How to Reduce Energy Costs With Retrofitted Lighting Systems

Introduction

Reducing energy costs is a major concern for many homeowners and business owners. Old, inefficient lighting systems can consume a significant amount of energy and drive up electricity bills. Retrofitting your existing lighting with newer, more efficient systems is one of the most effective ways to reduce energy costs. In this article, I will provide an in-depth look at retrofitted lighting and how it can help cut your energy usage and costs.

What is Retrofitted Lighting?

Retrofitted lighting refers to upgrading older lighting systems with newer, more energy-efficient lighting technologies. This usually involves replacing outdated incandescent and fluorescent lighting with LED (light-emitting diode) or CFL (compact fluorescent) bulbs and fixtures.

The key benefits of retrofitted lighting include:

• Lower energy usage - LED and CFL bulbs require significantly less electricity than traditional bulbs. Replacing old bulbs can reduce lighting energy use by 50-70%.

• Longer lifespan - LED and CFL bulbs last much longer than incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, meaning fewer bulb replacements.

• Improved light quality - LEDs provide bright, natural-looking light. CFLs have improved greatly in light quality.

• Reduced maintenance costs - The long lifespans of LEDs and CFLs lead to less frequent bulb replacements.

• Safety - LEDs and CFLs produce less heat than traditional bulbs, reducing fire hazards.

Calculating Potential Energy Savings

To determine the potential energy and cost savings from retrofitted lighting, you need to calculate your existing lighting usage. Here are the key steps:

• Conduct an audit - Document all existing bulbs/fixtures and note their wattages and estimated daily usage hours.

• Calculate total wattage - Add up the wattages of all your existing bulbs and fixtures.

• Estimate annual lighting costs - Using your utility's rate per kWh, calculate the estimated annual cost to run your current lighting system.

• Determine retrofit options - Research LED or CFL replacements for your current bulbs and note their wattages.

• Compare wattages - Contrast the total wattages of your current and proposed new lighting systems.

• Estimate new costs - Using the lower wattage of retrofitted lighting, calculate the new potential annual lighting costs.

• Calculate savings - Subtract the new costs from your current annual lighting costs to determine possible energy savings.

As an example, replacing ten 60W incandescent bulbs (600W total) with 10 LED bulbs (100W total) can reduce lighting energy use by 500W. At 10 cents per kWh, this could save $438 per year.

Retrofitting Different Lighting Types

There are several options for retrofitting common lighting systems with more efficient bulbs and fixtures:

Incandescent/Halogen Fixtures

• Replace bulbs with equivalent LED bulbs. These screw or pin-based bulbs can directly replace most incandescent/halogen bulbs.

• Install new fixtures designed for integrated, non-replaceable LED boards or modules.

Fluorescent Tube Fixtures

• Tube LED retrofit kits directly replace fluorescent tubes and ballasts. Maintains existing fixture housing.

• New LED wraparound fixtures designed to install in place of fluorescent fixtures. Include integrated LED panels or tubes.

High/Low Bay Fixtures

• LED corn cob bulbs designed to replace metal halide and high/low bay fixtures. Provide wide light distribution.

• New LED high/low bay fixtures to completely replace existing inefficient fixtures. Optimized for commercial/industrial spaces.

Street/Area/Flood Lights

• LED replacement lamps screw or slot into existing street light, flood light, and security light housings.

• New LED area light fixtures that completely replace outdated fixtures. Ideal for streets, parking areas, and perimeter lighting.

Controlling Retrofitted Lighting

To maximize energy efficiency, retrofitted lighting should be paired with lighting controls. Options include:

• Occupancy sensors - Automatically turn lights on/off based on room occupancy. Help eliminate waste in vacant rooms.

• Daylight harvesting - Light sensors dim or turn off artificial light based on ample natural light. Can reduce daytime lighting costs.

• Smart lighting controls - Advanced systems like wireless mesh networks allow remote lighting control via apps and automation. Enable customized settings.

• Timers and schedules - Automate lights to match business hours or household activity times. Avoid lighting empty spaces.

Retrofit Process and Considerations

Here is an overview of the typical retrofit process:

• Audit lighting and research replacements - Assess all existing lighting and identify retrofit options as outlined earlier.

• Verify electrical compatibility - Ensure new LED/CFL fixtures will work with your existing electrical systems.

• Develop retrofit plan - Create a detailed plan for replacing old lighting with specific new fixtures and bulbs. Include required materials, costs, labor, timelines.

• Install new lighting - Remove old lighting and install new, energy-efficient fixtures and bulbs. Use qualified electricians as needed.

• Adjust controls - Program and configure any new lighting control systems. Adjust settings to match usage patterns.

• Dispose of old lighting - Properly recycle or dispose of outdated, hazardous lighting components like ballasts and mercury bulbs.

Some final factors to consider:

• Budget for all retrofit expenses: new fixtures/bulbs, labor, disposal, electrical work.

• Stagger the transition over time to spread out costs.

• Choose ENERGY STAR-certified LED bulbs and fixtures for ensured quality and efficiency.

With smart planning and installation, retrofitted lighting delivers major energy savings and quickly pays back the initial investment through lower electricity costs. Using less energy also helps reduce environmental impacts. By converting to LEDs and CFLs, any home or business can reduce lighting costs and increase sustainability over the long term.