Carbon Care trust advise on why lighting maintenance is a MUST!

Maintenance musts:

1. Cleaning schedule
It may sound simple, but cleaning windows and skylights regularly lets maximum daylight into the building. Similarly, cleaning light fittings and sensors will make your lighting more effective, especially for systems with automatic dimming control systems.
2. Checking sensors and controls
Dust can obscure lighting control sensors: clean these regularly so they work more efficiently. Check that timers on lights are showing the correct time (remember to alter them when clocks change), and make sure the settings reflect how your business works.
3. Replacement schedule
Replace blackened, flickering, dim or failed lamps immediately. In some circumstances failed lamps can still use energy and waste money. Consider early replacement of lamps in your maintenance schedule if your lamps are hard to reach (see below).
4. Maintenance schedule
Like a shopping list, a schedule is there to make sure you don’t forget anything. Start by walking through all the elements of your lighting system, creating a checklist that will help to optimise its efficiency. By noting light levels in each space and any issues with the lighting and equipment, you’ll build up a useful picture of where problems exist, and when they arise. This will help you create the optimum maintenance schedule for your building.
Create a maintenance schedule that works for you. For example, if you have lots of lights mounted high up (e.g. in an industrial site), put in the schedule that they should all be replaced at the same time. This will lessen the risk of lamps failing, and save you the difficulty and additional expense of replacing inconveniently positioned bulbs individually.
Important: Bulbs shouldn’t only be replaced when they fail – their output depreciates with use, so they should be replaced when they get to about 50% below the initial value.
Manufacturers and suppliers can supply you with the light depreciation curve for the particular lamp. When it’s time to replace bulbs, think about the efficiency and application of the ones you’re using. The tool in the Upgrading lamps and luminaires section will help you establish if you could save energy by choosing different bulbs.
As well as having a maintenance schedule, you should also be aware of housekeeping issues