Key takeaways
- An LED retrofit can mean new lamps in old fixtures, retrofit kits, or new fixtures. Each has a different cost and life.
- Light levels and placement matter more than wattage. A retrofit should fix dark spots, not just swap lamps.
- Photocells, timers and occupancy sensors are part of the savings, and lighting changes can bring energy code control requirements.
- Pole and high-bay work is scheduled when the lot or floor is empty.
LED lighting retrofits are one of the most common commercial electrical jobs in San Antonio. Parking lots and warehouses built with metal halide or fluorescent fixtures use more power, take longer to come up to full light, and need lamps replaced more often. A well planned LED retrofit fixes all three.
Retrofit or replace
There are three ways to do it. Lamps that work in the existing fixture are the quickest, but they keep the old fixture and its wear. Retrofit kits replace the inside of the fixture and keep the housing. New fixtures replace everything. The right answer depends on the age and condition of what is up there now, and on how long you plan to keep the building.
Fix the light, not just the lamp
A retrofit is a chance to fix dark spots, glare and uneven light. In a parking lot that matters for safety and for how a business looks at night. In a warehouse it matters at the picking face and the loading dock. Placement and light levels should drive the plan, with wattage following from them.
Controls are part of the savings
Photocells and timers keep lot lights off in daylight. Occupancy sensors turn off warehouse aisles nobody is using. Changing lighting can also bring energy code requirements for controls, so they are part of the design from the start rather than an add-on.
Before you buy fixtures, ask whether a current CPS Energy commercial efficiency program applies to your project. The programs change, so check what is offered when you plan the work. Our commercial electrical services include lighting retrofits and parking lot lighting.
Planning the work
- Pole lights need a lift and a lot that is clear of cars, usually early morning or after close.
- High-bay work in a warehouse is scheduled around the shifts and the racking.
- Failed poles or bases are found during the survey, not after the fixtures arrive.
- Circuits and controls are labeled so the next service call is quick.
Homeowners asking the same questions about their own lights can read about our lighting installation service.