A light bulb is more than a check-off on a project blueprint. It’s a choice today’s energy-conscious consumers will want to know they have. In addition to saving money (and the planet), LED lighting gives a space personality and style with the flexibility to effortlessly change its look, feel, or purpose through a wide range of light color and outputs.

For example, using dim-to-warm technology, LED downlights in a restaurant can go from a warm intimate vibe in the dining room (1800K) to 3000K at full output needed for an entry or hallway.

It’s worth taking a longer look at the benefits of LEDs for your next light commercial remodel, custom-build, or mixed-use development project.

Here’s why.

1. First, the long game. LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs last a lot longer and are more durable than traditional 60-watt incandescent bulbs, so your clients won’t have to pay to replace them as often. We’re talking up to an estimated 50,000 hours or 22 years of maintenance-free lighting compared to just 1,000 hours. LEDs also last longer than compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and halogen lights. The upfront investment in LEDs has long-term cost savings for the client and the environment.

2. More immediately, you may qualify for a rebate from your local utility company when you retrofit with LED lighting. Type your zip code into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR rebate finder (https://www.energystar.gov/rebate-finder) to find offers in your area.

3. ENERGY STAR rated LED lighting products use up to 70 to 90 percent less energy. So, when you retrofit or install recessed downlighting with LEDs, you are reducing the overall electrical consumption for lighting. At the same time, you’re doing your part to significantly reduce carbon emissions. According to EPA.gov, electricity production generates the second largest share of greenhouse gas emissions.

4. Consider the heat factor. LED lighting is safer to the touch, giving off very little heat with no IR (infrared) or UV (ultraviolet) emissions. In comparison, traditional incandescent bulbs release 90 percent of their energy as heat.

5. Earth-friendly LEDs have no mercury components, so they have a much smaller environmental impact.

6. The versatile range and quality of LED lighting is unmatched. On the color rendering index (CRI) scale from zero to 100, LEDs score between 70 and 95 allowing for the ability to see an environment’s color more accurately. Light quality at this higher level is crucial for safety reasons and, in some buildings, code compliance.

7. LED downlights are an easy-to-install, light commercial solution for retrofits, renovation jobs, new construction, and mixed-use developments.

Springfield Electric’s ENERGY STAR rated Halo LED supplier, Cooper Lighting, has specifically designed its LCR LED family of downlight products for light residential contractors, custom-home builders, and mixed-use developers. This easy-to-install solution offers flexibility of size (direct mount 2-inch, 4-inch, 6-inch, and 8-inch aperture sizes) and lumens to carry the same modern, professional look and feel from the lobby to the office space, and on up to the residences.

Learn more in this two-minute video and HALO LCR specifications one-sheet (PDF).

HALO light commercial retrofit (LCR) LED downlights for office, healthcare, hospitality, and residential mixed-use

• Held securely in half-inch to 1.5-inch thick ceilings with retention springs (no need for housings), reducing time and expense
• High-powered direct mounts with high CRI (90) and efficiency
• Universal voltage with dimming to 5 percent with proper controls
• Airtight and suitable for direct contact with insulation
• Wet location listed, suitable for shower and outdoor applications

Ask a Springfield Electric Lighting Expert about retrofitting your recessed lighting to LED technology by visiting filling out our online form or call 1-217-788-2100.

At Springfield Electric, our focus has always been on residential, light commercial, and remodeling builders. For years, you have relied on us to enhance your lighting with trendsetting design, knowledgeable professionals, and state-of-the-art products like today’s LED lighting and Smart Home products. Our goal is to help you through the process of lighting your home to reflect your lifestyle. By partnering with recognizable lighting design suppliers, our lighting and electrical products offering is broad and fits almost any budget.