WHEN TO GET A LIGHTING RETROFIT FOR YOUR BUILDING
Many of us don’t invest too much time thinking about their building lighting unless a light bulb goes out or a ballast dies. Your lighting plays a major role in different parts of your building from safety to productivity. Guaranteeing that your lighting works and will keep on working is an important step to take.
As a lighting system ages it becomes time to upgrade. At first, you might be thinking you need to replace your lighting system. That isn’t always needed though. Many lighting systems can be retrofitted instead of replaced.
How would you know if your building is candidate for retrofitting?
The Age Plays A Big Role
The age of your building plays a big role in whether or not it can be retrofitted. Any building that is older than 10 years may be using outdated bulbs. T12 type fluorescent bulbs, for example, are no longer allowed in the United States under most circumstances. You will probably need to replace your system if it utilizes parts that aren’t still available.
If your building was built within 10 years, you are most likely a candidate for a lighting retrofit. Many of the old buildings can still be retrofited but it is on a case by case basis.
Increase Energy Efficiency and Cut Cost
Even if your lighting system is currently working, you might still want to invest in a lighting retrofit. Many older lighting systems have bad energy efficiency. Retrofitting your system could be a good option if you are looking to save money on your electrical bill. You can also save money on light bulbs as they last for longer with more modern systems.
A few cities will offer financial incentives to buildings looking to upgrade their energy effeciency. Make sure to check with your local power company to see if you can further benefit from lighting retrofit.
An energy efficient lighting system looks good to customers. It also looks good to potential buyers if you are looking to sell your building any time soon. Some buyers may only want energy efficient buildings.
More Lighting Customization And Control
Modern lighting systems allow you to control your lighting a lot better. From programming timers to remotely controlling the lights, a retrofit can give you access to even more lighting features. Depending on your retrofit choices, dimming can also be added to your system. This gives workers a better choice over the lighting in rooms.
Sometimes blaring lights can be counterproductive to a workspace. Often times finding the right balance in brightness can help your workers to get more done. It also makes presentations easier to give.
Improve Your Lighting Without Replacing It
Does your current lighting system not adequately light your property? Completely replacing your lighting system can be quite costly. It also probably isn’t needed. A complete replacement takes more time, more money, and requires more work than you will need.
During a retrofit of your lighting system you can add new light fixtures, change positions of your current ones, and select better lighting overall. This can be especially helpful if you bought a building that wasn’t properly setup for your business’s lighting needs. Retrofits of systems do not just have to be about broken systems, you can use them to enhance your systems.
Do You Like The Appearance Of Your Lighting System?
Building owners often have a different opinions about their lighting systems. Particularly in the event that they bought the building instead of built it. If you like the lighting system of your building, or more specifically, the cosmetics parts of the system, at that point your a good candidate for a retrofit.
Do You Have A Custom Lighting System
Custom lighting systems tend to be purpose built for a building. When this is so, you will have issues with standard parts fitting the system. A lighting expert or electrician will help you to get a better idea of whether or not your system can be retrofitted.
When picking to have a retrofit of your building’s lighting system, you have a lot of options. Picking the right lighting company to work with can make a big difference. You want to find a well rated lighting company and one that has experience working with your type of building.