The commercial
market
In addition
to the domestic market,
there are plenty of commercial and institutional situations where Incluminate
would offer significant benefits.
In most cases, convenience for staff is a major benefit, since a failed lightbulb can otherwise provide an unwelcome and time-consuming diversion. In a restaurant, a failed bulb in a fitting above a table may mean moving the customers (or irritating them if the failed bulb means they have insufficient light). In a care home, residents alone in their rooms may be distressed by a bulb failure.
Whilst many commercial and institutional premises largely have fluorescent strip lighting (with some redundancy, and rolling tube replacement programmes), there are a number of reasons why filament bulbs and normal light fittings are still used, and standard incandescent filament bulbs account for 14% of the commercial and industrial lighting market [1]. As one market survey puts it, "Tungsten filament bulbs are popular in commercial premises that try to mimic domestic ambience, most notably pubs and hotels." [1]
In both hotel rooms and care homes, the colour and quality of light produced by traditional incandescent filament bulbs provides reassurance and a familiar lighting environment for residents. Equally, in pubs, the 'cold' light provided by most low-cost fluorescents is undesirable for a relaxing atmosphere. In historic buildings, it may not be legally possible (Grade 1 listed buildings) or aesthetically desirable to fit strip lighting, yet, if open to the public, failed lights must be quickly replaced for safety reasons.
Please do get in touch if you know of an additional market segment where Incluminate may be of use. Thanks!
The details on this page will be fleshed out as my research continues, but at present I've identified the following domestic market segments:
|
User
|
Main benefits |
| Care homes |
Reassurance
for residents & their relatives |
| Sheltered housing |
Reassurance
for residents & their relatives
|
|
Historic buildings (may be compulsory to use traditional light fittings due to listed status; or may have very high ceilings; yet, if open to the public, lighting must be maintained)
|
Safety
for visitors Convenience for maintenance staff Aesthetics |
|
Older public buildings: village & community halls, churches, universities, schools, colleges and museums (anywhere where strip lighting has not been universally fitted)
|
Safety
for visitors / users |
|
Older farm buildings, industrial buildings and warehouses (anywhere where strip lighting has not been universally fitted)
|
Convenience
for maintenance staff Safety for workers |
|
Shops (probably smaller, where strip lighting has not been universally fitted)
|
Convenience
for staff Safety for customers |
|
Pubs, cafés and restaurants
|
Convenience
for staff Safety for customers |
|
Hotels (rooms rather than corridors or communal areas)
|
Convenience
for staff |
|
Guesthouses, B&Bs & rental holiday cottages
|
Convenience
for owners Convenience for residents Safety for residents |
|
Cruise ships and ferries (with AC lighting, but where strip lighting has not been universally fitted)
|
Convenience
for maintenance staff Convenience for passengers Safety for passengers |
| Caves and tunnels | Safety
for visitors / users Convenience for maintenance staff Aesthetics (in some cases) |
[1] MSI Databrief, 'Commercial & Industrial Lighting,UK', 2001
