Author: Jennifer Castillo

LED lighting retrofits are gathering steam, with facilities large and small considering them for an impressive array of applications. There are plenty of reasons why, most of them obvious, but some of them not. Of course it’s not enough to just screw in a bunch of LED bulbs. Transitioning from one lighting technology to another is no small task, so companies should partner with a lighting expert and designer that they trust to make the right calls.

Shedding Light on the Benefits of Retrofitting with LEDs

LED lighting has been a focus of research and development for decades and those years of study and engineering have led to breakthrough after breakthrough. In just a few decades, LED lighting has gone from a promising curiosity to an industry dominator, taking over segment after segment. No longer hampered by output quality issues, LED technology can be scaled up or down for seemingly any purpose. LED installations are in use in several professional sports stadiums, warehouses, office buildings, restaurants and more.

Eventually most commercial facilities will make the transition to LED, but when to do so is the question. Fortunately there are some telltale signs that suggest a move to LED is the right one.

1. Utility or maintenance costs are out of control – That doesn’t necessarily mean “out of control expensive,” though it can be that too. Although lighting represents a major component of a company’s energy and maintenance costs, many businesses don’t keep a close eye on it. This includes everything from mom and pop shops to towering mega corporations.

If it seems like those costs are too high, too volatile, or just inexplicable, then trading off an aging system for LED could very well be the way to go. LED lighting is extremely consistent and reliable, not to mention extremely efficient. That helps on the utility cost side of things, but because it is engineered using modern solid-state circuitry and sophisticated semiconductor technology LED systems are inherently durable. As such, each LED lamp can give years of performance before its quality begins to degrade, and that’s if the light is left on around the clock. Companies with an older lighting system spend a lot on burnouts. LED is as close as it gets to maintenance-free for five to 10 years after installation.

2. The ROI is just too good to pass up – This follows from the previous point, as LED’s ability to produce excellent ROI is due to its incredible efficiency. There are some applications where the difference in efficiency between an existing system and one powered by LED technology is so distinct that a switch to LED is an obvious smart move.

Parking lot lighting, for example, is quickly phasing out the metal halide and high-pressure sodium lamps and embracing the LED revolution. Here the extremely quick ROI is due to the massive difference in efficiency between metal halides (or pressurized sodium) and LED as well as the reduced maintenance costs. It takes a lot of labor to switch out parking lot lights. The same is true of high-ceilinged industrial facilities or department stores, so LED often makes sense in those situations as well.

3. Safety is a top priority – An LED retrofit brings clear economic benefits to a business, but the safety factor cannot be overlooked. Quality LED fixtures (and quality is the key word here) can be aimed and arranged for optimal visibility usually much more easily than other forms of commercial lighting can. LED lighting also combines that strong coverage with excellent color rendering so it shows colors in their true hue.

Even bright coverage has obvious safety implications in that LEDs eliminate the shadowy areas that reduce visibility. That is clearly important when lighting a parking lot or any facility where machinery is present.

Proper color rendering is also heavily implicated for safety reasons. When a forklift driver is navigating through a warehouse, for instance, they need to be able to precisely pick out colors from a distance. Doing so ensures they do not collide with anyone or anything, and it helps them do their job better as they can read labels from further away.

4. If it’s time to brand better – LEDs perform well in many applications, and signage is one of them. When businesses decide to shift to LED technology signage is typically one of the first pressure points to target, as LEDs hold their lighting quality and brightness for a long time and can be customized to emit almost any color.

But branding goes beyond the obvious messaging. LEDs have a markedly reduced impact on the environment as they do not contain hazardous mercury or phosphors. If a business prides itself on environmental stewardship, it’s easy to sell that message by transitioning to an eco-friendly lighting option.

5. It’s time to do away with existing lighting – Eventually all lighting systems fail. But long before they fail outright they suffer from reduced output or reliability. They waste more and more energy. They start emitting more heat or require constant maintenance. Those are signs that new lighting infrastructure is necessary.

In most cases it’s best to overhaul existing lighting as soon as those signs start showing up. If some fixtures are failing then it won’t be long before others do as well, and it’s not a good idea to mix and match lighting even if that was easily possible.

And if the facility is new construction, then opt for LED from the outset. New construction or renovation is an ideal environment for retrofitting LEDs, as it takes less time and less labor, and there is no downtime attached to the process.

Retrofitting with LEDs is a viable option for many businesses, and eventually it will be a viable option for nearly every business. The march of LED technology is unstoppable, and there’s no reason why business owners shouldn’t at least consider it. This is particularly true when the building in undergoing significant construction. And as long as an experienced LED lighting expert is overseeing fixture selection and installation a new LED system can provide immediate improvements across the board.

Lighting can give a space character but choosing the right hue from the LED color spectrum can help define the ambiance and energy of a room or office. The chosen color can help set the mood for a room with warm lights to have a cozier feel and cool lights to have a more functional feel. It can be a mistake to put the same type of light in every single room of the home or workspace because not every room serves the same purpose. Make each space ideal by defining the atmosphere with the right LED light.

The Type of Light You Use Matters

When it comes to lighting a space, one of the most important elements for comfort and ambiance is the type of bulb used. There are incandescent and LED light bulbs, both of which come in a variety of sizes, and some people struggle with knowing which is better for their particular space.

An LED light has four main advantages over an average bulb:

1. Efficiency. Not only do LED bulbs last longer than incandescent, they also are estimated to work up to ninety percent more efficiently.
2. Versatility. For the most part LED lights can be used the same places as regular bulbs, and they are designed to meet a variety of different lighting needs via the LED color spectrum.
3. Longevity. LED lights have become more popular in recent years due in large part to their extended bulb life. On average LED lights can last up to 20,000 hours, with some offering life up to 50,000 hours. A traditional incandescent bulb tends to last up to only two thousand hours or so.
4. Slow burn out. Whereas an incandescent bulb can give one bright flash before burning out when you turn on a lamp, an LED bulb instead gradually grows dimmer over time.

For these reasons and more LED lights are being used in homes and businesses as art lighting, curio cabinet lighting, and under cabinet lighting to name just a few examples. They are also being used in emergency signs, parking lot lights, and security lights. Another reason these lights have gained in popularity are because of their ability to create atmosphere via the LED color spectrum for indoor and outdoor illumination.

What Is LED Color Temperature for Lighting?

Just as an outdoor temperature can measure the degrees of Fahrenheit and Celsius, LED color temperature essentially determines the color of an LED light bulb, which is measured in degrees Kelvin. More specifically it measures the presence of the colors blue, red, white, and yellow in a light and will often be described as appearing warm, cool, or neutral in color.

The LED color temperature chart can range from as low as 2700K to 7000K. The color representation looks like this:

• 2700K: red and orange glow
• 3000K: yellow and white glow
• 3500K: white glow
• 4000K: white and blue glow
• 5700K: light blue glow
• 7000K: blue glow

LED Spectrum Warm White Light

Warm lights are frequently used in environments that are meant to feel cozy and relaxing. For most people places in the home that utilize warm white lights are the bedroom, study, den, or dining room. For this type of use an individual may want to choose an LED light around the 3000K range.

LED Spectrum Neutral Light

There may be some rooms where an individual wants the light to be warm and inviting but still be able to have some brighter light as well. A good example of this could be the living room as it generally needs to have warm enough lighting to relax but still have enough brightness to read or work on a project.

These lights that combine both hints of warm and cool are sometimes referred to as neutral lights and are around 3500K.

LED Spectrum Cool White Light

Cool white lights can give a room an entirely different feel that most consider to be more energizing and lively. On the color temperature chart this type of light is usually found between 4100K and 5000K. Cool white lights are often preferred for spaces like the kitchen where light is needed to see for measuring ingredients and checking to see if food is cooked all the way through. These are also commonly used in office settings.

How to Use the LED Color Temperature Spectrum for Home Lighting

Choosing the right hue from the LED color spectrum can completely change the feel of lighting in a room.

So that there is enough light to shave and apply makeup properly most people choose to have their bathroom lights be on the cooler end of the spectrum, at just a little below or above 4000K.

Rooms that are intended for gathering often benefit from a color temperature of around 3000K or a little higher. This creates a warm and peaceful atmosphere, perfect for visiting and relaxing.

Kitchens typically need a brighter light for safe food preparation. A more appropriate color temperature for this room might be between 4000K and 5000K.

Getting Help Choosing the Right Light

Anyone struggling with choosing the proper LED light for a space should work with a lighting expert for the best option. A lighting company who intimately understands the capabilities and uses of LED lights is an advantage for home and business owners. When looking for a provider, ensure they have:

• Knowledge. A company that has years of experience working with interior designers, homeowners, and commercial building owners should be able to address a variety of LED applications.
• Product Variety. It is common for a buyer to use an LED light for the first time in a specific space and be so happy with the results that they go back to the provider for help in changing out or retrofitting the rest of their lighting. By working with an expert that has a variety of products, it enables the consumer to stay with one provider for all their lighting needs.

To learn more about the LED color spectrum and its uses in home or office lighting sit down for an illuminating consultation with a lighting expert today.

It’s not often that something comes along and transforms the lighting industry, but that’s exactly what LED technology is doing. LEDs have been around for more than a half century, but not many foresaw the impact they would eventually have on lighting. The first person to recognize that LEDs had a future in the industry was Nick Holonyak, the engineer that invented the red LED in 1962. His prediction was considered maverick at the time, but 50 years later, the technology can be found just about everywhere.

Lighting is a primary source of energy drain in the business world, so any step forward in efficiency and reliability is an important one. In this way, LED technology is poised to be the most revolutionary development in the field since the production of fluorescent lighting.

How has LED technology affected the commercial lighting industry in a positive way?

There are almost too many answers to count. The truth is, most lighting technology is unsophisticated. Incandescent produces light by running an electrical current through a filament, which causes it to glow as it heats up. Fluorescent technology works by sending an electrical current through a gas mixture, exciting it and causing it to produce fluorescence, with the help of a phosphor coating. Most other fixtures are variations on these themes, like halogen and sodium vapor lamps.

LEDs are entirely different. Exciting gas or heating a filament wastes a great deal of energy, as neither are efficient processes. LEDs, though, operate using modern semiconductor technology. Semiconductors function at the atomic level, exchanging electrons and harvesting the energy that is released as a result. It’s easy to see how this process offers superior controllability and efficiency. And most of the issues that once held LEDs back have either been solved or are well on their way.

But how has an emerging focus on LEDs helped out business owners? This is how the technology has made a difference:

1. Efficiency – As already noted, LED lighting is designed for maximum efficiency, and there is no other fixture on the market that can match it in this regard. For years, the dominant form of interior commercial lighting has been T8 fluorescent tubes. T8 tubes are prized for their improvement over previous forms of fluorescent fixtures, mostly in terms of energy savings and size reduction.
   So if LEDs are to truly ride the next wave of commercial lighting, they have to beat T8 fluorescent tubes. And they do just that. Replacement T8 LEDs require about 30 percent less wattage to emit the same level of illumination, resulting in immediate cost savings. The upfront cost of an LED bulb may be higher, but the gulf in efficiency more than makes up for it.
2. Directional lighting – It’s not just about how much wattage needs to be input into the fixture. It’s also about how much light actually reaches its intended target.
   This is a noted problem for fluorescent technology, as it emits in a 360 degree pattern. Great for lighting up the ceiling – not so great for lighting up the stuff that matters. In fact, a T8 fluorescent tube only sends about 30 percent of its emitted light toward ground level.
   LED fixtures do not suffer from this issue, as they are built to be directional in nature. This means that they can be aimed without the need for reflectors, which add to installation cost and fixture weight. Where a T8 fluorescent emits in a 360 degree pattern, an LED replacement tube confines its emitted light to a 110 degree angle, greatly reducing waste as a result.
3. Controllability – It’s standard operating procedure for property owner to tie controls to their lighting systems. Occupancy controls and dimmers are two primary examples, and it’s rare to see a large commercial property install a lighting system without them. The case for occupancy controls and dimmers is obvious, as it reduces waste and keeps the light at a comfortable, effective level.
   But T8 fluorescent tubes are not easy to control. They can be dimmed, but it is expensive to add on the necessary controls and they only function reasonably well. Occupancy controls are even tougher to tie to T8 tubes because they force the light to switch on and off frequently. This rapid on/off switching is something that wears fluorescent fixtures out, cutting their lifespan short.
   LEDs are built on solid-state circuitry, so they are much easier to control and meter, which makes them an ideal partner to dimmers. And LEDs are unaffected by on/off switching, so property owners can opt for some aggressive occupancy controls without fear.
4. Longevity – If cost reduction is the goal, then the fixture’s longevity also has to be baked into the equation. And no surprise, LED is the optimal fixture in this category as well. T8 fluorescents have long been considered the gold standard for longevity’s sake, providing 30,000 hours of light on average. For the sake of comparison, incandescent bulbs average about 1,200 hours, halogens close to 2,500 hours, metal halides around 20,000 hours and high-pressure sodium lamps about 24,000 hours.
   LEDs, though, blow these numbers out of the water, averaging 50,000 hours minimum. It’s not unusual for an LED light to function for 100,000 hours before requiring replacement. This added lifespan is clearly a bonus when considering maintenance costs, as an LED system may go years without needing attention.
   Another advantage of LEDs is that, unlike every other lighting technology, they decline in lighting quality very slowly. Among commercial lighting experts, it’s well known that most fixtures won’t get close to their listed lifespan because they begin failing well before they are supposed to burn out. This difference might accelerate replacement schedules by up to six months or more. However, LEDs are designed to buffer against this frustrating phenomenon and reliably produce the amount of light that they are supposed to.
5. Safety – Until now, the focus has been on economy, but LEDs are the safest lighting option available. T8 fluorescents are made with mercury, which is a major environmental hazard. LED fixtures are not.
   Other lighting technologies emit heat as a part of the process, and this represents a burn and fire hazard. LED fixtures, because they are so efficient, emit close to zero radiant heat.
   Other lighting technologies cannot tolerate impact forces, typically shattering when exposed to them and creating a laceration hazard. LEDs can be outfitted with shatterproof glass without affecting lighting quality, so accidental drops don’t produce any health risks.
   With LEDs, property owners can feel good about saving money, preserving the environment and protecting their employees.

There is no doubt that LEDs are the future of commercial lighting. Every day, more and more business owners make the switch to LED technology. With its impressive resumé, there is no better alternative.