Lighting upgrades are one of the easiest ways to save energy, but there are still several things to consider as outlined in an article in Buildings.
The first step is to establish your lighting goals. You’ll need to select either LEDs or other energy efficient lighting technology. Besides decreasing energy costs, do you want functions such as dimming or automated controls and sensors? Even if you can’t afford controls now, you can ensure the fixtures allow for controls in the future, says the article.
It’s also important to measure light levels and evaluate safety considerations as well as appearance, taking into account lumen output, wattage and color rendering. The article recommends trying some replacement fixtures before committing to a huge retrofit.
