Did you know that a whopping one-third of employees feel that better office lighting would make them happier at work? On top of that, an overwhelming 80% of employees said that proper office lighting is important to them (Forbes). Our building takes this seriously in order to provide the best possible office space for your employees.
With those insights, something as seemingly-trivial as lighting isn’t so little anymore. Today, we’ll be covering light-emitting diode lights (LEDs for short) – a type of light bulb that has recently gained a lot of traction. So, are LEDs worth it?
This post will cover the fundamental pros and cons of LEDs for daily office use.
Pro: Energy-Efficient In Daily Use
One of the most raved benefits of LEDs is their ability to reduce energy consumption. And, the hype does make sense. LEDs are able to function while using 75% – 80% less electricity than their more common counterparts (Arcadia).
Let’s put that into perspective. For every one incandescent light bulb in use, a person can power six whole LEDs bulbs with that same amount of energy. Offices operate daily and the lights are always on. With time, the energy-efficient property of LEDs will really shine through in your finances.
Con: Requires Heavy Upfront Investments
We do understand that some offices don’t have much leeway in terms of finances, hence why cost is a fundamental con of LEDs. On average, an incandescent light bulb can cost as little as a dollar while their LEDs counterpart can cost upwards of five dollars. However, do keep in mind that LEDs do tend to last five times as long compared to traditional incandescent bulbs.
Pro: Improve Employee Wellbeing
Not only do LEDs mimic natural lighting, they also “trick” the brain to improve physical and mental health.
Natural lighting has the ability to improve sleep quality, strengthen immune systems, ward off depression, and sharpen learning processes (Healthline). As such, employees will also have fewer sick days and be generally more productive.
When employers look after the wellbeing of their employees, they’ll be rewarded. After all, happy employees make for the best and most loyal employees.
Con: Potential Failure Under Heat
Because LEDs don’t generate much heat by themselves, they also aren’t designed to tolerate heat well. LEDs that are exposed to prolonged external heat will stop working prematurely. You can protect LEDs from overheating by covering them in lampshades or scones, but this does require additional financial resources.
Pro: Better for the Environment
LEDs are better for the environment in two primary ways. First, the energy-efficient property of LEDs will reduce your office’s overall carbon footprint. Second, LEDs are sturdier and have longer lifespans than other bulbs. This means your office will contribute less to landfills and unnecessary waste production.
Con: Not Great with Dimmers
LEDs have not been around for long, and some dimmers (especially older ones) are not compatible with them. They may hiss or buzz when you attempt to dim LEDs that are not paired properly. On top of this, LEDs don’t actually dim that well when compared to incandescent bulbs. This is a problem area for LEDs that new technology is attempting to solve.