electrical contractor retrofitting an LED light fitting

Retrofitting LED Lighting – What Is It and What Are The Benefits?

20th June 2023

When looking for lighting solutions, the terms “retrofit”, or “retrofitting” are commonly used. LED retrofit lights have been specially designed to fit the same housings as traditional fluorescent and incandescent lamps and maintain the same overall appearance. In this article, we discuss the concept of retrofitting and its connection to the progressive world of LED lighting.

Read on to learn more about retrofitting and its benefits.

What is LED retrofitting?
What’s the difference between retrofit and dedicated lamps?
What are the benefits of retrofitting?
How much does it cost to convert to LED?
How long do retrofit LED lights last?

What is LED retrofitting?

When considering a lighting upgrade for a building or office, an LED retrofit is a great way to take advantage of modern LED technology. This type of lighting has many advantages due to the high efficiency of LED lighting, including lower power requirements and fewer fittings to purchase. With smart-LED technology, there are several methods to save energy and costs, including the use of PIR and Microwave Sensors that automatically turn lights off when the room is not in use and dimming technology that dims the light when sunlight is present.

When deciding to make the switch to LED lighting, it is essential to consider whether retrofitting current fixtures or buying new ones is the best option. As a business owner, there are significant benefits that come with this choice. Retrofitting your existing lighting system will enable your business to cut energy costs, reduce environmental footprint, and optimise productivity, since good lighting conditions are known to increase the output of workers. LED replacement lamps, in combination with lighting controls, have the potential to decrease energy consumption up to 90%. Making the switch to LED lighting technology is a wise decision for both the planet and your company’s bottom line.

What’s the difference between retrofitting and dedicated lamps?

In today’s world, energy efficiency is more crucial than ever before. It has become the driving force for companies and individuals alike to reduce their carbon footprint and conserve natural resources. Lighting accounts for a significant portion of a building’s energy consumption and upgrading to energy-efficient LED technology has become an essential aspect of modernising our workplaces, homes, and public spaces.

Preserve the integrity of the existing housing

Firstly, retrofitting LED lighting allows you to keep the same fixture, preserving its aesthetic appeal. With LED lighting, you don’t have to compromise the original look and feel of your lighting fixtures to achieve energy savings and better light quality. With a retrofit kit, the new LED components can be fitted into the old fixture seamlessly, giving you can updated look while still preserving the integrity of the existing design.

Save money and time

Secondly, retrofitting saves money and time compared to full fixture replacements. It is more cost-effective and convenient to replace the existing bulbs with LED ones. When a fixture is replaced, it may need additional wiring and possibly changes to the building structure to accommodate it. In some cases, the cost of retrofitting an LED system may be up to 75% lower than the cost of a full fixture replacement.

NET LED Lighting’s Retrofit Gear Trays can directly replace most existing circular 2D gear trays and come in a variety of options including Emergency, Self Test Emergency, Microwave Sensor, and Photocell. Designed with multiple mounting points, these Gear Trays can be fitted into existing bulkhead housings quickly and easily. Additionally, the push connectors ensure fast wiring, so contractors waste no more time on site than necessary.

Proudly manufactured right here in our Cambridge facility, we’re able to respond to demand quickly and reduce product lead time – ideal for those projects that span across several months and need lighting supplied on a back-to-back basis.

More energy efficient

Another benefit of retrofitting is increased energy efficiency. LED lighting technology has been shown to be significantly more energy-efficient than traditional lighting sources, which is why it’s a popular choice in the industry. With retrofitting, LED lighting is designed to operate at optimal energy efficiency without overloading the system or fixtures. The result is a reduction in electricity consumption, thus a reduction in electricity costs, without sacrificing the quality of light.

Less waste

Lastly, retrofitting LED lighting has environmental benefits. LEDs are more environmentally friendly as they do not contain toxic substances like mercury and other heavy metals found in fluorescent lighting. They also have a much longer lifespan compared to traditional bulbs. This means fewer lights end up in landfills, making it a more sustainable and eco-friendly solution.

NET LED Lighting offers energy-efficient and economical LED T5 and T8 Tubes. In comparison to fluorescent lamps, these light sources can save up to 80% in energy costs. Moreover, they do not contain any hazardous materials, making them an eco-friendlier alternative to other lighting options.

And the best thing about them? They have more diverse capacity for installation, thanks to not needing ballasts like their fluorescent counterparts. They can be installed in practically any fixture that accommodates traditional fluorescent tubes. They can also be installed with new LED Emergency Kits.

How much does it cost to convert to LED?

Lighting is one of the most critical components of any living or working space, whether it’s a commercial or residential area. While traditional lighting such as incandescent or fluorescent may have served you well in the past, it is essential to embrace newer and more efficient options. With a vast array of benefits, converting to LED lighting is no longer an option, but a necessity.

So, how much does it cost to convert to LED lighting?

LEDs are not only brighter than traditional lights but are also energy efficient, resulting in significant savings on energy bills. One of the benefits of switching to LED lighting is that they last much longer, and so the bulbs need to be replaced far less often. On average, an LED bulb can last up to 35,000 hours or longer. In contrast, a traditional incandescent bulb will typically last around 1,000 hours. The cost of replacing traditional lighting and fixtures is more than enough reason to upgrade to LED.

In the long run, LED lighting is more cost-effective compared to traditional lighting. However, there is a bit of an investment when it comes to initial costs. When you purchase an LED fitting, the initial cost will be more than the price of a traditional fitting. However, LED lighting has become more affordable, and prices have continued to drop. When making the switch, it’s important to think about the cost of replacement fittings, and how often they will need to be replaced.

While some people may worry that LED lighting is too expensive, it is vital to note that it pays off in the long term. The amount you can save in energy and maintenance costs make LED lighting an affordable option. You’ll also contribute to a more sustainable planet by reducing energy consumption.

How long do retrofit LED lights last?

Fluorescent lamps typically have a lifespan of around 10,000 hours, while incandescent lamps only last around 1,000 hours. These lamps often need to be changed earlier than expected due to their quick lumen depreciation and limited lifespan, prompting electricians to opt for simultaneous replacements to save costs.

LED lighting, on the other hand, offers extremely low maintenance requirements with its longer lifespan – up to 35,000 hours or more. This allows end users to utilise LED lighting for prolonged periods without ever having to replace it; LED lighting remains above 70% brightness for their entire life and will last until their intended use is over. This means that LED lighting can last up to 35 times longer than traditional bulbs, which can save you a significant amount of money in replacement costs over time.

To summarise…

Retrofitting an existing lighting system with LED lighting offers numerous benefits over replacing complete fixtures, including lower energy costs, maintenance costs, improved aesthetics, and a lower cost of investment. By making the switch to LED, electrical contractors can help their customers save money, reduce energy usage, and create a better environment. Not to mention, saving a heap of time on site when installing!

NET LED Lighting have a catalogue of LED lighting all in stock ready for Next Day Delivery when ordered before 6pm. From 3H Emergency to Microwave Sensor, DALI Dimmable and Bluetooth wireless controls… you name it, we’ve got it.