Lighting is a significant energy draw on many facilities. For almost a decade we have been using energy efficient light sources to increase efficiency.

While achieving greater efficiency there is also another impact, and that is on animal performance and health. Recent developments in light technology surpass the progress of the previous 100+ years and continue today at a rapid pace.

POST in 2009 lit an equine stable and riding arena with LED lighting – the first of it’s kind in North America. In 2010 and 2011 we have continued discussions with light innovators around the world, from UK to Germany to Netherlands as well as in Canada and United States.

Finding the right lighting balance is critical and depends on application, usage, environment and building characteristics such as area and ceiling height. A dairy herd for example could see a significant increase in milk production (revenue) with the right light balance as well as improve the farmers over all operational (energy) efficiency. POST understands these delicate balances and works carefully with our clients to develop the right lighting solution; from usage plan to financial models…whether new build or retrofit.

Some lighting technologies we like to highlight:

LED LIGHTING

Light Emitting Diodes lighting is a fast developing technology. Much of the technology is not ready for large commercial use or use beyond accent lighting such as high bay or low bay lighting. However, we have located and partnered with LED products that are proving to be excellent solutions. LED lighting features very low energy use and extremely high life usage.

PLASMA LIGHTING

At POST we await this technology to Canada. Utilized in the U.K. this form of light is proving to be powerful – imagine that plasma can cut steel – so how to utilize this powerful light source?

INDUCTION LIGHTING

A long time existing technology has continued to develop and proves to be a very good, quality light source and provides some energy efficiency. In 2011 we will have completed a equine facility using this technology.