Efficient Applications of LED Lighting

The age of LED lighting is upon us, with LED lights found in just about every application possible – from residential settings to sprawling industrial complexes. In just a couple of decades, LED lighting manufacturers have adapted the technology for a multitude of roles, to the point where there is an LED for nearly all lighting applications.

Let’s look at some of those applications and how LEDs are improving lighting technology in an array of commercial and industrial settings.

1) LED Lighting in Office Buildings Boosts Productivity

Office buildings have long been illuminated by fluorescent fixtures, but the age of fluorescent tubes is coming to an end. Already, T12 fluorescent tubes have been phased out, and T8 and T5 tubes are right behind them with the increased focus on phasing out lights that aren’t energy efficient, and those with hazardous contents (such as mercury).

LED tubes are a ready replacement, and many of them retrofittable and compatible with existing lighting systems.

In office applications, LED lighting solutions offer superior energy efficiency and lighting quality, compared to fluorescent bulbs. In this context, “quality” refers to LED’s even, no-flicker emission range and its natural sunlight-like emission spectrum.

Although difficult to see with the naked eye, every bulb emits light in a specific set of color bands, or wavelengths. Some lights, like fluorescents, emit most of their illumination in a few tight color bands – green and yellow among them. That’s why objects under a fluorescent light tend to take on a greenish cast.

LEDs emit in a spectrum much more similar to natural sunlight, with a smooth output gradient from warm to cool. People adjust better to this type of illumination, and early research shows that it can boost productivity among office workers. The improved productivity effect can add up quickly in offices filled with employees.

2) LEDs Provide Better Visibility for Parking Lots and Street Lights

The days of flickering, dim, low CRI streetlights are coming to an end. High pressure sodium (HPS) and metal halide lamps have dominated outdoor lighting applications for decades – mostly in the form of streetlights and parking lot lighting.

However, LEDs have proven to be a viable option in replacing or retrofitting these nearly obsolete lighting forms. In 2016, 30 percent of all outdoor fixtures were estimated to house LED lamps, and with time, more cities and municipalities are realizing the benefits of switching to LED lighting.

LEDs are now the standard for outdoor applications for many reasons, but excellent color rendering and minimal light pollution are two stand out advantages.

Previous outdoor lighting technologies – HPS in particular – have been characterized by poor color rendering. They do not accurately represent color, in other words. LEDs, however, are available in high-CRI designs that ensure color vividness at night. This can help people see further and with greater precision at night, improving safety.

Current generation LED fixtures are also available with baffles or shielding to minimize lighting pollution. A growing concern for many cities is light pollution, which disrupts our circadian rhythms, interferes with wildlife behavior, and disrupts the darkness of the night sky. LED streetlights and parking lot lights can be built with shields to minimize uplighting and glare – an approach made possible by LED’s directionality. Since LED lights can be aimed (they do not emit omnidirectionally), they are unmatched in precision. That’s good for humans and good for the environment.

3) Warehouse and Industrial LED Lighting Improves Safety and Efficiency

LED fixtures have also been adapted for warehouses, large industrial facilities, and expansive commercial spaces like department and big box stores. Bay lights are usually the choice here, and LED lighting products now include high and low bay options.

LED bay lights are available in linear and UFO (circular) models, so they can support any facility layout. They are also compatible with smart lighting controls that can dim or power lights on/off depending on various conditions (time, occupancy, environmental light, etc.). That can be a major power and money saver for facility owners. Those cost savings add up quickly in commercial or industrial settings where hundreds of fixtures may be required.

Warehouse and industrial workers also enjoy the productivity and safety-enhancing benefits of better lighting.

4) Sports Arena LED Lighting is Reliable and Low Maintenance

An early disadvantage for LED lighting technology was output strength. The first generation of LEDs lagged behind several competing technologies in raw output and brightness, but this is no longer the case. Some LED sportslighters can throw more than 100,000 lumens while using 60 percent less energy than HID lights.

That, combined with LED’s excellent color rendering (essential for tracking a small, fast-moving object), near-zero maintenance and extended lifespan, has LED technology positioned to take over sports arena applications. More than half of MLB stadiums have LED lights in place already, along with several NFL stadiums and a smattering of collegiate arenas. Like with other LED lighting applications, adoption rates are growing here, too, so expect to see the technology in everything from neighborhood tennis courts to 100,000 seat stadiums as time goes on.

5) Landscape LED Lighting Offers Improved Safety and Aesthetic Appeal

LEDs are also in widespread use on residential properties – both inside and out. This is due, in part, to their versatility. LED lamps can be incorporated into a variety of landscape fixture designs, including spots, floods, bollards, washes, step lights and garden lights.

Safety is a driving reason behind LED’s growing popularity in landscape applications. They are available in low voltage designs, emit extremely low amounts of heat, and do not contain significant amounts of toxic materials (as long as they are purchased from a reputable manufacturer). As such, LED lights are a safe option for use around people, pets, plants and animals.

Work with a Lighting Expert to Maximize LED Lighting Applications

LEDs have been around for about 60 years, but as a form of residential, commercial and industrial lighting – they are much younger. LEDs that could outcompete existing technologies have only been available for a couple of decades. In more recent years, the engineering and manufacturing behind LED lighting has taken off.

It’s likely that LED lighting has reached critical mass and that there is no going back to older technology. In fact, the range of LED lighting applications will continue to expand in the near future. Those applications may include smart streetlight networks, massive video walls that can be shaped and curved, and even LEDs that can be integrated into clothing.

LEDs are already the first choice in most lighting applications, and the technology behind them is set to redefine what we think of lighting in the coming years.

Warehouses can be challenging spaces to light thoroughly because there are multiple factors to consider. An optimized lighting system is only possible if the following are considered:

• The building’s size and layout
• The number of workers and level of activity in the warehouse
• The presence of machinery or hazardous materials
• The building’s energy usage
• Compliance with long-term lighting goals and regulations

Though extensive planning should go into any commercial or industrial lighting project, no matter the scale, it’s especially important for a large space like a warehouse.

Four Things to Consider When Setting Up Warehouse Lighting

Expanding on the above factors further – here’s what to consider and plan around when designing a warehouse lighting system:

• The warehouse’s size and ceiling height – Warehouse fixtures are available in a variety of distribution options, so designers can shape the system to fit a particular facility. And when it comes to picking the right distribution pattern, the building’s size and ceiling height are the biggest considerations. For example, bay lights are designed to either work with low or high ceilings, as they’re designed with different optics.
• Worker safety – Within reason, the brighter the fixtures, the safer the warehouse. Brighter lighting improves visibility at a distance, allowing workers to anticipate potential safety risks before they become a threat. Forklift operators will notice pedestrian traffic sooner and will be more likely to detect people around corners. Lights that provide excellent color rendering are also better at improving visibility over longer distances.
• The facility’s energy efficiency needs – Warehouses rely on high lumen counts to ensure adequate brightness throughout the building. This high-powered setup can drive up energy costs if the warehouse relies on inefficient lighting products.
• Whether the new lighting system is future-proof – Power usage isn’t just an operational cost concern. Commercial facilities are facing an increasing wave of lighting regulations, many of them targeted at energy efficiency. When considering warehouse lighting options, it’s a good idea to consider the track of lighting regulations. It’s likely that power efficiency will continue to be a pressure point for lighting solutions.

Bays, Linear Lights and Troffers – the Go-To Fixture Options for Warehouses

With the above considerations in mind, the most common warehouse fixtures are bays (low and high), linear fixtures and troffers. Here’s how each can serve in a warehouse setting:

• High and low bays – Bay lights are purpose-built for illuminating large spaces like warehouses, department stores, and other massive commercial buildings. Bays can be mounted directly to the ceiling or suspended from chains or cables. The primary differences between low and high bays are their lumen output and optics. Low bays are built for lower ceilings (between 12 and 20 feet high), while high bays are built for higher ceilings (between 20 and 45 feet high).
• Linear and UFO bays – Bays are also available in a couple of fixture designs, including linear and UFO bays. The name indicates the shape and intended applications. Linear bays are better for illuminating aisles, while UFOs distribute their light over a larger area, which is better for open locations.
• Troffers – Troffers are an alternative warehouse lighting choice and can also be mounted or suspended from the ceiling. If mounted, troffers are recessed into the ceiling and provide even, diffused illumination that minimizes glare. In the past, fluorescent tubes were the primary option for troffer fixtures, but LED linear tubes are now available as an alternative.

Whether it’s a bay, linear or troffer fixture, focus your search on fixtures built with a modular design. Modular fixtures are designed for simple maintenance and lamp replacement, as the fixture’s components are interchangeable. Given the inherent difficulty involved in replacing warehouse lights, simplifying lamp replacement can be a cost-saver and risk-reducer.

LED vs. HID vs. Fluorescent Lighting – Which Works Best in Warehouses?

We’ve addressed the fixture part of the lighting equation, but what about the lamp? Until recently, warehouses were almost always lit with HID or fluorescent lamps. Today, LED lighting technology is replacing both in most applications, including warehouse lighting.

Here’s how the three stack up:

• Energy efficiency – LED lighting is the most energy efficient lighting technology on the market, with significant efficiency advantages over HID and fluorescent fixtures. This efficiency advantage is realized at both the lamp and system level, as LED bulbs are better at converting power to light, and better at distributing that light where it’s needed most – at ground level.
• Ease of maintenance – LED fixtures require practically zero maintenance once installed, as long as installation is handled properly. It’s common for LED lights to provide several years of reliable illumination before lamp replacements are necessary. Contrast this with HID and fluorescent lamps, which both need to be replaced several times during a single LED lifecycle.
• Lighting performance – LEDs emit high-brightness, high-CRI (color rendering) illumination that’s easier to distribute than fluorescent or HID lighting. As such, LED lighting solutions are characterized by their excellent illumination quality. Further, LEDs emit light across the entire visible light spectrum, giving them a natural sunlight-like quality that people respond to better.
• Reliability – LED lighting is also characterized by its reliability. LEDs last for years, can be operated continuously with little concern, emit minimal heat, are unaffected by rapid on/off cycling, and fail gradually instead of suddenly. On top of that, LED lighting is also the most controllable on the market and can be used with dimmers, timers, photocells, and motion sensors to improve its reliability further.

It’s no surprise that LED has the advantage in almost every respect. LEDs are far more sophisticated than the filaments and pressurized gas chambers of yesteryear. Built on semiconductor and solid-state technology, LEDs are designed to make the most of every watt – and do it reliably.

Optimize Lighting Efficiency and Performance with a Photometric Analysis

LED lighting is the pinnacle of the industry, but LED systems perform even better when they’re backed by photometric analysis.

Lighting professionals can provide this analysis, which is used to model the pattern and intensity of lighting systems. Photometric software includes a deep library of luminaire data that designers use to visually and mathematically model lighting projects. While modeling the system, the lighting designer can experiment with different fixtures and different placement options, with the goal being to meet both efficiency and performance thresholds. In other words, get the most light possible at the lowest operating cost possible. This is possible because photometric analysis calculates the amount of illumination at each square foot, so there’s no guesswork or eyeballing involved.

Lighting is an Essential Part of Warehouse Operations – Make Sure Your Facility Has the Right Solution in Place

Warehouse lighting must meet several specifications. It must be bright enough, render color well, remain unobtrusive to workers, operate efficiently, and perform as a reliable, long-term solution.

LED lighting technology is built to provide all of the above, along with the future-proofing that building owners are looking for in today’s lighting solutions. Considering a switch to LED lighting or developing a new lighting solution from scratch? An experienced lighting company can provide a photometric analysis, along with the ideal fixtures and LED lights for the job.

In 2018, almost half of U.S. commercial buildings were fitted with LED lighting. Five years later, LED is now the nation’s leading lighting technology. No matter the industry or the facility, LED lighting offers several benefits, and it’s as accessible as ever with so many retrofitting options.

It wasn’t too long ago that facility managers were caught in a tough dilemma: Keep relying on an inefficient, outdated lighting system, or invest in a new solution.

As LED lighting engineering scales up – and LED products become less expensive – new solutions are offering better and better ROIs. Investing in such a solution makes sense for new construction.

But for existing facilities with existing lighting solutions? There’s a cost effective third option – retrofitting. It’s a term you may have encountered while researching commercial lighting options, but what does it include and why is it a popular alternative to a new LED lighting system? Read on.

What Does an LED Lighting Retrofit Include?

A from-scratch system may include building out a frame for the lights, installing canopies, installing electrical components like junction boxes, placing fixtures, and matching the right LEDs to those fixtures. That’s a lot of material and labor, which drives up the project’s cost.

During an LED lighting retrofit, though, the existing frame and canopies (and perhaps some of the electrical components) can remain in place. The only part of the system that is replaced is the lamps. In many instances, it’s also beneficial to replace existing ballasts with LED drivers, as these are purpose-built to regulate electrical flow into LED lights. That usually means better efficiency, performance, and controllability.

The LED lighting industry has exploded with product offerings, to the point where there is now an LED lighting alternative for nearly every popular lighting application or fixture design. Residential, commercial, industrial – LED lighting technology has been adapted for each setting.

Here are some examples of LED retrofit options:

• LED panels and troffers
• LED linear tubes and panels
• LED downlights, including recessed downlights
• LED high and low bays
• LED stadium and sports lighting
• LED parking lot lighting
• LED street lighting
• LED cove and cabinet lighting

It’s rare for any technology to be adapted for so many applications so quickly. What’s driving this march toward LED dominance? Building owners have several compelling incentives to switch to LED lighting, and that drives demand.

Five Reasons to Consider an LED Lighting Retrofit

What, exactly, is pushing the LED retrofit revolution? LED lighting offers several notable advantages to any facility, including:

• Superior energy efficiency – LED’s energy consumption advantage is a well-worn topic. The first, most heavily advertised benefit of LED lighting was its excellent energy savings, and that benefit remains true.LED bulbs have a huge advantage over incandescent lights, but it’s rare for a commercial facility to rely on those. What’s more common is fluorescent lighting, which was still in use in 68 percent of buildings back in 2018. That’s according to the Department of Energy. That number has surely dropped since, and part of the reason is because an LED light is simply more efficient.

  Compared to fluorescent lamps, an LED light requires about 20 percent less power to produce the same amount of light. That’s a per-lamp energy savings, so the more fixtures being retrofit, the greater the return on investment.

• Minimal replacement and maintenance costs – Energy efficiency is LED’s primary calling card, but a close second is its extended lifespan and low-maintenance design. Built on solid state technology (and not wire filaments or gas chambers), there are few failure points in LED lighting engineering. And fewer failure points mean fewer failures.Add it up, and LEDs last much longer than other lighting technologies. Again, compare LEDs and fluorescent, and there’s a clear winner. LED lamps, on average, provide 50,000 hours of high-quality illumination, and often much more. Fluorescent bulbs, though, tend to fail around the 10,000-hour mark. Fluorescent tubes may be cheaper upfront, but that cost advantage is quickly washed out by repeated replacements and reduced lighting performance.

  Since LEDs last much longer, facilities can reallocate much of their lighting material and labor costs.

• Improved lighting performance – LED retrofit lighting offers full-spectrum, high-CRI options that emit brilliant, flawless illumination.This is especially important in exterior settings, such as parking lot lighting, street lighting, and security lighting applications.

  LED lighting is directional lighting. In other words, it can be aimed without relying on heavy, expensive reflectors. And because it can be aimed, it’s easier to distribute the light and easier to ensure more of that lighting reaches ground level. Older lighting technologies, such as metal halides, emit omnidirectionally and don’t enjoy this advantage.

  In practice, this improved system efficiency means LED lighting systems are brighter and emit more evenly. That enhances long-range visibility for people on the ground and helps light up areas at night.

• Improved employee performance – Office buildings running fluorescent lighting expose employees to low-quality illumination for hours at a time. This can cause issues like fatigue and headaches, both of which employees are more likely to report when working under fluorescent light.LED illumination, by contrast, is similar to natural sunlight in spectral emission (the exact wavelength pattern that a source emits). Unsurprisingly, facilities with LED retrofits tend to report modest improvements in productivity among their staff. And while the effect may be modest per worker, the effect scales up like it does with LED’s energy efficiency per fixture.
• Cost-reducing tax incentives – There are also a few tax incentives on the books to speed up a project’s ROI.For example, under Sec. 179D, facility owners may qualify for a deduction up to $0.60 per square foot by improving the building’s energy efficiency. Specifically, the building’s power consumption must be cut by at least 25 percent to qualify. But, as lighting tends to be one of the largest sources of commercial energy consumption, an LED lighting retrofit can get buildings most of the way there.

  This is just one example, too. There are additional tax-saving tools, such as creative ways to carry losses forward or to factor in depreciation. Together, these can significantly reduce ROI times.

LED lighting also minimizes a facility’s energy footprint and ensures compliance with future lighting regulations – many of which are already having an impact on fluorescent lighting supplies. The future appears headed toward an LED-only future, and retrofitting now ensures those facilities are ready.

Ready to Retrofit? Talk to an LED Lighting Expert to Make the Upgrade

LED lighting retrofits can be quick and relatively simple to pull off, but most commercial projects should be closely overseen by a certified electrician and lighting expert. Depending on the facility’s age and the condition of its existing lighting system, significant electrical work (including rewiring) may be necessary to safely retrofit LED lighting.

For this reason, the strong recommendation is for commercial property owners to speak with a trusted lighting team before choosing any fixtures or system components. Not only will this ensure best safety practices are observed during installation, a lighting expert will also speed up the fixture/lamp selection and acquisition process, which can reduce lead times and optimize the return on investment.

LED lights are improving all the time, with more efficient, longer lasting and better performing fixtures constantly being introduced. LED lighting represents more than half of the lighting market already, so it’s safe to say that LED lighting solutions are here to stay.

Most business owners recognize the benefits of adopting an LED lighting system, but accounting for procurement and installation costs is less clear. If your organization doesn’t have the funds for a new lighting system, retrofitting LED bulbs is a viable option. Through retrofit solutions, facility managers can attain the advantages of an LED lighting system without the cost of total replacement.

What the LED Lighting Retrofit Process Looks Like

If your organization works with an experienced lighting installer, then the retrofit process is fairly straightforward and looks like this:

1. The lighting team performs an audit and site survey – It’s impossible for lighting installers to know what they’re up against until they review the organization’s facilities. This may include studying the building’s drawings for where fixtures are placed, along with performing a physical inspection of existing fixtures.

With this information, the installation team can perform an energy audit and ascertain how much money the company can save with a retrofit. An energy audit will also reveal where power is being wasted by the existing system, so targeted improvements can be made.

2. A photometric plan may be developed for the building – Commercial and industrial facilities must meet certain lighting requirements when installing new fixtures. This includes minimal lighting levels (measured in foot candles), depending on the application. Lighting an office building, for example, requires a different set of fixtures and different lamp positioning than a grocery store.

To account for a building’s unique size and space layout, lighting installers may produce photometric drawings for the project. Photometric modeling allows lighting designers to simulate various lighting solutions for their client. During the system design, the designer can move lights around and try out different lamp models to see which approach works best.

Once complete, the designer will provide photometric drawings to the client and project management team so they can verify the project’s details. This includes which fixtures will be used for the project and how many fixtures will be installed.

3. The retrofit fixtures and lamps are installed – With a plan in hand, the installation team can get to work accessing the fixtures and installing the new lamps. Depending on the exact fixture model being used, the fixtures themselves may need to be switched out. Additional wiring may also be necessary, and this may greatly increase the project’s complexity. If wiring is required, working with lighting professionals is highly recommended.

A Few Reasons More Facility Managers are Retrofitting LED Lighting

Switching to a new lighting solution is a significant commitment, so why are many facilities transitioning to LED lighting? There are several reasons, including:

• Improved energy efficiency – LED lighting is the most energy efficient on the market. Compared to legacy lighting technologies like incandescent and fluorescent, LED lamps generate more light per watt. In some cases, this can be a difference of 70 percent or more, depending on what type of lights are being replaced.

With lower electricity consumption, organizations can recoup their investment quickly while transitioning to greener lighting solutions.

• Reduced maintenance costs – LEDs are a product of modern engineering and are built to be more durable and reliable than previous lighting technologies. While the typical fluorescent tube is rated for around 10,000 hours of performance, LED lamps offer 50,000 hours of light, or more.
• Added controllability – While retrofittable LEDs aren’t as controllable as a brand new LED fixture and lamp, they can still be used with dimmers and some other controls. Compared to legacy systems, LEDs can be controlled with greater precision and without placing additional stress on the lamp – which is often the case with fluorescent lamps. With better controllability, your new LED lights can be configured to output at varying levels, saving money when lighting isn’t needed in certain areas.

What is the Typical ROI for a Retrofit LED Lighting System?

With the above advantages, LED retrofitting can offer a quick ROI, though it depends on the scale of your project. When assessing potential savings, many facility managers focus solely on energy efficiency.

Another major factor to consider is the reduction in maintenance. Since LEDs allow facility managers to control their maintenance costs, an organization’s ROI may be as brief as a couple of years. Typically, the ROI attached to a retrofit solution is between three and five years, but even then, that’s a rapid return compared to other facility upgrades.

And once a company reaches the ROI threshold with their LEDs, the system will continue to save the organization money year after year.

The Cost of LED Retrofitting Depends on a Few Different Factors

It’s impossible to accurately estimate the cost of an LED retrofit without first surveying the organization’s facilities. During the site survey, the installation team will take note of a few important cost-related factors. These factors include:

• The number of fixtures to retrofit – Part of the project’s cost is related to the number of fixtures to procure and install. The more fixtures the organization needs, the more the retrofit will cost.
• Whether the existing fixtures can take retrofit LEDs – Some existing fixtures are not compatible with retrofit LED lamps, though many are. During the site survey, the lighting team will note what fixtures are present and whether they can be used with a retrofit installation.
• The impact of utility rebates – Organizations are incentivized to modernize their lighting systems through utility rebates. These rebates may be offered per-fixture, which means they can add up quickly for large projects. Once rebates are factored in, the ROI time may be reduced by several months or more.

LED Lighting Retrofits are an Ideal Option for Lighting Upgrades

If your organization is interested in LED lighting technology, but not in the cost of a brand new solution, retrofitting the LEDs offers an ideal compromise. LED light retrofits require minimal alterations to your existing infrastructure, and they offer comparable performance to a new system.

Unsure which type of retrofit fixture to target? An expert lighting supplier and installer can help. There are many LED retrofit lamps to choose from, including retrofit T4 and T8 tubes. Some retrofittable LED fixtures are also designed to work with an existing ballast or with no ballast at all. In short, there are many retrofit lighting products to choose from, and an experienced lighting team can help find the right solution for your retrofit.

Obsolete, inefficient lighting is always being replaced by newer technologies, and it appears that fluorescent tubes are next in line. This is nothing new – incandescent bulbs are nearly extinct – but with the rise of high-efficiency options like LED lighting, fluorescent tubes are now a target for regulators.

In fact, some fluorescent lighting is already banned from manufacturing. If your facilities rely on it, you may be having issues sourcing fluorescent fixtures. In “light” of this, many facility managers are transitioning to LED lighting technology.

Compliance isn’t the only benefit, either. LED lighting has significant efficiency and longevity advantages that can help control operating costs.

What Fluorescent Tubes are Being Phased Out?

In 2009, the Department of Energy (DOE) instituted a ban on T12 tubes that was put in effect starting on July 14, 2012. Manufacturers were allowed to exhaust their remaining raw materials to produce and sell T12s, and extensions were handed out to a couple of major manufacturers.

Also, the DOE’s ban did not include high-CRI T12 fluorescent tubes, but several states have already extended the ban to include them. These states include:

• California
• Colorado
• Hawaii
• Maine
• Maryland (starting in 2024)
• Massachusetts (starting in 2023)
• Nevada (starting in 2024)
• New Jersey (starting in 2023)
• Oregon (starting in 2023)
• Vermont
• Washington (starting in 2023)

In addition to high-CRI T12s, these bans also include high-CRI T8 tubes. It’s likely that as LED tubes become more popular, additional states will institute their own extended restrictions on fluorescent tube manufacturing.

What are the Replacement Options for Fluorescent Tube Lights?

We’re in the middle of a major lighting transition, and the number of LED replacement options is growing all the time. A few of those options include:

• LED retrofit tubes – Retrofit tubes are a popular choice for property owners because they cost less than a full fixture replacement, while still providing most of the benefits that come with LED lighting.
  LED retrofit tubes are designed to fit into existing fluorescent fixtures, and they come in a few varieties. Type A tubes are designed to wire into the existing fluorescent ballast. Type B tubes are wired directly to the mains and bypass the ballast altogether. Type C tubes come with an integrated driver that’s used instead of fluorescent ballasts.
  There are advantages and limitations with each retrofit tube type. Type A tubes are quick to install but may have compatibility issues with the existing ballast. Poor ballast/lamp compatibility isn’t an issue with Type B tubes, but installation is considerably more difficult and subject to more risk. Type C tubes provide the best performance but are the most expensive retrofit tubes on the market.
  In all three cases, though, retrofit LED tubes are less expensive than full fixture replacements and provide the energy efficiency that LED lights are known for.

• LED T8 fixtures with an LED tube – There are also full fixture replacement options that incorporate the LED tube and fixture together. While these are more expensive than retrofit options, a full fixture replacement also unlocks the full capabilities of LED lighting technology. This means two things:

1. 1. Full fixtures replacement means there’s no fluorescent ballast involved. That improves energy efficiency further because the ballast is responsible for some of the power draw.
   2. Full fixture replacement are also compatible with modern lighting controls. This includes dimmer and occupancy controls, both of which can improve lighting performance and energy efficiency further.

• LED panels or troffers – LED panels and troffers can also replace your fluorescent tube fixtures while retaining the same footprint. Panels lie flush with the ceiling and provide frame-to-frame illumination while LED troffers are much like fluorescent troffers – recessed into the ceiling and finished with a tube fixture.
  LED panels and troffers provide the advantages of LED lighting with the modern aesthetic that comes with these fixtures.

How Can LED Tube Lights Improve Facility Operations?

For availability reasons, facility managers will eventually need to transition to LED lighting. As long as there is budget room, there’s no reason to wait. Compared to fluorescent lights, LED tubes are an improvement in nearly every way. For example, LED lighting can:

• Reduce operating costs – LED lighting is the most energy efficient lighting technology available, which is why the DOE and state regulators favor it. That energy efficiency can also bring a facility’s energy costs down considerably. LED fixtures also last much longer than other lights. That means lower lamp replacement and maintenance costs. Together, these savings mean LED retrofits provide a quick ROI.
• Allow for better control – LED lighting is the best fit for advanced lighting controls. These controls can improve efficiency, sure, but they can also enhance security and productivity by providing illumination where it’s needed most, when it’s needed most.
• Produce higher quality illumination – LED lights have come a long way in quality since they were first introduced decades ago. As a replacement for fluorescent tubes, LED fixtures provide light that’s closer to natural sunlight in emission range. People tend to feel comfortable when subjected to natural light, compared to the greenish cast that fluorescent lights produce.

Need a Replacement Option for Fluorescent Tube Lighting? Consider an Upgrade to LEDs

T12 fluorescent tubes will soon be removed from the market entirely, and it likely won’t be long until T8s and T5s follow suit. Facility managers have decisions to make with their lighting, and many are deciding to upgrade to LED fixtures.

With rapid advancements in LED fixture technology in recent years, LED lighting is now accessible to most properties. That’s true even if you are operating with a tight budget. Retrofit tubes mean you don’t have to start from scratch, and LED lamps soon pay for themselves with their minimal energy and maintenance costs.

For years, local, state, and national governments have placed additional regulations on the lighting industry and its products. This process continues pace, and while in the past these regulations were aimed at incandescent and halogen lamps, now fluorescent lighting is in the crosshairs.

For nearly a century, fluorescent light bulbs were the undisputed leaders in energy efficiency. This was true when CFLs were introduced in 1976, and it was still true when LED lighting was just being introduced by manufacturers.

That’s no longer the case, though. Modern LED fixtures have passed fluorescents in terms of energy efficiency, along with safety, maintenance costs and lighting quality. With these facts in mind, some governments are limiting, or outright banning, the manufacturing of some fluorescent lamps.

What Types of Fluorescent Lighting are Being Targeted for Discontinuation?

At the national level, the Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for lighting regulations. In 2009, it announced a phaseout of T12 fluorescent tubes. According to the DOE, after July 14, 2012, T12 fluorescent tubes could no longer be manufactured, though manufacturers could exhaust their existing material stock to manufacture T12s before discontinuing them permanently.

However, there were some exceptions to the rules. Major manufacturers like Phillips were given an extension on the ban, but the DOE’s objective has been met. As soon as the DOE’s intention to ban T12s was clear, production plummeted. If your facilities rely on T12 fluorescents, you’ve likely had difficulty sourcing lamps or T12-related accessories, like ballasts.

A notable exception in the DOE’s regulation was high-CRI fluorescent lighting, specifically lamps with a CRI rating of 87 or higher. This exception buoyed the production of T12s for a while, but several states have already passed their own laws banning the sale or manufacturing of high-CRI linear fluorescent lighting. This essentially bans all T12s from those states, which include:

• California
• Colorado
• Hawaii
• Maine
• Maryland (effective January 1, 2024)
• Massachusetts (sales may continue until January 2023)
• Nevada (effective January 1, 2024)
• New Jersey (effective January 18, 2023)
• Oregon (effective January 1, 2023)
• Vermont
• Washington (effective January 1, 2023)

Some T8 tubes are also considered high-CRI lamps and would therefore fall under these bans as well.

Why are States and National Governments Considering a Ban on Some Fluorescent Tubes?

Fluorescent tubes are available in a variety of sizes, denoted by the number following the “T.” The largest among them, by diameter, is the T12. T12 tubes are 1.5 inches in diameter, and their larger size means they must rely on electromagnetic induction to generate light. This is inherently less energy efficient (T12s require about 40 watts per hour to operate) than the more sophisticated circuitry built into T8s and T5s. A typical T8 tube, for example, requires between 25 and 30 watts an hour to run.

The DOE’s T12 phaseout was predicated on the T12’s poor energy efficiency, but there are other reasons why there is momentum behind a T12 ban. For example:

• Lower quality illumination – Lamps aren’t generally phased out because they lag in output quality, but because T12s do produce lower quality illumination than T8s or T5s, this is one less defense for the fixture.
• Contains higher amounts of mercury – A T12 lamp contains between 20 and 25 milligrams of mercury, which is much higher than newer fluorescent bulbs. Proper fluorescent tube recycling can prevent some of this mercury from reaching landfills, but only a small percentage of fluorescents are recycled.
  Fluorescent’s mercury content is relevant because mercury is an extremely toxic substance to contact or ingest. In developed countries like the U.S., a large amount of polluting mercury is a result of improper fluorescent tube disposal.
• Must be replaced more often – Compounding the above issue is the fact that T12s must be replaced more often than other types of fluorescent fixtures. More frequent replacement means more opportunities for mercury to escape into the environment. More frequent replacement means higher costs over time.
  More efficient alternatives, including smaller fluorescent tubes, are also lower maintenance options.

What Lighting Alternatives are Available for Consumers and Companies?

The fluorescent phaseout is underway and will likely continue as long as even more efficient alternatives like LEDs gain market momentum. While T8 and T5 tubes aren’t targeted by the DOE’s 2009 Act, some T8s are already limited by high-CRI linear fluorescent lighting bans.

Facility operators and lighting experts can see which way the industry is headed. LED lighting has come a long way since it was introduced decades ago, and it’s quickly being adapted for a variety of lighting applications. LED lamps and bulbs offer several benefits compared to older lighting technologies, including:

• Unsurpassed energy efficiency – Quality LED T8s require about half of the wattage that a fluorescent T8 needs. As lighting regulations tighten further, LED’s efficiency advantage may become more and more relevant.
• Longer life – An LED tube lasts a lot longer than a comparable fluorescent tube. The typical LED tube is rated for about 50,000 hours of quality performance while a fluorescent T8 will only function for about 15,000 hours. With their extended lifespan, LED fixtures don’t need to be replaced or disposed of as often.
• No mercury content – LED bulbs do contain a tiny amount of arsenic and some heavy metals, but the amount is so low that LEDs are not considered toxic by regulators. They don’t have to be disposed of in a particular way, as a result.
  Most importantly, LEDs contain zero mercury. Their environmental impact is greatly reduced as a result.

Modernize Your System with High Quality LED Lighting

In just the last couple decades, focused phaseouts of several older lighting technologies have changed the way the industry operates. With incandescent, halogen, and now fluorescent lights quickly becoming history, lighting manufacturers, facility managers, and even residential consumers are making the switch to LED lighting.

Many home and business owners are choosing LED retrofit kits to replace their existing fluorescent lighting. These kits bypass existing ballasts and snap in LED linear strips so that the fixture will be completely LED. This is a great economical solution, saving on kilowatts and requiring little maintenance.

If you’re considering the same for your property, work with a company that has a comprehensive selection of LED lighting products available, including LED retrofit options that can be quickly installed with your existing lighting infrastructure. Not only is LED lighting the energy efficient choice, it’s also quickly becoming a convenient one as well.

Warehouses are a challenge to light due to their size and because of the activity inside. Warehouses are busy places where workers are frequently engaged in high-risk tasks. To ensure they can do their jobs safely, you’ll need a high-output lighting system that renders color well and provides even coverage.

LED fixtures can provide that and more. As a result, you’re likely to see LED lights more often in warehouses these days. They’re quickly replacing high intensity discharge (HID) fixtures for several reasons.

High Bay And Low Bay Fixtures Are The Choice For Lighting A Warehouse

Most warehouses feature extremely high ceilings, ranging up to 40 feet or more. In spaces like these, where verticality is the defining feature, high and low bay fixtures are the standard.

In the lighting industry, the word “bay” refers to illuminating a large space. That means they’re designed for a large area like a warehouse.

There’s only a couple of differences between low and high bay fixtures. They are:

• Mounting height – Low bay fixtures are intended for ceilings between 12 and 20 feet high. High bay fixtures can be mounted to ceilings between 20 and 45 feet high.
• Output volume – Low bay fixtures don’t output as much light as high bay fixtures, given their shorter throw distance. Because of this, low bay fixtures consume a lower amount of power than high bays.

You’ve got plenty of flexibility in mounting bays. They can be mounted directly to the ceiling or suspended at varying heights. This gives facility managers layout flexibility when setting up the bays.

There are also bay lights sealed against water and solid intrusion. They’re ideal for warehouses where high dust and humidity levels are common, and feature IP65 ratings or better. Further, bay fixtures come with anti-glare features that improve comfort and visibility at ground level.

Bay Fixtures Are Available In Linear Or UFO Designs

The other major difference between bay designs is shape. Bay lighting products are available in linear or UFO designs, and both are common options for warehouse applications. Here’s a quick look at each:

• Linear bays – Linear lighting is rectangular shaped and therefore suited for illuminating aisles, reception, and dispatch areas.
• UFO bays – UFO bays are called such because they look like little round flying saucers. Because of their circular shape, UFO bays emit in a circular pattern. This is an effective choice for general lighting purposes or for loading bay areas.

The Problems With HID Lighting

HID lighting was the warehouse lighting technology of choice for a long time. HID bulbs output a lot of illumination, making them one of the best options for lighting outdoor areas or a large indoor space.

However, this high output comes at a cost. Specifically, high energy costs. HID fixtures like metal halides and high-pressure sodium lamps require a lot of power to function. At the source, metal halides aren’t too bad, though they’re still behind LED light bulbs in source efficiency.

It’s at the system level where metal halides waste a lot of electricity. That’s because of how a metal halide fixture emits light. Metal halides emit omnidirectionally, so a lot of their output never reaches the floor level where it’s needed most. They emit a lot of light, but much of it never reaches the intended target. Reflectors can mitigate this to some extent, but they’re heavy, expensive, and still not as effective as LED fixtures.

HID lighting tends to degrade quickly, too, and you can expect the typical metal halide to fail around 10,000 hours. Many will need to be replaced early because metal halides tend to decline in color rendering or output as they age.

Four Reasons Why LED Lighting Is Ideal For Illuminating Warehouses

LED is quickly emerging as the first choice in warehouse and bay lighting. LEDs come with several advantages over other lighting technologies, four of them including:

1. Better energy efficiency – No other form of lighting offers the energy efficiency that LED does. LED fixtures have the best watt-to-lumen ratios on the market, and because they emit directionally by design, LEDs are able to get more of their illumination to workers below.
   Even compared to efficient technology like fluorescent lighting, LED excels. It’s common to find an LED equivalent to a fluorescent tube that requires half the wattage.
   Further, LED lighting emits extremely low amounts of heat and won’t stress your HVAC systems in the process. That way, your energy costs are minimized further.
2. Extended lifespan and low maintenance design – Maintenance is one of the most important factors to consider when installing warehouse lighting. When warehouse lamps fail, you’ll need special equipment (like a bucket truck) and expertise to replace them.
   Compared to other forms of lighting, LED fixtures require the least amount of maintenance. It’s common for LED lights to go years without a single issue. They also last far longer than other fixtures. The typical LED bay will provide upwards of 50,000 hours of quality illumination. Metal halides (which are quickly becoming obsolete) only provide 10,000 hours, and even fluorescent tubes are only rated for half as long as the average LED light.
3. High quality output and color rendering – LED lighting technology has come a long way since it was introduced decades ago. The biggest gains have come in lighting quality, to the point where LED fixtures emit light that is comparable or superior to HID and halogen.
   LED lighting is extremely bright and makes for an ideal overhead source. It’s even as well, with no dim or dark spots, and no shadows resulting from fixture design. It’s also available in range of color temperatures, including neutral hues in the 4000K to 6000K range.
   Further, LED warehouse lighting is available with high CRI-ratings, so it represents colors very well. That’s important for safety and productivity reasons.
4. Excellent controllability – Nearly every lighting control in existence is built for use with LED lighting. Attach dimmers to the bays to adjust output exactly where it’s needed, balancing brightness and energy usage. Pair timers or occupancy controls with your bays, and they’ll only switch on when needed.
   There are LED drivers that can facilitate instant start as well, which is valuable for facilities where time is money. That includes warehouses.

LED Spot Is Your Warehouse Lighting Source

If you’re overseeing a warehouse lighting project, you’ve probably got questions about what type of lighting to choose. The LED Spot team can help with those questions and help with everything else regarding your warehouse lighting project. We carry a deep inventory of lighting, including many types of LED warehouse lighting.

Whether you’re updating an existing system or preparing a system for new construction, we’re the experts to call.