel Lighting More Energy Efficient
This post is part of a series on energy-efficient lighting. Click here to learn how you can save energy with your lights in all kinds of different places. 

So you’re looking for ways to cut down on energy use in your hotel, inn, or resort. A few efficient changes to your lighting can make a big difference in the number that turns up on your monthly bill. Here are 4 simple ideas to get the ball rolling…

1. Go LED when you can.

A well lit hotel puts guests at ease. Bright inviting lights make a space seem clean, cared for, and trustworthy. You don’t have anything to hide. So, when trying to save energy with your lights, you don’t want to sacrifice any ambiance. That’s why LEDs are perfect for you.

LED light bulbs produce more light for the amount of energy they use – about twice as much as a CFL, one of the most popular light sources on today’s market. So, you’ll never have to lose light for the sake of saving energy.

White Accent Ceiling Lighting in a Lobby 680x1024 How To Make Your Hotel Lighting More Energy Efficient

When it comes to light quality, you can also count on LEDs. LED light bulbs and light fixtures come in an array of color temperatures – cool to warm, with excellent color rendering capabilities. If you haven’t tried an LED in recent years, you might be surprised at how pleasant the light appears.

Take some time to audit the lights you use throughout your hotel. Here’s a list of some lights you can easily switch to LED: Continue reading »

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Product Spotlight: LED Tape Lights

 Product Spotlight  No Responses »
Mar 282013
 
PinExt Product Spotlight: LED Tape Lights

Waterproof Reel 300x300 Product Spotlight: LED Tape Lights
LED tape lights are one of the handiest fixtures around. By themselves, the lights look old-fashioned and futuristic at the same time – stored in rolls reminiscent of vintage film reels, featuring space-age looking LED lights. But, once you install LED tape lights, they’ll bring your space to life unlike any other light fixture.

What Makes The LED Tape Light So Wonderful?

LED tape lights (also sometimes called LED ribbons) have a ton of special features that other fixtures just can’t measure up to:

  • The strong adhesive backing on every reel will stick to almost any surface with ease.
  • You can’t find a thinner, lower profile light strip on the market.
  • The trimmable fields allow you to tailor the length of your tape lights, fitting the specific requirements of your project.
  • Their dimming capabilities (when powered by dimmable drivers) let you customize your space’s light levels, no hassle.
  • Many are wet location listed, so you can have great lighting indoors and out.
  • You can choose between warm white, cool white, colored, and color-changing varieties.

On top of all that, LED tape lights have a 50,000 hour rated-life, and because they’re LEDs, you know they’re going to save you energy.

Colored LED Tape Lights 1024x581 Product Spotlight: LED Tape Lights Continue reading »

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Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Lighting In March

 Pegasus Lighting Roundup  No Responses »
Mar 252013
 
PinExt Pegasus Lighting Roundup: Lighting In March

Here’s what’s been going on in the lighting world this month…

In Lighting News…

A Wal-Mart store in Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin has equipped all its indoor and outdoor facilities with LED lights. The areas now illuminated by LEDs include the sales floor, pharmacy, restrooms, stock rooms, and the parking lot. Wal-Mart expects to save at least 30% of their energy costs, compared to their old fluorescent lighting systems. Click here to learn more.

On March 5th “The Bay Lights,” an LED light sculpture, illuminated San Francisco’s Bay Bridge for the first time with 25,000 LED lights. The project only costs $15.06 per night to operate, and was designed by artist Leo Villareal on a laptop. Check out this video from the grand lighting ceremony:

Continue reading »

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How To Make Your Office Lighting More Energy-Efficient

 Energy-Efficient Lighting  1 Response »
Mar 152013
 
PinExt How To Make Your Office Lighting More Energy Efficient

White Cove Lighting in a Conference Room 200x300 How To Make Your Office Lighting More Energy Efficient
This article is part of a series here on the blog about how to save the most energy with lighting in your home or business. Browse the entire series here.

Lighting accounts for at least 28% of the energy used in the average office building. That translates to a pretty hefty chunk of the monthly budget. But, by making big and small energy-efficient updates, you can spend less and enjoy a more comfortable office environment.

Big Changes…

If you still use incandescent or outdated fluorescent overhead lights, it’s time for an upgrade.

LEDs use about 80% less energy to generate the same amount of light as incandescent light bulbs. They also last about 25 times longer. So, if you use incandescent light bulbs in your recessed cans, you should replace them with LED lamps or retrofits. LEDs excel at downlighting, because they’re naturally a directional light source. Today’s models have light output and color quality very similar to incandescent lights, so you might not notice the change until you look at your energy bill.

If you have older fluorescent lighting in your office (like T12s), you’re also not saving as much energy as you could. T12 technology is over 70 years old, and incidentally was taken out of production last year. If you exchange your T12s for T8s, you’ll use 45% less energy. Not to mention, the color temperature and light quality of fluorescent lights have improved dramatically over the past few decades, so new lights could be a huge morale boost for all the office workers.

iStock 000005663021Medium 1024x670 How To Make Your Office Lighting More Energy Efficient

Smaller Changes…

Office lighting isn’t just about what’s on the ceiling. To make sure you’re saving the most energy possible, you also need to take a critical look at the smaller light fixtures in the office. Continue reading »

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Product Spotlight: The FreeLite Photoluminescent Exit Sign

 Product Spotlight  No Responses »
Mar 142013
 
PinExt Product Spotlight: The FreeLite Photoluminescent Exit Sign

Photoluminescent Exit Sign 300x208 Product Spotlight: The FreeLite Photoluminescent Exit Sign
I’m very excited to share one of our most innovative products here at Pegasus Lighting – the FreeLite Photoluminescent Exit Sign.

This special exit sign uses absolutely no electricity and generates light that can be seen up to 100 feet away!

How is that possible? Well, the sign’s innovative photoluminescent technology absorbs the ambient light around it and stores it to use when the lights go dark. It does this completely on its own; it doesn’t require any extra maintenance or upkeep. No attention at all, really.

You may have experience with other self-illuminating signs, but unlike those our photoluminescent sign isn’t radioactive (it contains no tritium). You don’t have to test it periodically, and it’s completely recyclable, so you don’t have to worry about extra disposal costs. Continue reading »

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