The rising price of electricity nationwide has many court operators and clubs looking for ways to save on their sports lighting. Many tennis courts and sports arenas use traditional halide fixtures that expend large amounts of energy and cost much more to operate than newer technology within modern lighting systems.

The ultimate goal of court lighting is to maximize illumination levels and cut down on glare so players can see clearly during the game. While country clubs, sports organizations and tennis centers want to provide court lighting that is beneficial for players, they also need to keep electricity costs as low as possible.

Energy efficient lighting can save companies thousands of dollars each year, but when shopping for a sports lighting system, the whole process can be quite confusing. When choosing a sports lighting system design, consider the following to help in the decision making process.

1) Energy Efficient Lighting
Energy efficiency is one of the most important aspects to consider when choosing court lighting. The old standard of metal halide or T12 fluorescent fixtures found in many commercial installations are expensive to operate and maintain. Courtlite® T5 tennis court lighting designs offer high energy efficiency that can reduce electricity bills by 40 to 70 percent.

2) Easy Maintenance
Indoor and outdoor light fixtures can be very expensive to maintain as well. Metal halides and T12 fluorescents burn out quickly so they need to be replaced often. Factor in the cost of labor to replace lights as well as the cost of new bulbs, and the expense can increase quickly. With Courtlite® lighting fixtures, the rated lamp life is up to three times higher than traditional lighting so this technology reduces overall maintenance costs while increasing light quality.

3) Indirect or Direct Lighting Fixtures
When choosing lighting for the first time, it is important to understand the difference between direct and indirect lighting fixtures. Indirect lighting systems are positioned up and away from court and rely on a good reflective ceiling system to increase light quality. Typically indirect systems require more energy to produce the same light levels as a direct lighting design. Direct lighting designs, on the other hand, focus light directly on the court to maximize light levels during play. Both direct and indirect lighting options are a good replacement for old fluorescent and halide systems.

The lighting professionals at Courtlite® are ready to help you select the right court lighting system for your needs. For more information please visit www.Courtlite.com or contact us at 425.422.1744 for more.

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