LED tube retrofits for fluorescent lighting in offices

Two case studies are presented, showing the feasibility of retrofitting LED tubes to replace fluorescent lights in a single office as well as in a suite of offices in the Engineering Faculty Building of the Cape Town Campus of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. The new type of LED tubes used, require no change of light fittings, thus facilitating retrofits. In order to convince management that it is worth investing in LEDs, their light intensity and energy-saving potential were measured. They also have a much longer life-span, reducing regular necessary replacements, irritating down-times and inexcusable delays. Measured results in a simple office show annual energy savings of 1288kWh, or R1574 per 12 LED retrofits at the current electricity tariff of R1,22 per kWh. Even more impressive gains, shown in Table 1, are achievable in a composite suite of offices, which used to be controlled by a single light switch, with the use of pull switches installed in selected areas. It is also shown that the breakeven point for installing the more expensive LED tubes is around three years.