20 Dec Difference Between Retrofit Lighting vs Professional Lighting
Lighting plays a key role in people’s everyday lives. It not only provides us with visibility, but it also affects mood and productivity. With the developments in lighting technology, more and more people have been looking for ways to improve the way they illuminate their spaces.
Many facilities, offices, and residential homes have been making the switch to LED lights because of their numerous benefits. These places either install new lighting fixtures or retrofit traditional lights with LED bulbs.
But what is the difference between retrofit lighting vs LED professional lighting? This article tackles the various benefits of LED retrofit and when you can consider this for your establishment.
What is an LED Retrofit?
The term “retrofit” means that a solutions provider is adding a new feature to a building that wasn’t part of its original plans. It can also be explained as converting a fixture or area. So, LED Retrofit lighting refers to converting all current light bulbs with LED bulbs.
This can be done in many parts of facilities including exterior and interior lighting as well as lighting for mechanical applications.
Benefits of an LED Retrofit
There are many reasons why lighting solutions providers like Stealth Ventures Corp. suggest LED Retrofit for their clients.
Better lighting quality
The Color Rendering Index (CRI) measures the quality of light. From 0 (grayscale) to 100 (natural light) lighting fixtures are given a rating. Higher ratings signify that the lighting quality is better. The best quality lights give a CRI of 90 and above.
High-quality traditional fixtures only receive CRI ratings between 70 to 80. On the other hand, most, if not all, LED fixtures receive excellent CRI ratings of 90. With this, establishments can improve the aesthetic as well as the quality of work by people. With an LED retrofit, you can provide better visibility to many, increasing safety.
Energy efficient
LED retrofit is preferred by many lighting experts because of its energy efficiency. Compared to fluorescent and other traditional lights, it has very low energy consumption.
How is this possible? Compared to older lights, LED futures use fewer watts to provide the light output. That’s why these lights don’t heat up compared to older lighting fixtures. With these lights installed, a building can cut 80% of energy costs annually.
Lower maintenance costs
The lifespan of LED lighting is also longer compared to traditional fixtures. Depending on the brand, these fixtures have a burn time of 50,000 to 100,000 hours. On top of that, fewer parts require replacement and maintenance for LED lights. There are many parts of traditional lights that need constant maintenance and replacement like the bulb and its ballasts.
How do you choose between retrofit lighting vs professional lighting?
When it comes to the lights in a facility, it’s best to consult with lighting solutions providers if your fixtures are applicable for retrofit. There are many things to consider for this lighting solution, which can include the following:
The kind of lights currently installed
It’s important to understand the difference between the fixture and luminaires before considering a lighting retrofit. Fixtures refer to the housing of the light while the luminaire refers to the bulb itself.
An LED retrofit refers to replacing the bulb in the current fixtures. Most LED bulbs available have retrofit configurations if you want to keep their current fixture. However, if you’re looking to replace the housing as well, then it no longer counts as a LED retrofit.
Lighting functions
There are many reasons why people undergo LED retrofit. Most do it to convert all luminous with energy-efficient bulbs. However, it may sometimes happen during facility renovations as well.
If the renovation only requires light replacement of bulbs, an LED retrofit is a proper choice. This allows a facility to improve the quality of lights and energy efficiency. However, if smart lighting solutions are to be installed, a replacement of the entire fixture is required, not an LED retrofit.
The structure needed for dimmable and smart configurations are not compatible with traditional fixtures. During cases like this, lighting solutions providers purchase or acquire better fixtures that will improve the optics of the entire space.
Key Takeaway
LED lights have provided many facilities with sustainable and energy-efficient options. That’s why many establishments consider retrofit lighting vs professional lighting. These options allow spaces to be equipped with the right kinds of lights to provide their occupants with better visibility and aesthetics.
If you want to consult with a lighting solutions provider about retrofit lights, contact us here at Stealth Ventures Corp. We are the leading LED lights supplier in the Philippines. Through our local and international partners, we are able to illuminate various establishments with the best luminaires in the country. Don’t hesitate to contact us here today to begin our collaboration.