I have been through a lot of commercial buildings in my years, some small, some huge, and one thing keeps on occurring. The moment I step inside I can almost guess the age of the lighting system without having to look up more than a second. You feel it in the lumpy, irregular light or the throbbing of old light. I once did a tour of a warehouse in Indianapolis where half the fluorescent tubes had dark ends and a slight buzz. The manager told me they were “good enough” but the place was looking tired and their energy bills were spiraling. It reminded me how many properties in the city are holding on to outdated systems even when a retrofit would be a cost-effective upgrade.
That is why lighting retrofits are still one of the most practical improvements for commercial real estate owners. When you upgrade your lighting, you are doing more than just replacing bulbs. You modify energy consumption, light quality, and tenant satisfaction. And, maybe, you help your building to take its first real step towards sustainability.
Indianapolis has a wide variety of older office buildings, manufacturing facilities, retail spaces and warehouses. Many are based on existing lighting systems that were installed long before LED lighting became standard. I think that many owners under-estimates the amount that these older fixtures are taking out of their operation budget. When I compare two buildings, one that has a modern LED lighting retrofit and then another one that doesn’t, the amount of energy use difference is easy to spot.
In addition, LED technology is highly energy efficient, has a longer lifespan, and has a light quality that increases the quality of lighting for workers and customers. When you hear the argument of maintenance costs for older fixtures, you see the argument becomes even clearer. Every burned out tube or replacement of the ballast takes a toll on productivity. It may not seem pressing at first, but over a period of years, it is a huge cost.
A retrofit causes a change to happen immediately. Some case studies show commercial LED projects reducing the energy use almost half. For example, the DOE itself reported upgraded lighting systems that achieved deep savings in a large federal facility. It depends on the space of course, but even humble improvements accumulate quickly. Better light quality also positively contributes to comfort, focus and safety, something property managers speak of frequently when discussing their lighting requirements.
People sometimes think of retrofitting as ripping everything apart but it varies. Some spaces just require a simple retrofit of an LED, replacing the existing light fixtures with energy-efficient LED lighting. Others require a complete lighting upgrade complete with advanced controls. Either way, the goal remains, reduce energy, improve lighting and increase longevity of the lighting fixtures.
A retrofit is an assessment of your existing lighting systems, an examination of how the space is used, and a way to pair the right lighting solution to every space. High bay commercial lighting is often required in the warehouse. Offices may benefit from fixtures that will support even, glare free light. Retail environments typically require lighting that will highlight products without taking more energy than needed.
When you approach the project the right way, you have energy efficient LED results that will help your property to run more smoothly. And when you do the numbers for the return on investment you often find the numbers are in your favour much quicker than imagined.
Somewhere in the middle of your retrofit planning you will start comparing contenders, quotes and scopes of work. At this point, you should consider the help of an Indianapolis commercial electrician who is familiar with the local market and building types. I have talked to contractors who tell me how frequently they come into a project and notice mismatched parts and poor installations installed. It is preventable with the proper team.
A knowledgeable partner is one that makes sure your lighting fixtures fit your building needs, the electrical system can handle the upgrade and the installation goes smoothly. You also get access to insight on rebate and incentive programs that Indianapolis businesses can access. These programs can decrease the initial cost of LED lighting retrofit work and enhance your financial situation.
I can recall a property owner informing me that he was surprised by how much less energy his building consumed after they switched to commercial LED setups. He thought he was going to see small improvements but admits he underestimated the difference. Stories like that occur because a well done retrofit can affect a building’s performance.
A lighting retrofit typically has a very simple path. Some parts are predictable, not as much, but each step is important.
Teams tour the building, inspect the existing light, measure, and determine what components of the lighting system are lagging behind. It always surprises me how many facilities are running on older fixtures just because nobody took the time to count them.
The designer selects retrofit solutions that are appropriate for the building. For offices, it may be edge lit panels. For warehouses, high bays. For outdoor areas, energy efficient area lighting. The design also takes into account energy saving and the long-term energy saving.
This stage is commonly faster than one expects. Many times, there are small disruptions in the operation of facilities. With LED lighting, the installation involves the replacement of outdated equipment using the best LED fit for the space.
Dimming systems, occupancy sensors and networked controls allow the building to use less energy and enhance lighting. This is where efficient lighting and LED technology combine to provide the biggest performance jump.
Once installed, the building tests light levels, checks on fixture performance and verifies that the system results in the expected energy efficiency improvements.
Commercial real estate encompasses many types of buildings. Each gains unique benefits to retrofit services.
No two buildings have the same needs, but all of them have to deal with rising energy costs. Retrofitting gives them the opportunity to save energy, utilize less energy, and boost the system’s life of their lighting fixtures.
When owners ask me about cost I usually tell them the same thing. Plus, look at the full picture and not just the price of the fixture. A retrofit can seem like a significant step to take, but when you combine rebates, incentive programs, and lower energy bills, it becomes easier to justify the retrofit. As documented by the EPA, LED lighting retrofits at a large campus reduced energy consumption by about 15 % in one year.
In Indianapolis, businesses frequently qualify for rebate opportunities via the local utilities. These programs motivate building owners to become more light-conscious and reward them for considering energy efficient LED solutions. I have seen owners get a large percentage of their project cost back through these programs. It encourages them to do something sooner rather than postpone one more year.
Many retrofits fail in the face of small errors that compound over time.
A well planned retrofit addresses these problems before they occur. Any Indianapolis commercial project benefits from the expert review and proper planning. Lighting retrofit services deliver long term stability and better lighting than can be achieved with older fixtures.
Quality determines how your retrofit works over time. Better equipment implies less service calls, better light levels, and better performance. Lower cost parts might look appealing in the short term but usually compromise the benefits in the long term. When I compare two similar facilities, one using high quality commercial LEDs parts and one using the discount fixtures, the difference is easily apparent in a year’s time.
A retrofit should increase performance, but not introduce new problems. That is why retrofit solutions focus on long lasting parts working well in commercial environments.
After installation, most owners see the difference almost immediately. Spaces feel brighter. He lighting system gets more consistent. Tenants approximate the improvement. And the energy bills, well, those usually just start dropping from the first cycle.
Lighting upgrade projects often are even more valuable than owners anticipate. They help in sustainability goals, lower maintenance costs and create a better environment for employees and customers.
If you want to retrofit your property so it’s more up-to-date, add more lights, or just want to save energy, a retrofit is one of the smartest places to begin. Retrofitting looks easy on paper, but the impact it has on your building and your finances is long lasting.
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