Removing unnecessary lamps and installing high efficiency replacements are
easy to do and can save significant amounts of electricity. However, with somewhat
more effort and a financial investment, you can lower your energy expenditures
still further by "retrofitting," or modifying, your fixtures. In some cases,
retrofitting your fixtures may be necessary when delamping or relamping don't give you sufficient light output for your
needs (many energy-saving fluorescents also yield slightly less light.)
Depending on your particular situation, a fixture retrofit might include installing high efficiency ballasts and adding reflectors. Energy-efficient ballasts will use less electricity, and electronic ones will use the least.
Installing reflectors that will "bounce" more light out of the fixtures can allow you to
use lower wattage or fewer lamps and still achieve acceptable lighting levels.
However, the light output may be more concentrated and less dispersed than
before, so try out a few fixtures before making a major investment.
Replace hazy or yellowed lenses, diffusers and globes with new ones that will remain brighter and clearer and transmit more light. Acrylic is suggested as the best material for the replacements. Louvers or "egg crate" louver grids that direct light downward can be used to prevent reflections onto computer screens, but could decrease overall light output.
Be aware that these last two modifications, installing reflectors and
replacing lenses, will save you energy dollars only if the increased light output
enables you to remove some lamps or use lower wattage ones.
