Building upgrades and redevelopment are pressing issues of our times and, although it is not always at the top of the list, upgrading the electrical and lighting system is very important. There are three main reasons for renewing the lighting system. First of all, any electrical system designed in the past without the very latest technology can no longer be considered particularly efficient and consequently will lead to higher energy consumption. Updating existing structures and installations in order to improve energy saving not only has a beneficial impact on the environment but also allows building owners to save on lighting costs. Furthermore, upgrading the electrical system ensures the highest standards of safety, which are sometimes compromised by relying on an outdated system that has never been updated or checked. A safe electrical system is essential for any building, domestic or otherwise, especially as more and more devices are being connected to the home’s electrical network. Finally, upgrading a building and installing a more efficient lighting system provides the perfect opportunity to keep up with technology, which is evolving and developing at an increasingly fast pace.
 

CHECKING THE CONDITION OF THE SYSTEM AND BRINGING IT UP TO STANDARD

To upgrade an electrical system and make it more efficient, first of all, the condition of the existing installation needs to be checked and its safety and compliance with standards has to be ascertained. Contacting an expert technician is the best way to assess whether or not the existing electrical system only needs maintenance, perhaps together with the partial replacement of some elements, or whether it needs to be renewed.
 

REPLACING LUMINAIRES: EFFICIENT LIGHT BULBS

Upgrading the lighting system with more efficient solutions takes more than just renewing the electrical installation, it also involves replacing all the luminaires. Today, there are energy-efficient and high-performance technologies available on the market. LEDs are increasingly being used, and today, in order to meet a wide range of needs, these lamps come in different colours and intensities. When buying LED bulbs, it is important to consider the colour or temperature of the light you are choosing and the lumens, which indicate the amount of light emitted. Compared to older technologies, LED lamps offer much higher energy savings, which can add up to a 60% reduction on previous consumption. In addition, the lifetime of an LED lamp is much longer, consequently, they require replacing less frequently.
 

AUTOMATION AND DOMOTICS: SMART LIGHTING SOLUTIONS

Finally, when we talk about upgrading with more efficient lighting systems, we should also consider what can be achieved through automation, domotics and the Internet of Things. Specifically, for lighting, we talk about Smart Lighting, or intelligent lighting solutions. In practice, this technology regulates the lighting system more precisely, monitors its operation and consumption and offers remote control and programming of its features. In the case of domotics, the system needs to be specially designed, with wiring that enables the connection of all the electrical and electronic devices in the home. In the case of the Internet of Things, there are several devices that, thanks to solutions such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, can be connected directly to the Internet.

Smart Lighting therefore consists of a set of solutions that ensure greater control, energy savings and even more indoor comfort. One of the most popular smart solutions are the smart light bulbs, but there are also occupancy sensors and twilight sensors, sensors that detect the amount of light in a room and adjust the intensity of artificial light accordingly.