Over the past few years in Canada, an increased awareness of environmental changes has created an increased demand for more energy efficient products and technologies. With the focus in our society on energy efficiency and reduction in energy costs, the demand for higher efficacy technologies will only continue to grow.
There are two major forces right now that are driving the lighting industry: energy efficiency and LEDs. Lighting suppliers are constantly trying to create better, more efficient lamps and luminaires that balance energy consumption to quality of light.
Many people believe that LEDs are the solution to all our lighting problems. Well suited when used in the right application, they are not yet ready to be used as general area lighting. T8 fluorescent lighting will remain the volume leader of lighting in commercial, institutional and large retail environments, since the cost of lamps and ballasts have slowly dropped as this technology evolves. Old T-12 technology will be phased out in April 2010 and has already seen a decline in demand.
As an electrical distributor, Sonepar Canada must continue its interest in lighting and understand the pitfalls and advantages that the new technologies provide. It will be our employees that will need to have more of an influence on the contractors who will rely on their knowledge and advice. This type of expertise, in conjunction with the implementation of the Sonepar Blue Way program, will encourage our vendors to continually innovate and grow our businesses together.
