|
With lumen output per watt of a T8 fluorescent light at about the same as a LED light, both at approximately about 100 lumens per watt, there isn't much of an energy savings difference between the two, but the LED fixture is much more expensive. I'd have to say if you currently have a good working fluorescent fixture, there's not much incentive to change. Though if you have T12 fixtures, change out the magnetic ballast for an updated electronic ballast for about $12, and replace the T12 bulbs with T8s. The old magnetic ballasts are energy inefficient, and produce a 60hz bulb flicker, vs the electronic is high frequency, so there is no flicker for a more comfortable light. And they last a long time. In the subterranean garage of one of my buildings, the lights are on an average of 11 hours a day, 7 days a week, and I have not needed to replace a bulb in 15 years.
A 32 watt 4' T8 bulb produces about 3000 lumens, so a 2 lamp fixture produces 6000 lumens. Compare that to the Costco 4' LED shop light which is rated at 38 watts and produces only 3700 lumens. Or compare to the current LED T8 replacements, they're only about 17 watts, producing about 1700-2000 lumens. So at most you're going to get 3300-4000 lumens out of your fixture.
|