Facility managers oversee buildings to ensure they run as efficiently as possible. While most see lighting as fulfilling a functional purpose, one facility manager dared to ask: “How can I make the light look stylish and upscale without losing sight of my primary objective?”

Even though, according to the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), the typical facility manager demographic is a 49-year old male whose primary focus is operations, maintenance, and energy management, facility managers are becoming increasingly concerned with how their buildings “show”.

One of the easiest ways a facility manager (FM) can improve the look of their building without losing sight of their energy management responsibilities is through high quality LED lighting. But not all LED lamps provide the high quality light needed to achieve that upscale look —in fact, many FM’s have commented on the glare and uneven light distribution associated with many LED lamps.

To produce a high quality LED light, the lamp must be designed in a way that can redistribute the ultra bright points of LEDs. Most manufactures attempt to achieve this through elementary lens design, but this causes a decline in lamp performance, thereby making it difficult for a FM to fulfill his energy management responsibilities.

When looking for a high quality LED lamp, FM’s should look for a lamp that provides the following:

• Even light distribution
• Anti-glare technology
• Gentle roll-off at edges

Note: For a more in depth analysis, see Light Quality of LED lamps.

So, FM’s can have it all: a building that operates efficiently and shows well.

Are you ready to switch over to LED lighting in your building? Why or why not?