To retrofit refers to the act of substituting new or modernized parts or equipment for older ones. Property managers and owners are becoming energy conscious and they are looking into ways of saving on energy costs. Particularly they are asking lighting designers to help achieve these goals. Replacing fluorescent, HID, or other lights with LEDs is in high demand.
LED lighting retrofits are becoming quite popular due to their energy and operational savings. It has been established that they can save 40% or more energy when compared with traditional light sources such as incandescent, halogen, and high intensity discharge (HID).
It has been established worldwide that lighting accounts for approximately 26% of the energy use in commercial buildings. It is also widely known that buildings, consume more than 40% of the world’s energy making them one of the largest generators of greenhouse gases in the world. With studies showing over 36% of energy usage being wasted and lighting representing up to 26% of a typical building’s energy usage, an energy efficient lighting retrofit can represent one of the best ways for a building owner or manager to reduce costs (Include relevant links)
Since the advantages of LED lights are now self -evident, one could wonder why the inefficient incandescent lights are still in use. Is not the right time for countries to pass policies prohibiting their use? As a result, LED light sources will become an attractive alternative to the lamps that have traditionally been used to replace incandescent lamps such as halogen and fluorescent lamps.
Why use LEDs?
LEDs have numerous advantages. For instance, they have a reduced environmental impact compared to other light sources. This is attributable to the energy savings from using LEDs as well as the longevity of LED light sources, resulting in many fewer lamp replacements over time. They also do not contain hazardous materials such as mercury, which is used in fluorescent lamps. LEDs emit virtually no ultraviolet (UV) rays or infrared (IR) heat radiation. This makes LED light sources ideal for venues where UV and IR are undesirable, such as in museums and art galleries. UV and IR can degrade sensitive materials found in these facilities.
LED light sources work well in applications where there is frequent on-off switch cycling. The life of fluorescent lamps is decreased when used with instant start ballasts and there is frequent switching. HID lamps have a restrike time delay (usually 2 to 20 min) when they are turned off so they can cool down before turning on again. This makes HID lamps ineffective for switch cycling applications. Conversely, there are no detrimental effects with frequent on-off cycling of LEDs, making them popular in spaces that use occupancy sensors for energy savings.
When turned on, LEDs are instant-on with full light output and do not require a warm-up period to reach full light output as many compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and HID lamps do. LEDs also perform well in cold temperatures whereas other light sources like fluorescent lamps have lumen degradation at lower temperatures.
The rated life of most LED light sources is higher than comparable light sources including halogen, HID, and most fluorescent lamps. Also, the lifecycle cost of LEDs is favorable compared with other light sources due to their long life and their energy efficiency.
There are variety LED retrofit options available. The LED products are designed to enable hassle-free, ‘hole-for hole’ retrofit replacement of similar conventional lighting fixtures without expensive rewiring or ceiling configurations. There are LED down lights, flood lights, spotlights and batten lights which can smoothly be used to replace conventional lighting. Tubular LEDs, for example, can reduce energy usage by about 40% compared with standard 32 W T8 lamps with a normal ballast factor (0.88) while producing similar light level at the target area. Another popular LED retrofit application is with street lighting and parking lot lighting. Many existing lighting fixtures in these applications use HID lamps such as high pressure sodium (HPS) and metal halide (MH). Using LED lighting for streets and parking lots over HID lighting has many significant benefits. These include reduced energy usage and longevity, resulting in fewer lamp change-outs (saving high maintenance costs with tall light poles). LEDs also reduce risk from inadequately lit spaces when HID lamps are burned out (due to their shorter rated life) and areas become unsafe. LEDs also are flexible when it comes to controllability such as dimming or occupancy sensing, saving energy and helping comply with energy codes.
An energy efficient lighting upgrade can provide benefits beyond energy savings. Other areas of benefits include:
Improving Property Values
More efficient buildings that generate greater income can also provide a higher valuation.
Improving Rental Income and Reducing Vacancy Rates
A lighting retrofit program that is a part of helping a building receive green certification can increase income
Improving Productivity
Studies have long shown that improved lighting can directly impact worker productivity. While a good lighting retrofit can improve productivity from 3-25%, a lighting retrofit that increases glare or reduces light levels too much can quickly eliminate all of the savings in productivity losses.
LED lighting is long-lasting, maintenance –free and friendly to the world. The future lies in LED lighting .Due to LED versatility, it has found many applications. People have even figured out how to use it to for internet connectivity, a technology being called by the catchy name, LIFI.
