“Those who own and use lighting systems benefit tremendously when they rely on qualified lighting-system consultants to design a new system or an upgrade to an existing system.” So says John Bachner, executive director of the National Lighting Bureau, an independent, not-for-profit lighting-information service sponsored by professional societies, trade associations, manufacturers, and agencies of the federal government. Some 300 lighting-system designers are listed on the National Lighting Bureau website: www.nlb.org.
 
According to Bachner, effective design results in what the Bureau has dubbed High-Benefit Lighting®, that is, lighting that provides benefits such as improved worker productivity, fewer production errors, enhanced safety, increased security, and more, including better health. “The nature of the benefits received depends on the venue involved,” Bachner noted. “In retail situations, effective outdoor lighting calls attention to a store at night and, when the store has a parking lot, good lighting creates an immediate image of safety. More shoppers lead to more sales. More sales can mean enhanced rental income and improved building resale value. In offices and manufacturing facilities, better lighting results in higher rates of productivity and fewer errors. And in just about all cases, a good lighting-system consultant can design a system that minimizes the amount of energy consumed to provide lighting that achieves other bottom-line benefits.”
 
Most lighting-system consultants have specialties, Bachner noted. As such, prospective clients would be well-advised to ask about consultants’ pertinent experience. But there’s more to it than that, as is explained in a guidance document – “How To Select a Lighting-System Designer” – also available free on the Bureau’s website.
 
“Reducing energy consumption and utility costs are important benefits of new or improved lighting,” Bachner said, but, he cautioned, “the quality of the lighting is far more important, dollar-wise, given that a 1% productivity improvement can easily be worth $400 per year for just one worker, while a 50% lighting-energy savings for the same worker might be worth $40 or less. Fortunately, when you rely on a well-qualified lighting designer, it’s highly probable that you’ll be able to achieve a 50% energy saving and a two, three, or more percent productivity improvement.”
 
Bachner noted that there is no cost to use the NLB’s lighting-system designer database, nor are those who want to be listed as lighting-system designers in any way required to pay for the service.
 
Established in 1976, the National Lighting Bureau is an independent, IRS-recognized not-for-profit, educational foundation that has served as a trusted lighting-information source since 1976. The Bureau is supported by the generous funding of its sponsors; professional societies, trade associations, manufacturers, and agencies of the U.S. government, including, among others:

 GE Lighting;
 Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES);
 Imperial Lighting Maintenance Company;
 interNational Association of Lighting Management Companies (NALMCO);
 Lighting Alternatives (a division of Visioneering);
 Lighting Controls Association;
 Lutron Electronics Company, Inc.;
 Magnaray;
 National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA);
 National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and its enLIGHTen America campaign;
 OSRAM SYLVANIA; and
 U.S. General Services Administration.
 
Obtain more information about the Bureau by visiting its website (www.nlb.org) or contacting its staff at [email protected] or 301/587-9572.