A lighting retrofit can provide significant energy savings and a really fast payback, not to mention higher quality lighting and reduced maintenance. But if you don’t start with a professional audit to accurately assess the existing lights, current energy usage, and potential savings, it’s impossible to tell if a project would make any sense, financially or otherwise. Here are a few things that a lighting professional is able to tell through an audit:
- What kind of lighting technology is in use, how much energy it’s consuming and how many footcandles of light it’s providing
- Which replacement lights would provide the best savings while still meeting energy efficiency standards, lighting codes, and the occupants’ lighting needs
- When the cost of the latest solid-state lighting and control products can be justified by the results
In addition, lighting professionals have relationships with manufacturers and distributors that ensure the best possible pricing on new products. They are familiar with all the energy efficiency incentive programs that can defray the cost of a project. And they know how to finance a project so that the payments are completely covered by the energy savings. When it comes to the installation, a professional lighting company will have the OHSA training required to assure the safety of both workers and building occupants. They know how to complete an installation without disrupting daily operations, and they are often able to do so in half the time it would take an in-house maintenance staff. So, while changing light bulbs may seem like a do-it-yourself project, a full-scale lighting retrofit is probably best left to the pros.