Designer x Designer: CJ Brockway, IALD + Chayot Kiranantawat, Associate IALD, CLD

As turnkey lighting contractors know, the wave of LED upgrades that swept across commercial and industrial buildings over the past decade brought major improvements in energy efficiency and maintenance reduction. But many of those first-generation LED systems installed between 2015 and 2020 are now entering a phase of performance decline that creates a ripe opportunity for LED-to-LED retrofits. A decline introducing risk of impending issues for building owners/managers as the system may have low light levels, performance issues (flickering) or even failure. These opportunities often go unnoticed by building owners and facility managers. After all, they were sold on the promise of “long-life” lighting. And while it’s true that LEDs last significantly longer than legacy technologies like fluorescent or HID, many early systems are now running at 70-80% of their original light output. Add in driver degradation, evolving code requirements, and the emergence of more efficient designs, and it becomes clear: a strategic second-generation retrofit is not just justified, it’s often essential and cannot be simply ignored. So, how should contractors approach LED-to-LED conversions? Below are key guidelines to ensure you deliver value, preserve lighting quality, and position yourself as a trusted advisor.