Looking for ways to reduce your monthly utility bills? Or are you trying to be more environmentally conscious? Tired of constantly having to replace failed lamps? Either way, a lighting project is right up that alley! If you are not happy with your existing light sources, retrofitting to LED must be one of your priorities this year.
LED lighting is the perfect solution to outdated, underperforming lighting. Unlike the old ones, the LED technology is worth the time and expense. In addition to eliminating the hassle of regular replacement and maintenance, this ultra-efficient light source also confers a multitude of other benefits and helps solve even more issues.
But What Exactly Is An LED Retrofit?
There are two ways of transitioning to LED lighting. You can either retrofit LEDs or have LED light fixtures installed. The difference between the two is a simple one: Retrofitting involves adding something new. This can be a part of an accessory. You can look at it as a form of conversion.
While LED light fixtures involve removing previous lighting fixtures and replacing them with new fixtures designed and built using LED technology, retrofitting to LED, essentially means using the existing light fixtures in the building. It will convert the current fixtures into LED ones through simple screw-in options or retrofit kits.
But why choose led lighting retrofits? More and more people are switching from the old, traditional lighting fixtures to LED lights for several reasons. Convenient for interior lighting, exterior lighting, and small lighting in mechanical applications, these versatile lighting options offer an array of benefits to homeowners:
How Do I Benefit From An LED Retrofit?
1. Enhanced Energy Efficiency Guaranteed
LED technology is proven to be highly energy-efficient and is an excellent way to drastically reduce energy usage in all installations in your home or building. Switching from conventional lighting to these more energy-efficient lighting solutions can reduce energy usage by up to 75% or more.
2. Less Maintenance Required
Unlike incandescent lighting that lasts for only 1,000 to 2,000 hours, many LEDs have a rated life of up to 50,000 hours! These LED lights can, therefore, last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting. And the longer the lightings last, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, you will have to deal with fewer replacements and less maintenance.
3. Heat Production Drastically Reduced
You’ll often hear that LED lights don’t produce heat. It is true – but only to some extent. While LEDs are often cool to the touch, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t produce heat. Heat is actually produced within the LED device itself. But, unlike incandescent lighting that uses most of its energy through the production of heat, LED lighting produces very little heat.
4. Environment-Friendly
Fluorescent, or incandescent, lights are not made from materials that are environmentally friendly. LED lighting, on the other hand, are not only more eco-friendly based on the fact that they are around 80% more efficient than traditional lighting, but they are also made from materials that are much more earth-friendly.
5. Focused Lighting
Other types of lighting on the market generally require reflectors to focus on only one specific location. Unlike these types of lights, however, LEDs can produce light in a specific direction. This property of LED lights allows the light to be focused in the desired location without the need for reflectors.
6. Inexpensive
Switching to LED does not have to be a costly affair. Even if it costs a bit to swap to LED light fixtures, you will recoup the costs of switching in a relatively short time. And if you want an even cheaper option, there is still retrofitting with LED screw-in lamps. Retrofitting is the least expensive way option available to those who need or want an upgrade to accommodate LED technology. Retrofitting is just as cost-effective as it also helps in lowering electricity bills.
7. Easy and Fast Installation
We don’t deny that retrofit fixtures can be a bit more complex than other regular installation. You will have to make sure that they adapt to the existing light fixtures after all. Yet, they are still relatively easy to install. The retrofit LED simply requires placing the plug-in LED options into existing fixtures.
8. Wide Variety of Choice
The great thing with retrofitting is that you have a huge variety of LED retrofit products to choose from. There are several types of LEDs lights available on the market to fit into existing lighting fixtures. This means that you have the option to have an energy efficient lighting wand that not only matches the wattage you want, but that also helps you achieve the desired look you want in specific rooms in your house. The only con with retrofitting LEDs is that the maximum lumen strength is limited by the existing fixtures.