Take a Good Look at Your Lighting System with a Free Lighting Audit
In this Expert Series article, Scott Caffey, a Business Development Manager and Lighting Specialist with McNaughton-McKay, sheds some light on the process and benefits of the lighting audit service.
After more than a decade performing lighting audits in the field, I’ve seen firsthand how thoughtful design can transform both environments and bottom lines. From shadowing seasoned electrical contractors to managing utility rebate programs, my career has centered around delivering practical, budget-conscious solutions that do not compromise on any of the customer’s needs.
These lighting audits are freely provided to McNaughton-McKay customers. This service is designed to identify inefficiencies and help our customers determine priorities when budgeting for different key areas of a facility. Our entire Lighting team will collaborate with the customer to ensure that, whether they need a complete overhaul or just strategic upgrades, we deliver the right solution.
A lighting audit begins with the groundwork. This includes taking inventory of existing fixtures, mapping room/building dimensions and measuring baseline footcandle levels within the facility. These readings indicate light intensity and are evaluated against Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) recommendations to check that the workspaces meet the demands of their function. For manufacturing spaces, I take this process a step further by recording ambient temperatures. Doing so helps me determine the appropriate resilience of fixtures and assess the need for intrinsically safe lighting in volatile environments. These assessments inform my design, so that I can deliver plans that are energy-efficient, compliant and durable.
Once the initial data has been collected, I can craft a future-state lighting layout, complete with recommended fixture placements and projected footcandle outputs. When I’ve completed the layout, I deliver it to customers in the form of a comprehensive report that contains:
- Existing and proposed lighting specifications
- Footcandle analysis and IES recommendations
- ROI projections for energy-efficiency upgrades
- “Better” and “Best” solutions to fit different budgets
- Turnkey implementation options for streamlined execution
What really sets this turnkey model apart is the ability and expertise of McNaughton-McKay’s trusted contracting partners. Their sole focus is lighting installations. With decades of field experience, they have the knowledge and flexibility to tailor each installation plan to the customer’s specific performance needs and environment and then complete them with precision and professionalism. These partnerships allow me to stay focused on delivering effective designs, knowing that the work will be correctly and successfully carried out.
Questions
If you are interested in talking with one of McNaughton-McKay's lighting specialists about our free lighting audit service, contact your account manager or local McNaughton-McKay branch today.