We get asked on a regular basis about the best products for different lighting applications. As lighting distributors with access to the product lines of over 1,000 vendors, our approach to answering such questions can never really be one-size-fits-all.
The reality is that the process of narrowing down to the best options requires a true understanding your specific application.
(We’re beginning to outline our recommendations based on the type of business so you don’t have to read between the lines on a more general list of products. Stay tuned for more articles like this geared for specific industries.)
When it comes to updating your movie theater lighting, you may be wondering where to even begin. Alongside our retrofit management team, our lighting specialists have helped to update movie theaters around the country with more energy-efficient, longer-life lighting. These upgrades are tricky, though, because guest experience and the ability to dim auditoriums well is of utmost importance to theaters. And, the truth is, not all high-efficiency products will cut it.
There are three main areas to address in movie theater lighting: exterior lighting applications, common area lighting applications, and auditorium lighting. We've compiled a list of the most common products you will see in these applications and the best retrofit products to consider.
Exterior lighting applications
When determining what lighting you're looking to retrofit in a movie theater, the exterior lighting may be the last place you think of. However, it is one of the most important places, and a great opportunity for significant energy and maintenance savings. This is where you attract customers and set the mood of your theater.
Marquee lighting
Marquee/signage lighting (commonly S14 shape lamps) are typically retrofitted to LEDs that are weather rated since they must withstand the elements. You also want to keep the attractive color characteristics of traditional marquee lighting, and low-quality LEDs with a greenish hue may leave you disappointed. Currently, American Lighting and Ushio make some fantastic S14 LEDs for this application.
Moving from an 11 Watt incandescent S14 bulb to a 2 Watt LED S14 bulb is more than an 80 percent reduction in energy alone and can really add up.
Poster case lighting
Many poster cases still have T12 fluourescent lighting but can be retrofitted to linear LEDs. This option takes some coordination because you have to consider whether a direct-wire or plug-and-play linear LED is better. Plug-and-play offers many advantages but also requires the installation of a new ballast. Another option may be specifically purposed LED sign lighting illuminate the posters.
Security lighting
To help your guests feel safe and secure — and to save significantly on energy and maintenance costs — LED is a great option to replace existing HID wall packs and pole lights. LED fixture replacements are a great option, but we’ve also seen a number of plug-and-play lamp replacements from reputable manufacturers that have a lower up-front cost and perform well.
Common area lighting applications
Lobby lighting
In your lobby, recessed cans often make up the majority of fixtures. Many theaters still have pin-based CFLs installed in these cans so retrofitting to LED can garner a large amount of savings. The high ceilings in most lobbies also make the process of changing burned-out bulbs a pain, meaning that the long life of LEDs could also make your life a little easier. Philips and Lunera currently have great retrofit options for these applications.
Concession area and bathroom lighting
In the concession area, bathrooms, and any "back of house" areas you'll commonly find T8 troffers. These fixtures provide cost-effective bright light since such application areas typically require food preparation and cleaning. If you haven't considered linear LEDs in these areas, you could capture some immediate savings on your energy bill. (As above, consider carefully the pros and cons of direct-wire versus plug-and-play linear LEDs.)
There are also some long-life fluorescent options that can make maintenance easier if you aren’t ready to take the plunge to LED in these applications. One benefit you may consider for LEDs, though, is that the versions with a plastic housing and lens are a great fit for food preparation areas where you would normally have to use coated glass lamps.
Tip: These products would also work well in linear fluorescent cove lighting applications. These may be present in the lobbies or hallways.
Hallway lighting
In addition to linear fluorescents or recessed cans addressed above, decorative lighting is common in the hallway areas. Fixtures we see include wall sconces, accent lighting, and other decorative fixtures. Wall sconces in non-dimming areas often contain plug-in CFLs that can be substituted with a plug-in LED option such as the Helen from Lunera or the InstantFit from Philips.
Auditorium lighting
Recessed cans
The theater/auditorium is the most important location to have top-notch, quality lighting. You want your guests to have a great movie-going experience, not distracted by the lighting. The recessed cans need to be completely dimmable but also bright enough for employees to clean the auditorium between shows. In this scenario we often see a BR30 halogen or PAR30 halogen lamps.
LEDs used to be a difficult option to recommend in this application because they wouldn’t get warmer in color as you dimmed them to lower light levels. Over the last couple of years, however, manufacturers have been working on dimmable LEDs that get warmer (more yellow or orange) in color as you dim them. These products are more prevalent from reputable manufacturers, and the Philips Warm Glow Dimmable LED is a good example of a product worth tying out. Here’s a graphic that shows the difference between traditional LEDs and those that warm in color as they dim:
Note: This graphic was provided by Philips. Not all Philips LEDs warm as they dim. If you’re considering these products, it would be worth reaching out to a lighting specialist.
Wall sconces
Wall sconces used in the auditorium also need to be dimmable with a warm tone. If you've ever sat in a theater and glanced over to the wall sconces during a movie, you've probably noticed they're still on with a nice warm glow. They are meant to support the comfortable inviting atmosphere, so the visual is important. This is another example where LEDs that warm as they dim are worth real consideration.
Switching to more efficient lighting can be overwhelming, especially when you have so many application areas in one theater.
However, we suggest to take it one step at a time. Retrofit the most important areas first. Which will give you the best payback or the best visual improvement?
Not sure? We can help with the number-crunching.
