LED lighting offers many advantages over conventional fluorescent and HID lighting, including energy savings and a longer lifespan. These advantages make LEDs a great option for high bay lighting, particularly in manufacturing and warehouse facilities where lighting is both crucial and costly.
Businesses that are considering installing LED high bay lighting should understand the types of lights available and their advantages.
Types of LED High Bay Lighting
There are several types of LED high bay lighting available. Each offers its own benefits and are better suited for certain lighting situations.
Round High Bay Lights
Round bay lights are sometimes known as UFO high bay lights because of their saucer-like shape. This type of lighting offers quite a few advantages:
- Lighter, sleeker design
- High-quality light output
- Easy to install
Because round lights only need to be hung at one point, they’re much easier to install compared to other types of high bay lighting. They offer excellent light output, which makes them very versatile, and they’re ideal for ceilings higher than 20 feet.
The ability to hang each light individually allows for an even spread of lighting throughout the space. They give you more control over the lighting in your space.
UFO high bay lights are quickly becoming the lighting of choice for warehouses, retail stores, athletic facilities and other large spaces.
Linear LED High Bays
In areas with very high ceilings – higher than 25 feet – linear LED high bays are the ideal choice. They provide even lighting throughout the space, and they’re a popular choice for manufacturing facilities, warehouses, retail spaces, and athletic facilities or school gyms.
Linear LED high bays can be installed directly onto the ceiling, or they can be hung from chains or v-hooks.
Because linear high bay lighting is typically placed on very high ceilings, it’s important to choose a lumen output that’s appropriate for the space. The lights need to properly and sufficiently illuminate the space. For this reason, a wide range of lumen packages are available, and the color temperature is typically limited to 4000K or 5000K (equivalent to bright daylight).
Linear LEDs are commonly used in manufacturing facilities and warehouses. Brighter color temperatures help prevent eye strain and fatigue from poor lighting.
T8 LED High Bays
T8 high bay lights are an affordable option that offer energy efficiency and quality, glare-free lighting. T8 LEDs are ideal for situations where longevity and minimal maintenance are preferred.
One advantage of T8 LED lighting is that it’s easy to replace burn-out lamps. Simply remove the old tube and replace it with a new one. There’s no need to replace the entire fixture.
LEDs also offer the benefit of a long lifespan, so you don’t have to worry about replacing tubes often.
T8 high bay lights can also be outfitted with an occupancy sensor, allowing for additional energy savings by only using the lighting when someone is in the area.
Advantages of LED High Bay Lighting
If your business is still using HID or fluorescent high bay lights, you may be wondering why you should make the switch the LEDs.
LEDs offer many advantages:
Energy and Cost Savings
The biggest and most obvious benefit of LED high bay lights is energy savings. Businesses can save between 40% and 90% on energy costs by simply making the switch to LED lighting.
LED lights don’t emit as much heat as other bulbs, which allows businesses to cut back on the use of air conditioning.
Furthermore, LEDs don’t require frequent replacement, so businesses save on bulb replacement costs. They don’t require ballasts either, which also keeps maintenance costs down.
Simple Installation and Maintenance
LED lights are easy to install. If you already have fluorescent tube lighting, LED tubes can easily take their place in most commercial buildings.
Installing LEDs also reduces the need for reflectors because they emit light in a specific direction.
LEDs are easier to recycle than fluorescent and other types of bulbs that contain mercury.
Rebates
Many energy companies offer rebates for installing energy-efficient lighting. These rebates can reduce the upfront costs of retrofitting existing fixtures or installing new ones.
Between rebates and the cost savings of LED lighting, your business may be able to allocate more money towards growth and expansion.
When it comes to high bay lighting, LED lighting offers many advantages over other bulbs. Now that you understand the types of high bay LEDs available and their benefits, you can find a solution that meets your organization’s needs and budget.