Industrial LED retrofits and upgrades are un-arguably one of the best choices you could make to replace your traditional metal halide, high pressure sodium and halogen fixtures. Decreased costs, longer lifespans and great durability are just a few of the many features LED retrofits can provide your business.
Not convinced? Read more!
Benefits of Using LED Retrofits:
- Decreased Costs
Many assume that retrofitting is a costly expenditure, but this is by no means true. One of the biggest reasons to retrofit with LEDs is actually the money-saving results.
Retrofitting with LEDs reduces your lighting energy costs anywhere from 25 to 90 percent, and according to the Department of Energy, LEDs consume 75% less energy than traditional bulbs. This means your energy bills will be vastly lowered. These numbers could increase even more with retrofits that include daylight sensors, dimmers, and other energy saving features. Additionally, LEDs have special heat dissipating designs that help decrease heat loss, putting less stress on your AC units saving you money in HVAC costs.
- Long Lifespan
As mentioned previously, LEDs offer extremely long lifespans. Most LEDs are rated at 100,000 hours meaning they can be lit for 8 hours a day and will still last for 20 years. Better yet, LED bulbs have no filament so they cannot break or burnout. They simply dim over time letting you know it’s time to replace.
- Durable & Safe
LED retrofits are extremely durable fixtures. They cannot break or explode because they have no filament and are not constructed of glass. Most LED bulbs are constructed of unbreakable polycarbonate, meaning they can withstand falls, vibrations, and harsh outdoor environments. Traditional bulbs are usually made of glass and can easily be broken if handled wrongly, or explode and cause fires in hazardous locations. They also function well in extreme temperatures.
LED retrofits also provide brilliant high-quality, natural illumination, and do not cut out or flicker. This reduces accidents caused by power outages or improper lighting.
- Less Maintenance
In addition to cost savings, LED retrofits require very little upkeep. LED bulbs have long lifespans, about 25 times longer than traditional bulbs. Less repairs and little to no replacing for years at a time drastically reduces the hassle of maintenance and repair costs.
Also, retrofit upgrades can be done one fixture at a time, rather than all at once. This is great for small businesses that have smaller budgets and cannot do a full renovation in one swoop. Just by adding a few units at a time you’ll cut down on maintenance and energy costs.
- Easy Operation
Led retrofits require no warm up or restrike time, and are extremely quiet during operation. This means you can switch the LEDs on and off as frequently as you like with no damage to the bulb, as would not be the case with traditional fixtures which are severely affected by this behavior.
- Reduced Environmental Impact
We know that LEDs last longer, save energy, are much safer to use, and require little to no replacing. But, they also contain no harmful chemicals and are 100% recyclable, which has a direct impact on the amount of mercury waste in landfills. By using LED retrofits the harmful mercury waste you produce with your lights will be eliminated, making your business, community and the world’s environment much safer. They also produce virtually no UV emissions and almost no infrared light, protecting delicate wood, artwork and other sensitive materials.
- Enhanced Productivity
Another benefit of LED retrofits that is often overlooked is actually an increase in employee productivity. Proper lighting can impact employee mood and happiness positively. It also reduces human-error and potential accidents that may occur in dim, or unnatural lighting.
LED Retrofits vs. LED Retrofit Upgrades
There are two categories of retrofits.
Retrofits alone are just the replacement bulbs, which are compatible with traditional style units. These bulbs can include: LED T5, T8, and T12HO to replace fluorescents, LED A19 style replacement bulbs, and LED PAR 38s, among others. Retrofit bulbs are designed to fit standard light bulb sockets for extremely easy installment in current fixtures.
Retrofit upgrades replace entire fixtures including the bulbs and housing. These may include traditional LED wall packs, canopy lights, wall washers and garage lights. The units have the same look and mounting as traditional fixtures, making it super simple and quick to install them in place of the traditional fixtures.
If you’ve been on the fence about LED retrofits and upgrades, hopefully this information has helped change your mind and bring you over to the bright side.