TekLinks, which performs co-location, hosted and managed services, network security, data storage, IP telephony, and IT engineering services to businesses throughout the southeastern region of the United States, received an overwhelmingly positive response from clients, employees, and strategic partners who toured the company's new data center. The state-of-the-art data facility was built using some of the most current green approaches available. The new lighting system, which delivers a significant reduction in energy consumption, costs, and maintenance, is a key feature of the new facility.
Birmingham, Ala.-based Mayer Electric Supply installed 120 2’x2’ Edge Lit LED flat panels — manufactured by MaxLite, West Caldwell, N.J. — in TekLinks’ main hallway and electrical room. The units illuminate the high-density equipment that powers public and private cloud systems. Part of the FlatMax family of products, the LED flat panels create an industrial look while illuminating equipment and racks, enabling TekLinks’ engineers to have full visibility throughout the aisles on the racks and backs of systems.
Delivering dimmable, energy efficient, high-quality lighting with even, shadow-free distribution, the units offer an 85 CRI (color rendering index) and a potential life of 50,000 hr — at L70 standards — for more than 13 years of long life (based on 10 hours of use per day). Tied together in a grid, the LED panels are pre-programmed to operate effectively within TekLinks’ building control system. The new luminaires project a high level of clean, bright and white light, creating a cool, contemporary environment with pleasing aesthetics. They can also be switched on/off and dimmed to meet user preferences. The LED panels are also RoHS compliant.
“In the past few years, we have seen an unprecedented demand for data space, and this facility allows us to continue to meet the needs of our clients,” said Don Monistere, vice president of sales at TekLinks.
The data center space requires controlled temperature and humidity levels, made possible by redundant HVAC systems that maintain the appropriate temperature and humidity levels in the data centers, to keep equipment performing at the optimal level. Similarly, the LED panels operate at a cool temperature without emitting heat.
TekLinks’ executives are so pleased with the light output, energy efficiency, and look of the lighting fixtures that they plan on specifying more units in their Hattiesburg, Miss., facility, as well as in the current headquarters and the new building as the company continues to expand.
