welight brings light into the darkness of logistics halls with Retrofit

High initial investments, inadequate ROI calculations, lack of information about funding opportunities, and technical challenges in adapting existing systems: These are the biggest obstacles to changing lighting in logistics, industry, and trade. This is the conclusion of a new survey on the conversion to intelligent LED lighting, conducted by PROLOG-TEAM on behalf of welight intelligent. At the same time, a large majority of respondents expect significant cost savings from a switch. How can these contradictions be resolved?

About half of European logistics properties are over ten years old and thus in need of renovation. According to JLL, more than a third of European energy consumption and the associated emissions come from real estate. According to a directive from the International Energy Agency, half of the building stock must be climate-neutral by 2040. Additionally, since September 2023, there has been a sales ban on fluorescent tubes. Furthermore, the lighting systems do not meet the requirements of the Technical Rules for Workplaces.

Work accidents, decreasing productivity throughout the day, and long-term health consequences for employees are cost factors that must be considered in ROI calculations. The pressure on logistics and production to switch to more energy- and cost-efficient alternatives is therefore clearly increasing. Intelligent LED hall lighting is a central factor in the transition to greater sustainability: it reduces greenhouse gases, saves electricity costs, and optimizes energy performance by up to 90 percent.

Lower energy costs expected from the switch

The lighting expert welight intelligent, the logistics and organizational consultancy PROLOG-TEAM, and the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society jointly conducted the survey on the conversion to intelligent LED hall lighting. Almost half of the participating companies indicated in the current survey that their hall areas are still equipped with conventional lighting. When switching to intelligent lighting solutions, 60 percent of survey participants prioritize cost savings, followed by reduced maintenance efforts favored by 37 percent of respondents. More than half of the experts also expect improved light quality and reduced energy costs. However, the lack of information about funding and the comparatively higher initial investments make a switch to intelligent LED technology appear less economically viable in the short term.

Funding programs and leasing models

For this reason, lighting experts like welight intelligent offer interested companies comprehensive information on funding programs such as BAFA funding, as well as leasing and rent-to-own models. With these funding models, the payback period can be significantly shortened. With the rental option for intelligent lighting solutions, the financial burden is spread over a longer period, while energy costs decrease long-term from the outset. This model is particularly suitable for large companies and corporations. The welight intelligent lights “made in Germany” have a lifespan twice as long as conventional LED lights. All components can be individually replaced in case of defects, and due to the use of existing infrastructure, the conversion costs are low. The average ROI is therefore only two years.

Photo: © welight/Pixabay