Is your school lighting in dire need of an upgrade? Maybe the fluorescent lights are old and dim, or the overhead lights don’t provide enough natural light to study by. Whatever the case, it’s time to shop around and find new LED lighting systems that will brighten up your classrooms and improve your educational environment. These are some of the top 9 tips for school lighting to help you on your journey towards brighter classrooms!

1) Upgrade to LED

Replacing standard light bulbs with LEDs in your home will save energy – a typical replacement LED bulb uses only 9 watts.

LEDs are typically 80% more efficient than fluorescent lights.

Imagine the energy savings achieved by hundreds (or even thousands) of light fixtures in a typical school.

By contrast, LED fluorescent fixtures and retrofit bulbs can last between 25,000 and 100,000 hours. The result is a reduction in both replacement costs and man-hours.

2) Leverage available natural light

There have been studies that show natural light enhances learning, because it may help keep students alert. More importantly, you can reduce your energy consumption when you use more natural light.

Try to take advantage of natural light when possible, but always have a backup lighting plan for when the skies are rainy or overcast.

3) Install occupancy sensors

Using electricity to illuminate an empty room is wasteful.

Students (and teachers, let’s face it, sometimes forget to turn off the lights when they leave, so an occupancy sensor helps.

Lights are turned on by sensors, whether it’s that someone doesn’t know how to turn them on or is too busy juggling cups of coffee and a large stack of books.

4) Install off/on timers

In spaces such as libraries and common areas, an On/Off timer may be better for those with a lower budget.

With the use of an Off/On timer, a room will be illuminated for the hours it will be occupied, then turn off for hours when the room is unoccupied.

5) Choose the right color temperature

Yellow light, which has a warmer color temperature, might be a good choice for your dining or family room, or your favorite restaurant. But, this light may not be appropriate in school classrooms or universities.

As such, we recommend using light fixtures that have a color temperature between 5000k and 6000k to help improve alertness, concentration, and test scores.

6) Consider color rendering indexes based on area

I noticed how you can better distinguish between colors when they’re exposed to daylight, or have you ever compared a shirt to the sky or window to see if it was dark or light?

A color rendering index measures the ability of a light source to faithfully reveal the true colors of an object.

Colors can be more easily distinguished from one another when light sources with low CRI ratings (typically 0 to 55) are used, while light sources with good CRI ratings (60 to 85) are used. The CRI rating on the light source will give you no trouble at all distinguishing blue socks from black socks.

For context, daylight typically has a CRI of around 75.

Therefore, when choosing LED lighting for schools, you should consider color rendering. A study hall may not require much color rendering. In an art studio or chemistry lab, however, it can be crucial for learning.

Lighting with a CRI rating of 80 or higher is recommended in these cases.

7) Don’t overlook exterior School lighting

Thoughtfully-planned exterior lighting can not only improve the appearance of a school but can make the space feel safer for students, improve security against theft and vandalism, and increase security overall.

When preparing for a lighting upgrade, be sure to think about any walking areas, walls, or parking lots where the chance of an icy walkway is high.

8) don’t overlook emergency School lighting

Similar to other public buildings, schools must adhere to regulations that require emergency backup and exit lighting.

Exit signs and emergency backup lights, like all lights, can wear out over time. In addition, LED versions last longer and use less energy.

Refreshing your emergency and exit lighting can save your school money in the long run – and, more importantly, ensure students can find their way out of the building in the event of a power outage.

9) Perform a lighting audit

It involves assessing your current lighting, determining the kind of lighting you need, and formulating a plan.

When you conduct your audit, make note of which lights you can keep, which will require an update, and which require replacement. When not just the lights but switches, wiring, and so on come into question, make note of that too.

Even though this may seem like a lot of work upfront, it can prevent you from investing in a system that doesn’t meet your needs or installing extra lighting you don’t need (wasting money and energy).

Conclusion

LEDs are the way to go when it comes to the school lighting of the future. They may cost a bit more, but the benefits cover the price.

At Lacelesty Lighting, we’re passionate about helping you unlock the full potential of your space with stunning lighting. If you need quality LED lights for your classroom, contact us today and we can provide you with a full range of lighting solutions, including quality LED lights for classrooms and schools.