Making LED Upgrades Easy:
Moving from T8 to LED + Controls
Dan Mellinger, PE, LC
Lighting Strategy Manager
Better Buildings by Design
February 3, 2016
1
Agenda
1. Market Potential for T8 to LED
2. T8 to LED Upgrade Opportunities
• Options, Considerations, Economics, Rebates
3. Integrated Lighting Controls
• Options, Benefits, Economics, Rebates
2
2
Excluding residential sales
LED products account for
85% of the savings within
Commercial & Industrial
3
3
4
4
5
5
Agenda
1. Market Potential for T8 to LED
2. T8 to LED Upgrade Opportunities
• Options, Considerations, Economics, Rebates
3. Integrated Lighting Controls
• Options, Benefits, Economics, Rebates
6
6
T8 to LED Upgrade Options
• Entire fixture is replaced
Luminaire Replacement
LED Retrofit Kit
LED Linear Lamp (Tube)
• Delivers the best lighting
performance
• Offers the deepest
energy savings
• Works well with controls
• More expensive upfront
(material + labor)
7
7
T8 to LED Upgrade Options
Luminaire Replacement
LED Retrofit Kit
LED Linear Lamp (Tube)
• Electrical and some/all
optical components
replaced
• Can deliver good lighting
performance
• Can offer deep energy
savings
• May work with controls
• Less expensive upfront
8
8
T8 to LED Upgrade Options
Luminaire Replacement
LED Retrofit Kit
LED Linear Lamp (Tube)
• T8 lamp replaced; ballast
may or may not be replaced
• All optical components
remain
• Lighting performance
depends on existing fixture
• Energy savings is variable
• May not work with controls
• Cheapest upfront cost
9
9
Which Option is Right for You?
LED Fixture
LED Retrofit Kit
LED Tube
$75-250
$50-200
$15-40 per tube
Med-High
Med-High
Low-Med
30-60%
30-60%
20-50%
Lighting
Performance
Best
Better
Good
Controls
Compatible
Yes
Yes
Maybe
$50 per fixture
$50 per kit
$5 per tube
Material Cost
Labor
Potential Savings
Efficiency Vermont
Rebate
10
10
Considerations: LED Lumen Output
• Specifying lumen output for LED fixtures can be challenging
• If matching the existing light level is desired:
2x4 T8
Recommended
2x4 LED Lumens
2x2 T8
U-shape
Recommended
2x2 LED Lumens
2 lamps
3,000 – 4,500
2 lamps
2,000 – 3,500
3 lamps
4,500 – 6,000
3 lamps
3,500 – 5,000
4 lamps
6,000 – 7,500
• Lumen output ranges account for variations in T8 lamp
wattage, ballast factor, and fixture efficiency
• These are rough guidelines are should not replace
professional lighting guidance!
11
11
Considerations: Glare
LED fixtures may introduce glare
• Minimally shielded LEDs
• Light sources with small surface
areas
Before
• Tube LEDs with narrow beam
angles (< 140 degrees)
Be mindful of glare when evaluating
fixture styles, tube retrofits, and
mounting heights
After
12
12
DLC Product Qualification
DesignLights Consortium® qualifies LED
products for:
• Efficacy, lumen output, CRI, color
temp, lifetime (L70 ), warranty, and reliability
DLC does not currently evaluate flicker or glare
Most LED fixture rebates from Efficiency Vermont require
DLC qualification
Search qualified products at: www.designlights.org/qpl
13
13
Agenda
1. Market Potential for T8 to LED
2. T8 to LED Upgrade Opportunities
• Options, Considerations, Economics, Rebates
3. Integrated Lighting Controls
• Options, Benefits, Economics, Rebates
14
14
Why Controls?
In many cases, code requires occupancy & daylight controls
Beyond code, controls offer much greater energy savings
LEDs are a great match for controls
• Easily dimmable
• Not impacted by cycling
Adding controls at a later date, after an LED upgrade,
will be difficult to justify economically
15
15
Historical Adoption Rates are Low
High Volume
Low Volume
16
16
Historical Adoption Rates are Low
Source: 2011 Vermont Market Characterization and Assessment Study, Navigant
17
17
Past Stumbling Blocks for Controls
Pairing lighting with traditional, stand-alone controls
Wiring
• Extra branch circuit and/or low voltage wiring required
• Adds material & labor cost in existing spaces
Added Component Cost & Complexity
• Listed as separate components; target for cuts during VE
• Complex installation/commissioning leads to higher quotes
Poor Performance
• Fluorescent typically used switching rather than dimming
• Poor sensor placement/coverage = poor performance
• Customer dissatisfaction
18
18
Integrated Lighting Controls (ILC)
• Occupancy & daylight sensors embedded in the fixture
• Wireless programming, configuration, zoning
19
19
Integrated Lighting Control Benefits
Integrated lighting controls offer a remedy to many of the
challenges that have plagued lighting controls for years
þ Easier to specify, install & commission
þ No additional wiring costs
þ Provides better performance through
more granular coverage
þ Easily complies with code
þ Offers higher energy
savings potential
þ Single product warranty
20
20
$100 - $160
2016 Rebate
21
21
Market Acceptance of ILC
According to 2014-15 market research performed by
Sacramento Municipal Utility District:
1. Customers said they really like the appearance of LED
kits and fixtures
2. Electricians said that installation of these products
was straight forward
3. Customers and electricians both love the benefits of
having the sensors embedded in the fixtures
Efficiency Vermont will be completing additional market
acceptance testing in 2016
22
22
ILC Recommended Applications
• Small Open Offices
• Private Offices
• Classrooms
• Conference Rooms
• Stairwells
• Libraries
Troffer/Linear
• Gymnasiums
• Warehouses
• Cold Storage
High-bay
• Exterior Parking
• Site Lighting
Exterior
Areas to avoid: large open offices, reception, restaurants,
retail, restrooms, active corridors, 3-shift manufacturing,
widely spaced exterior fixtures
23
23
Energy Savings Potential: LED + ILC
LED Troffers
LED High Bay
LED Exterior
with integrated
occupancy and
daylight sensors:
with integrated
occupancy and
daylight sensors:
with integrated
occupancy and
daylight sensors:
up to 75%
up to 75%
up to 85%
24
24
Summary
1. A significant energy savings opportunity exists
for existing T8 fluorescent fixtures
2. T8 fixtures can be upgraded to LED using
fixtures, retrofit kits, or tubes
3. Integrated lighting controls can be a convenient
option for complying with code and delivering
deep energy savings
Contact info: Dan Mellinger| dmellinger@veic.org | 802-540-7648
25
25
Hidden Slides
26
26
27
27
Considerations: Flicker
• Flicker is the rapid variation of brightness from a light
source
• All light sources flicker to some degree, usually as a
consequence of drawing power from a 60 Hz AC source
• T8 and T5 fluorescent lighting exhibit almost no flicker
• Some LED fixtures exhibit flicker, especially when dimmed
• No standards currently exist; Flicker can be evaluated inperson by conducting trial installations or visiting other
project sites
28
28
Comparing ILC to Traditional Controls
Type
Image
Cost
Coverage
Savings
Wall-switch
Mounted
Low
Poor
Average
Integrated
Medium
Excellent
Excellent
Remote
Mounted
High
Good
Excellent
29
29