Improving jobsite efficiency is all about long-term planning. Right now, during a time of uncertainty, the last thing contractors want to think about are future plans. Yet, emerging from a global recession requires some long-term planning on cash flow and optimizing for the new world.

Looking at the small, overseen tasks is the best way to improve your jobsite efficiency. One of the most overlooked and mundane task of the jobsite is getting OSHA approved lighting. With a top-of-the-line LED jobsite lighting system, contractors can significantly improve efficiency on the jobsite. That change will show visible results in a short period of time.

The first step to improve jobsite efficiency is to start with the basics. Take an in-depth look into what the current practices are and how they can be improved. For example, is the jobsite still using incandescent bulbs? Incandescent bulbs are a very ineffective piece of technology. Their general light output is not very strong, they produce a lot of heat and the glass bulbs are extremely fragile; once they are dropped or even slightly abused, they will break. But, the biggest downfall for the incandescent bulbs is wattage. Incandescent bulbs pull a significant amount of power to operate the light. LEDs, on the other hand, use less wattage yet they produce more light because of their superior technology. By using a product with lower wattage, contractors can add more lights to a single circuit. This will significantly cut down hired electricians’ time on creating circuits and installation points on the jobsite.

Simply switching your incandescent bulbs to LED bulbs is not the solution. While it does help costs, the real way to make money and increase your jobsite efficiency requires taking it up a notch.

Purpose-built temporary LED lights are the way to make money on the jobsite. The system is sophisticated and adaptable to jobsite requirements—this is where the money aspect comes into play. LED jobsite lights now replace all traditional means of jobsite lights. There are floodlights that can replace traditional 500-watt quartz-halogen lights, highbays that replace 400-watt metal halides and 360 degree LED lights that replace floodlights, wobble-type lights and string lights.

All these traditional lighting methods emit light in all directions, which is a wasteful practice. In no other circumstance would anyone be okay with the idea that they were wasting their money. A person would not leave a window open if the AC was on because that lets the AC escape, which would be wasteful. So why would someone want to waste light they are paying for? The world of temporary lighting is changing for the better.

Purpose-built LED lights can replace all current jobsite practices with much lower wattage and in a much more durable package. Yet, there are important factors to remember when it comes to choosing new purpose-built temporary LED lights. While LEDs are durable, that does not mean their housing is. There are plenty of cheaply made LED lights on the market where a single drop from two feet can cause the entire unit to break apart. Be sure to look for military-grade drop-testing requirements to secure a durable light, and check if the light is weather proof. There are a lot of products that will not survive a rainy day out on a construction site—be sure LED jobsite lights do.

Lastly, the best way to improve efficiency and make money on the jobsite is by ensuring each lighting unit is placed where light is needed. Contractors can ensure this will happen by getting LED jobsite experts to create a jobsite lighting layout, free of charge. They will assess jobsite plans, where contractors get ambient lighting and choose the best quality lighting available to fit the space in each phase of the jobsite.

The way to make money is by getting the high-quality temporary LED lights to reuse again and again. Contractors can can win the next job by coming into the project bid with a lower upfront cost and a lower electricity bill at the end.

Improving your jobsite efficiency is really that simple. Look into the small details and how you can maximize on the savings to make you money.