9 Money-Saving Reasons to Convert Your Warehouse Lighting to LED

The cost to convert from fluorescent to LED lighting has come down dramatically in the past two years. Bryant-Denny and Jordan-Hare Stadium are just two of the many facilities that converted to LED from fluorescent or metal halide. LED lights:

• Reduce energy costs
• Provide better light
• Are more versatile

Fluorescent vs. LED Warehouse Lights

Before we get started, here’s a brief overview of how fluorescent lights are different from LED lights:

Fluorescent lights and CFLs - Put simply, fluorescent and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) use electricity to excite mercury atoms. The process generates light photons and heat. You can read a more detailed explanation here.

LEDs (light-emitting diodes) - are like little tiny light bulbs. They emit light when an electric current passes through a semiconducting material. The process is called electroluminescence. Learn more about the inner workings of LEDs here.

Watts and Lumens - Lumens describe the brightness of a light. Watts indicate how much energy the bulb/tube consumes.

Fluorescent bulbs use more watts to produce lower lumens compared to LED lights. Put another way: fluorescent bulbs consume more energy to produce less light. Here's a quick breakdown:

• T12 light fixtures have an output of about 86 lumens per watt.
• T5 high-output (HO) fluorescent lights generate up to 93 lumens per watt.
• Today’s LED warehouse lights can generate 120 lumens per watt.

Getting more brightness for your buck is just the first of many reasons to convert your warehouse from fluorescent to LED lighting. Here's another big reason: your existing high bay lights cost more than you may realize.

6 Reasons Fluorescent Lights Cost More Than You Think

LED warehouse lights use 60-80 percent less energy compared to their fluorescent counterparts — not just because of their stronger lumens per watt output.

1. Fluorescent lights become less efficient over time. As they age, fluorescent lights require more electricity to produce the same amount of light.
2. Around two-thirds of the way through its lifespan, a fluorescent light can start to flicker. When multiple lights in a fixture are flickering, it's pretty annoying, so many operations replace the bulbs early (before they’ve completely burnt out).
3. Fluorescents need to “warm-up,” and during this time they’re consuming energy but not producing much light. LEDs provide light instantaneously.
4. Fluorescent lights generate heat in addition to light, whereas LED lights use all of the energy they consume to produce light.
5. Fluorescent lights produce 360 degrees of light, but most people don’t need omnidirectional light. By default, LEDs produce 180 degrees of light, so you’re not wasting energy illuminating the top of the fixture.
6. Fluorescent lights typically last about 10,000 hours, but motion sensors that turn lights on and off can shorten that lifespan. LED warehouse lights last 50,000 - 100,000 hours (or more) and can be turned on and off as much as you want without damaging the light. 

3 More Cost-Saving Reasons to Convert to LED Warehouse Lighting

Replace Lights Less Often

Think about how much it costs to have someone replace some or all of your overhead lights. When considering the price, be sure to include any aerial equipment you may need to rent and downtime that may be incurred. Now cut that cost by 80 percent. When your lights last five times longer, you replace them less often.

Smart Lighting

Technically, fluorescent lights can be dimmed. But a dim fluorescent produces poor-quality light, and they tend to flicker, which is hard on the eyes. 

With LEDs, you can customize your lighting to meet your exact needs. They’re perfect for smart lighting solutions that automatically go on, off, or dim depending on the time of day or occupancy. Unlike fluorescent lights, turning LEDs on or off frequently doesn’t shorten their lifespan.

Government Rebates and Incentives

A variety of rebates and incentives are available from local governments and energy companies. Our local experts can tell you what’s available in your area and help you apply for credits or other incentives.

LED Warehouse Lighting Retrofits in the Mid-South

If you’re ready to retrofit your warehouse or other facility with LED lights, we have some good news and bad news. 

The good news is: it’s more affordable than ever. 

The bad news? You have a lot of lighting options to choose from. With so many facilities choosing to convert from fluorescent to LED, many manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon

But there’s more good news - we’re here to help. We’ve worked with businesses throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee to convert their high bay lighting from fluorescent to LED. We know what brands sell quality LED lights and stand behind their products with a warranty. 

Whether you want a quick plug-and-play solution that doesn’t require expensive electrical installation, or if you’re ready to replace your fixtures with high-tech smart lighting, our experts will help you choose the right type of warehouse lighting for your needs and budget. 

Contact a warehouse lighting expert at The Lilly Company online or by phone 800-238-3006 with any questions you have, or visit us at one of our 13 locations across the Mid-South.

Arkansas - Jonesboro
Alabama - Birmingham, Dothan, Irondale, Madison, Mobile, and Montgomery
Mississippi - Tupelo and Richland
Tennessee - Jackson, Kingsport, Knoxville, and Memphis

Further Reading:
3 Money-Saving Warehouse Safety Products
Different Types of Pallet Racking for Warehouse Storage
Popular Warehouse Solutions We Provide