What you should look for in a lighting advisor is a challenging question.

When you begin to research lighting and lighting consultants, electrical contractors, architects maybe, or even other energy experts, you can use these check points to see if thy’re the lighting design partner that you want working with you on your new lighting project.

Assessing a lighting upgrade or installation, whether it’s for one facility, multiple facilities, or just a small section of the plant, can always benefit from having access to LED lighting solutions experts who are:

a) widely experienced in modern solid-state lighting options and capabilities,
b) knowledgeable about the impact lighting has on the productivity of the space, and
c) capable of applying the right solution for your industry.

To get the full potential out of a lighting project for your facility, in the 3-30-300 sense, there is much to consider. Your ROI will take more into account than just the energy consumption costings.

Here’s a check list of what to look for next time you need advice on lighting or lighting maintenance options:

• Broad experience.

Your ideal lighting advisor should have a solid track record of helping clients achieve successful implementations of LED lighting solutions Remember there can be wide variations in the lighting levels required in different spaces.

Apart from the lux levels, compliance issues for hygienic LED lighting and HACCP approvals can influence selections in significant ways. Installations must be tightly planned to avoid costly unforeseen disruptions to your processes.

• Approved Vendor status with corporations in your industry.

There are great advantages in working with someone who has an intimate understanding of the way things work across the various segments of an industry. The food and beverage industry, for example, although widely diversified, has many recurring themes.

• Understands more that energy savings and reduced light fitting costs!

Your ROI is also impacted by inputs from areas like maintenance, cleaning and warranty length. Then there’s sensors, and the opportunity for light as a platform for further data mapping. How installation interruptions (apart from the install costs,) will be allocated must be taken into consideration.

• Knows about much more than lighting!

Lighting plays a huge role in fields like productivity, quality inspections, staff engagement, safety, security and facility presentation. The overall cost of ownership should be demonstrated to include more than energy consumption fixture costs and depreciation, so you can fully understand your project’s impact to the bottom line.

• Offers free design and audit reports.

Lighting upgrades can have far-reaching implications, from the look, the light colour to the installation process and the return on investment. A good lighting advisor can help evaluate the lighting solution’s contribution to the business’s long term plans and the corporate responsibilities regarding energy compliance.

So, we’ve highlighted what you’d want from an advisor or contractor, now, what are the red flags you need to spot?

• Uninterested in your Pain Points

Watch out for a contractor who doesn’t accommodate your questions or doesn’t let you talk in-depth about the issues you’re experiencing. These contractors may only be interested in cookie-cutter solutions and as highlighted above, you need someone with the experience and knowledge to install a custom fit solution that will maximise your ROI.

• References are lacking or insubstantial.

What are other industry peers or previous clients saying about this advisor? If you can’t verify the lighting contractor’s stated experience and expertise, you’re working in the dark, figuratively speaking.

Make sure that contractors can provide enough credible references to match what they claim they can provide. The more you know about their working history, both positive and negative, the better position you’ll be in to weigh the pros and cons of working with them.

• Estimates are off the charts (in a bad way)!

Initial discussions have gone well, but then the estimate comes in. The contractor has indicated materials or product options that are not what you may have expected from early consultations.

Take the example of commercial Led flood lights, is the contractor recommending the right solutions for your needs? If you’re prioritising energy efficiency and usage in driveways or gardens, the estimate shouldn’t be presenting you with heavy-duty and rugged applications that require an IP66 rating.

Take the Next Step

To request a free tailored, situation analysis and options proposals, contact our technical department on 1300 466 088 or visit www.leitech.com.au today.