The Benefits of PoE Lighting in the Intelligent Workplace
The future of the workplace is hybrid and intelligent. As employers and workers adjust to the new normal, companies are switching to this up-to-date business model. The idea of a “9-to-5” office job is simply old-fashioned. Instead, businesses are embracing policies that allow staff to work in the office, work remotely, or alternate between the two. The hybrid workplace will enable employees to control their hours and where they work.
According to a recent survey, 51 percent of employers who responded supported the hybrid work model. And a similar report found that 63 percent of high-revenue growth companies embraced the hybrid model.
So, where does Power over Ethernet (PoE) fit into this equation?
PoE Lighting
When working in an office, people expect it to be clean, safe, and conducive to efficiency and productivity. Smart lighting is a huge part of that. To stay current and attract and retain top-quality employees, some sort of digital transformation is required. Here are four reasons to invest in a PoE LED lighting system.
1. Improved Employee Production
People function differently in different lighting. Some work best in bright, warm, and well-lit spaces, while others prefer a cooler, dimmer setting. PoE provides lighting that can be adjusted to suit each employee’s workstation (i.e., warm, neutral, or cool lighting). When each worker can change their lighting as they prefer, comfort and productivity are enhanced. Furthermore, PoE lighting can control window shades, sensors, HVAC and can detect room temperature, ambient light, humidity, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making the office environment comfortable, safe, and healthier.
2. Access to Advanced Data Analytics
PoE lighting systems can be paired with sensors that provide real-time data such as energy consumption, occupancy details, and more. These analytics provide significant insights into production costs, operational efficiency, or potential problems within the building and lead to well-informed decisions and policies.
3. Lighting Automation and Daylight Harvesting
Automation can be a key component of business efficiency. Depending on room occupancy, PoE lighting sensors can be set up to turn lights on and off. For example, meeting room lights automatically turn on when someone enters the room and automatically turn off when the room is no longer in use. The same can be done for individual offices and even cubicles. If light automation is not desired, PoE lights can be scheduled to turn off and on at fixed hours.
Like the light automation described above, PoE lighting’s daylight harvesting feature can be used when natural light is available. The lighting system can be set for a specific lumen value—then, if the sunlight exceeds the lumen value, the lights will turn off, leaving the building to rely on 100 percent outside lighting. When the daylight dims, the PoE lights will turn on at the specified lumen value programmed into the system.
4. Lower Operational Costs
One of the most notable aspects of a PoE lighting system is that a company can provide its workers with a comfortable, safe, and productive work environment and still reduce installation and electricity costs.
Simply put: PoE lighting is a money-saving lighting solution.
PoE lighting fixtures and installation costs are markedly cheaper than traditional lighting. In addition, operational costs are a fraction of the cost of all other lighting options. Here is a comparison of the average yearly costs to operate different lighting options:
- Incandescent: $13.80
Operating lifespan: 1 year
- New halogen $13.80
Operating lifespan: 1 to 2 years
- CFL: $3.22
Operating lifespan 6 to 10 years
- PoE LED: $2.99
Operating lifespan 15 to 25 years
Last Words
A PoE LED lighting system has many advantages and is easier to adopt than you might think. And that is why this cutting-edge technology is gaining so much momentum in the marketplace. PoE lighting is a significant factor in new, adaptive work environments.
