Who should use Regency's LED Buying Guide?

Last year, we published our first-ever LED Buying Guide. We say over and over again around here that our goal is to make lighting easier for our customers, and the LED Buying Guide was published with that objective in mind. 

The lighting world has undergone rapid changes over the last decade with the emergence and proliferation of light emitting diode (LED) lighting technology. Just seven years ago, in 2010, less than 10 manufacturers made up 90 percent of the lighting market. Last year, that market share was spread between more than 400 manufacturers, each with its own fluid, iterative product line.

That's a lot to keep up with.

So, how do we make things easier for you?

The LED Buying Guide is one way. In it, we cover everything from warranties and rebates to specs and manufacturers. Since we are a national, "manufacturer-agnostic" distributor, we also thought it would make sense to include specific product recommendations for various applications.

One key thing we thought through when we began to put together the guide was audience. We knew the guide wouldn't be all that useful if we wrote it for everyone.

So who is it written for?

For one, it's really meant to help those who are making commercial lighting decisions, not residential ones, though there may be some overlap between the two settings.

Secondly, the guide was specifically designed for those who have some level of involvement in lighting decisions at their place of work.

Here are the six types of people we wrote our LED Buying Guide for:

1. Professionals interested in buying LED but sensitive to high up-front cost

Perhaps you resisted going LED over the last several years because –– despite the promised savings, long life, and other benefits –– you couldn't get past the high up-front cost.

Over the last one or two years, however, you may have noticed a reduction on the price of LED and begun to wonder if it was finally an affordable option for your space.

If that sounds like you, we included a lot of helpful information in the buying guide to help you determine whether or not it makes sense to go LED today or hold out longer.

2. Professionals interested in saving on energy and maintenance through LED lighting

We've all seen the shockingly long life ratings that can come with LED products. Are they legit? And will you really save as much on energy as the manufacturers claim? And what happens when a few of your lamps prematurely burn out? Are LED warranties reliable?

In the LED Buying Guide, we put aside the smoke and mirrors and dive into energy savings calculations to help you figure out how much you could actually save with more energy-efficient, longer-life lighting. We also address a variety of warranty options to make sure your long-term maintenance needs are met. 

For greater detail on energy savings from lighting, from material savings to reduced maintenance, HVAC, and electrical costs, download our Ultimate Guide to Energy Savings Calculations and Payback.

3. Design professionals interested in new, progressive lighting options

If spacial aesthetics are your world, LED probably wasn't always a viable option for you. Several years ago, most LED lamps looked either extraterrestrial or cheap, making them virtually prohibitive for use anywhere customers could see.

That has changed dramatically, and many LED products are now on the cutting edge of lighting design world, with production and innovation gradually ceasing with other lamp technologies.

Many other design professionals didn't like the color temperature and other visual results that came from LED light. Has that changed, too? We explore the quality and performance of LEDs in the guide to help you make the right decision.

Want to learn more? Check out our Guide to Correlate Color Temperature and Color Rendering Index

4. Construction professionals concerned about lead times and price

So many LED lighting conversations seem to center around retrofitting and replacement –– going from one, not-very-efficient lighting technology to the virtual opposite and the benefits that come with that decision.

What about new construction? How does LED play into that world?

In the LED Buying Guide, we look at how LED can help general contractors and other construction professionals to source products that will work within their budget and timeline.

5. Professionals planning a remodel project

If you see a remodel or renovation project for your building somewhere on the horizon, LED may play into the projected payback and ROI. How?

We dive into the benefits of LED in a remodel scenario in the LED Buying Guide and look at whether or not it makes budgetary sense for you to convert your lighting from something conventional –– like halogen, fluorescent, or HID –– to LED.

Alternatively, perhaps your existing light fixtures are in disrepair and a replacement is past due. What LED options exist? We have dedicated an entire section of the guide to LED fixtures and include other product-specific recommendations to help you navigate your options.

6. Professionals dealing with Title 24 or other stringent energy codes

Can LED lighting help you to meet local energy code like Title 24? The short answer is yes, but we explain the benefits of going LED in greater detail inside the guide.

In a sense, LED lighting can be code-proof, thanks to its compatibility with controls and leading efficiency standards.