Fluorescent Lamp Retrofit

Upgrading to LED technology is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make, however making the decision to switch to LED is only half the battle. There is another important decision to make: to either retrofit your current fittings or buy new fittings.

We know that if you’re a business owner or a decision-maker, there’s nothing you want more than to save your company money. Reducing your environmental footprint and helping save the planet also play a role.

Retrofitting can help you save money and positively impact your business’s bottom line because good lighting increases employee productivity. By replacing the conventional lamps and ballasts in your existing light fittings with LEDs, you can lower energy consumption by up to 75%. Add lighting controls, and energy consumption will go down even more – by as much as 90%.

WHY IS THERE A BAN ON FLUORESCENT LAMPS?

There are several reasons for the EU, and GB, implementing this ban on fluorescent lamps. The main drivers are that these lamps contain mercury which is classified as a hazardous material. Secondly with alternative light sources, namely LED, being much more efficient the banning of fluorescent lamps will aid the drive for efficiency.

This ban from 1st February 2024 also includes CFLni non-integrated lamps, CFLni long life lamps and T8 Long Life lamps. T8 lamps were banned from 1st September 2023 in Great Britain.

SUSTAINABILITY BENEFITS OF PHASING T5 LAMPS (AND OTHER FLUORESCENT LAMPS) IN FAVOUR OF LEDS

Undoubtedly removing fluorescent lamps will have an impact on the environment. The EU predicts that the switch from fluorescent lamps to other light sources will save approximately 1.8 metric tonnes of toxic mercury.

The move to ban fluorescent lamps will also contribute significantly to achieving Net Zero. The UK government predicts that by phasing out fluorescent lighting and with 85% of all lamps sold being LEDs the result will be to reduce carbon emissions by 1.26 million tonnes per year. T8 lamps would have been outlawed anyway, regardless of the newest RoHS regulation regarding mercury, because of their inefficiency.

The recent COP27 summit highlighted the gap between where we are now and the commitment towards achieving net zero by 2050 according to the Green Deal and the Paris agreement in 2015. There is still a long way to go to reverse the growing effects of climate change and the increasing concerns over natural resource scarcity.

LED replacement or retrofit is your sustainable solution.

The fluorescent lamp phase-out plays an integral role in the EU’s commitment to cut emissions by 55% by 2030, aiming to become the first region to reach climate neutrality by 2050.

RETROFITS

LED retrofits are the optimal refurbishment solution to meet the increased standards and directives but also to reduce your negative impact on the environment.

They also offer advantages in terms of lighting quality, service life, installation and operational safety.

REDUCED MAINTENANCE COSTS

As well as dwindling supplies, high maintenance costs are one of the biggest downsides of high-intensity discharge lamps. The lamps have very short life expectancies and a very high rate of lumen depreciation, so they usually have to be replaced before they even reach the end of their lives. Changing these lamps is time-consuming, and electricians typically change them all at once to reduce expenses.

On the other hand, LEDs have very low maintenance costs as they have the longest lifespans of all lighting technologies. Their shortest lifespan is 50,000 hours, which means you can use them for years without having to replace them. They also retain 70% of their brightness for their lifetime and won’t need replacing before their useful life ends.

LESS WASTE

As a responsible product manufacturer, we recognise that we are responsible for promoting a greener future and are committed to embracing a more circular economy, contributing to the lighting industry’s progression.

LED lights are designed to last. When you upgrade your lighting to LED, you may purchase fewer lights as new generation LEDs have a high luminous efficacy – meaning they produce more lumens for each watt of electricity they consume. Since LEDs have a long lifespan, you won’t have to replace them for years, which means fewer materials will end up in landfills. LED retrofits use fewer materials than completely new fittings, lowering the total cost and the amount of material that needs to be recycled or thrown away. Fluorescent lamps and some HIDs contain mercury, which can harm the environment if not disposed of properly. Switching to mercury-free LEDs and using fewer lamps means reducing waste and conserving resources.

CONTROL OPTIONS

Don’t let limited wiring options hold you back. As standard, we offer three types of driver: fixed output/switched, DALI dimmable, and 1-10V dimmable.

Functionality can be further improved further with wireless technology utilising an application on your smartphone or tablet and including emergency lighting test, control and monitoring system.

NEW OPTICS

Over time you may find that the diffusers fitted to your luminaires become brittle and discoloured. This is caused by the diffuser material absorbing ultraviolet light affecting the aesthetics and can ruin the expected gains from retrofitting.

We offer an assortment of replacement diffuser options in several sizes suited to our extrusions but can also create custom diffusers using our CNC router and CO2 laser. Options include opal, satin frosted, micro-prism (UGR < 19).

Our retrofit trays utilise a strong neodymium magnet attachment system for easy installation and maintenance.