Short answer
An energy-efficient lighting upgrade replaces fluorescent, metal halide or other older lighting with LED, by retrofitting existing fixtures or installing new ones. It makes sense when ballasts and lamps keep failing, when the lighting bill is high, or when a space is poorly lit. Select Electric is a Consumers Energy Trade Ally, and rebates may be available, with eligibility and amounts set by Consumers Energy's programs.
Lighting is one of the easiest energy costs for a business to cut. LED fixtures use considerably less power than fluorescent or metal halide, last much longer, turn on instantly (even in a cold warehouse), and don't have ballasts to fail. For a building full of aging fixtures, the maintenance savings can matter as much as the energy savings.
Retrofit Options
LED Tubes in Existing Fixtures
- Plug-and-play (Type A): runs on the existing ballast. Fast to install, but the ballast still has to work.
- Ballast-bypass (Type B): the ballast is removed and the sockets are wired to line voltage. More efficient and no ballast to fail. The fixture is rewired and labeled so the next person knows not to put fluorescent tubes in it.
- External driver (Type C): tubes run from a separate LED driver. Often allows dimming and control.
Retrofit Kits
LED panels or strips that mount inside the existing fixture housing. The ceiling stays intact and the result looks close to a new fixture.
New Fixtures
Full replacement: LED flat panels, high-bays for warehouses and shops, wall packs and pole lights outside. Best when fixtures are damaged, yellowed or badly laid out.
Controls
Occupancy and vacancy sensors, motion sensors, daylight controls and timers keep lights off when nobody needs them.
Signs It's Time
- Ballasts and lamps are failing faster than you can replace them. See shop or office lights flickering or out.
- High-bay fixtures take minutes to come on, or cycle on and off.
- Outdoor or parking lot lights are dim, orange or failing. See parking lot lights out or cycling.
- Employees or customers complain that the space is dim or the lights hum or flicker.
- You're remodeling or taking on a new tenant.
How the Job Goes
- Walk the building. Fixture count, types, hours of use and problem areas.
- Recommend and quote. Retrofit or replace, controls, and a written quote.
- Check rebates. As a Consumers Energy Trade Ally, we look at what may be available for your project before work starts.
- Install on your schedule. Area by area, around business hours where possible.
- Walk-through. We confirm light levels and controls and handle any paperwork we're responsible for.
What It Costs
This work is priced per job, because the building, the distances and what's already in the panel are different every time. Ask for a written quote that lists the materials and everything included. For what drives electrical prices in general, see what electrical work costs.
Price depends on the number and type of fixtures, mounting heights, the retrofit approach and controls. Any rebate reduces your net cost, but eligibility and amounts are set by Consumers Energy's programs.
Local Detail: Utility Programs in the Great Lakes Bay Region
Most businesses in Midland, Bay and Saginaw Counties are served by Consumers Energy, which runs energy efficiency programs for business customers. Inside Bay City, customers are served by the city-owned Bay City Electric Light & Power, which has its own policies, so if your building is in Bay City, ask the utility or us about what applies. Cold warehouses and unheated shops are common in the region, and LED performs well in the cold, where fluorescent lamps often struggle to start.
To plan a lighting upgrade, call (989) 835-3587.
Common Questions
What is the difference between plug-and-play and ballast-bypass LED tubes?
Plug-and-play (Type A) tubes run on the existing fluorescent ballast, so they install like a lamp change, but the ballast still uses some energy and will eventually fail. Ballast-bypass (Type B) tubes are wired directly to line voltage with the ballast removed, which saves more energy and eliminates ballast failures, but the fixture has to be rewired and labeled. Type C tubes use a separate LED driver. Replacing the fixture or installing an LED retrofit kit are other options.
Are rebates available for LED upgrades?
Rebates may be available through Consumers Energy's business energy efficiency programs. Eligibility and amounts are set by Consumers Energy's programs and change over time, so we check what applies to your project before work begins. Select Electric is a Consumers Energy Trade Ally.
What is a Consumers Energy Trade Ally?
Trade Allies are contractors who participate in Consumers Energy's energy efficiency programs and are familiar with how those programs work. Working with a Trade Ally can make it easier to understand what your project may qualify for. It does not guarantee a rebate; the program decides eligibility.
Should we upgrade all at once or as fixtures fail?
Replacing fixtures one at a time spreads out the cost, but you pay for labor over and over and end up with mixed lighting. A planned upgrade of a whole area or building usually costs less per fixture, gives even light, and starts the energy savings sooner. Rebate programs may also favor planned projects.
Can you add occupancy sensors and controls at the same time?
Yes. An LED upgrade is a good time to add occupancy or vacancy sensors in restrooms, storage rooms, break rooms and offices, and daylight controls near windows and skylights. Call (989) 835-3587 to talk about your building.