Converting hotel lighting can seem like an overwhelming job. The good news is you don’t have to upgrade every light fixture at the same time. You can divide the project into smaller steps.
According to Energy Star, the annual energy cost for a single hotel room is around $2,196. Even lowering the amount of energy used on one floor will make a difference in the hotel’s profit margin. When you’re ready to upgrade to LED lighting in your hotel, here are four steps that will make it easier.
4 Steps to Converting Hotel Lighting
Before you start looking for a commercial lighting retrofit company, review these four steps.
1 – Have Achievable Goals That Meet Your Needs
Not every hotel wants to convert their lighting for the same reason. Some want to meet their guests’ desire for sustainable lighting, while others are looking for ways to save money on energy bills.
Your budget is something else to consider. If it’s small, you want to convert hotel lighting floor by floor. You get the benefit of energy savings while staying within the project budget.
Hotels that are trying to not inconvenience their guests, may want to consider retrofitting all of the fixtures at the same time. This will shorten the timeframe for guest upheaval considerable.
For those hotels needing a fast ramp up and project completion or those with more than one location, we suggest looking for a National lighting retrofit company. Action Services Group has over 2,800 resource partners across the country and can provide the fasted project ramp-up time of any national provider. You can learn more about our LED retrofit capabilities in our case studies.
2 – Start with High-Usage Areas
Hotels that decide to replace their lighting in steps want to start with the areas with the most usage. Even though you will save money upgrading hotel room lighting, you may want to put some other areas first.
- Exterior areas like signage and outdoor lights are necessary to direct guests to the hotel and safely inside. These lights are almost always on and switching to energy-efficient lamps and fixtures will help you save on monthly utilities.
- The lobby is where your guests first impressions of the hotel are formed. LED lighting is not only cost-efficient, but it also gives the area a warm glow. Guests feel safe and relaxed the minute they walk into a well-lit hotel lobby.
- Stairwells are typically only used by hotel guests during an emergency, but this doesn’t mean you can turn the lights off. Fire Codes state that all emergency exits and stairwells be brightly lit at all times. Replacing halogen and incandescent lamps with LED ones allows you to save money without violating safety codes.
- Parking garages and lots are two areas hotels want to keep brightly lit for everyone’s safety. Fluorescent lamps are bright but also use more energy than HID (high-intensity discharge) and LED lights.
3 – Purchasing Products
It’s tempting to buy the cheapest LED lighting, especially when you’re converting hotel lighting. You will save money initially but end up spending more over time as these lamps have a shorter lifespan. The light color can also be off, ruining the ambiance you are trying to create. You always want to purchase energy-efficient lamps from a reputable manufacturer or lighting retrofit company.
Some offer rebates that will help you save money on the project. You can also get discounts from suppliers when you buy the lamps in bulk.
We like to point people in the direction of our LED Retrofit Education Center. Here you will find an in-depth look into LED retrofits that includes performance considerations, maintenance and energy savings, lamp suggestions based on your retrofit goals, and so much more.
4 – Install Lighting Controls
Installing lighting controls is a simple way to maximize the energy savings you get from a retrofit lighting project. You’re not limited to where you can install the controls, though some work best in certain areas over others.
- Dimmers work great in conference and guest rooms. Dimming the lights reduces energy use and helps set the tone in the room.
- Motion sensors are another option. The lights are only on when someone is in the room.
- Timers are a good choice for areas that only need the lights on at specific times. The convenient device automatically turns the lights on and off.
Lighting controls can take your LED hotel lighting to the next level of savings. We have an entire series on lighting controls, that walk you through your options and explain your additional savings.
Benefits of LED Hotel Lighting
Upgrading hotel lighting has a few benefits that include saving on energy costs. Lower utility bills mean more money that can go back into the hotel. Using sustainable lighting is also good for business. Consumers are taking notice of which brands are doing their part for the environment. Your LED lighting uses less energy, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint. It’s a good point to add to the hotel’s marketing campaigns.
LED lighting also improves the hotel’s safety. It eliminates dark corners and ensures guests and employees feel safe on the property at night. To speak with an Action Services Group lighting specialist, call 610-558-9773 or email [email protected] today!
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