Lighting (101 posts)

From Outdated to Efficient: TRC Takes the Spotlight in LM&M’s 70th Anniversary Edition

Upgrading your lighting this year? Download the 2023 Xcel Energy LED Rebate Guide. Xcel Energy offers rebates that can help reduce the cost of your next lighting project.

App-Based Color-Tuning Lights Tutorial [Video]

Check out this step by step tutorial on how to use the app-based wall controls for the Casambi color-tuning lighting system that Retrofit Lighting & Design installed in a school district.

2023 Xcel Energy Rebates in Minnesota

Upgrading your lighting this year? Download the 2023 Xcel Energy LED Rebate Guide. Xcel Energy offers rebates that can help reduce the cost of your next lighting project.

Xcel Energy 2023 Energy Efficient Partner Award

We are proud to announce that The Retrofit Companies, Inc. is a recipient of the Xcel Energy’s 2023 Energy Efficient Partner Award!

Prairie Island Ice Arena- Lighting Upgrade [Video]

A lighting upgrade at Prairie Island Ice Arena created maintenance savings, energy savings, and improved light quality.

5 Tips to Help Your Business Go Green!

Sustainability and green business practices are becoming increasingly important to customers. Check out our 5 tips to help your business go green!

Why Should You Replace Your Metal Halides with LED Lights?

Making the switch from metal halides to LED can create huge energy savings and improved light quality.

Benefits of having LED Exterior Lighting during the Winter

Extreme weather and dark days make exterior lighting extra important during the winters, especially in Minnesota.

Maintenance Savings at Red Wing Schools [Lighting Before & After Video]

District-wide maintenance savings with LED lighting upgrade at Red Wing Schools, 800,000+ sq ft and $250,000 utility rebate through Xcel.

Jerry Gamble Boys and Girls Club of the Twin Cities- Lighting Project (with Video!)

Retrofit Lighting & Design upgraded the exterior lighting & interior lighting at the Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities. We were able to improve the lighting quality and create a better environment for the kids, while also lowering the energy costs for the building. This upgrade created a $7,000 a year savings on an energy basis!

Boys and Girls Club of the Twin Cities Lighting Upgrade Sneak Peek (Video)

Retrofit Lighting & Design upgraded the exterior lighting & interior lighting at the Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities! The costs for this project were cut in half through rebates, grants, and partnerships. We were able to not only improve the lighting quality and create a better environment for the kids, but also lower the energy costs for the building.

Double Bonus Rebate Dollars on Tubes for Limited Time!

Xcel is now offering double bonus rebate dollars on tubes for a limited time! If you have been thinking about upgrading your tube lighting, now is the time!

25% Bonus Rebates for LED Tubes Now Available!

The One-Stop Efficiency Shop, sponsored by Xcel Energy, is now offering 25% more in rebates for LED tubes alongside their existing bonus rebates for interior DLC and DLC Premium fixtures.

Retrofit Electric – Sneak Peek of AMR Warehouse Project!

We’re not just doing lighting anymore! Check out our Retrofit Electric crew at work on an office-buildout project at the Advanced Masonry Restoration (AMR) Warehouse in St. Paul, MN!

Xcel Energy 2022 Energy Efficient Partner Award

We are thrilled to announce that The Retrofit Companies, Inc. is a recipient of the Xcel Energy’s 2022 Energy Efficient Partner Award.

Limited-Time 25% Bonus LED Lighting Rebates with Xcel Energy in Minnesota

Considering an LED Lighting Upgrade in 2022? If you are a business considering a lighting retrofit or upgrade to your facility, contact our Lighting Team to discuss how we partner with Xcel Energy and CEE for their Rebates Programs and how these 2022 Bonus LED Lighting Rebates can be utilized for your lighting project. These […]

Powerful Results of Full Color Lights in Special Ed Classrooms

Faribault Middle School, in Faribault, Minnesota, shared the powerful results of the full color tunable lights in their Special Education classrooms. Retrofit Lighting & Design upgraded the entire facility to LED lighting and installed full spectrum color tunable lights in both rooms, including a wall-mounted iPad and app based control systems. Teachers from Faribault Middle School share that they have observed reduced problem behaviors, increased patience in their students and staff, as well as more interest in their special education programs.

Warehouse Lighting Upgrade (Video)

Retrofit Lighting & Design upgraded the warehouse lighting & office lighting throughout a 30,000+ sq ft building for GNW Machine; a custom manufacturing business in Lino Lakes, Minnesota. The LED retrofit solutions have a payback on investment of approx. 1.7 years, include a large rebate from the utility company, provide increased accuracy, efficiency, overall productivity and a notable boost in employee morale.

Tax Benefits for Installing Energy Efficient Lighting

These tax benefits on installing energy efficient lighting are sometimes overlooked and can really make an impact to the bottom line.

Brighten Up Senior Living Lighting (Video)

The surprising ways we saved this Senior Living facility over 50% of their project costs while upgrading their lighting, relieving eye-strain, and reducing trip and fall hazards for senior citizens.

Color Tuning Lighting in Schools (Video)

Color tuning lighting technology in schools, especially Special Education classrooms, have significant positive benefits for students and staff.

Reasons Why Exterior Lighting Should be Installed in the Summer

Scheduling exterior lighting work during the summer can greatly reduce the time it takes to install a project versus doing it in the winter.

Ice Arena Lighting – Wireless Controls, Lakeville MN (Video)

Arena lighting and wireless controls, energy savings, reducing shadows on the ice rinks and energy reduction in Lakeville, MN.

What is CRI? (Color Rendering Index)

CRI (Color Rendering Index) is a measurement of light in relation to how it affects the appearance of color. CRI is key when choosing LEDs for interior lighting for industries such as retail, education, healthcare, grocery and hospitality.

How to Disinfect the Indoor Air at Your Business (Video)

Ventilation, air purifiers and air filtration systems are part of a safe and proactive plan to protect yourself and your business in this new age of heightened. We worked with Northern Force Dance Company in Blaine, MN to install 2 types of airborne virus and pathogen defense, killing >90% of airborne and surface viruses in 30 minutes.

Top 10 FAQ (List)

The Retrofit Companeis, Inc. had the pleasure of working with Johnson, Doerhoefer & Miner P.A. (JDM), at their Owatonna location, to improve their interior office lighting with a simple LED refresh. The Partners at JDM recognized the importance of proper workspace lighting and during, what some are calling, an economic recession, these financial gurus easily concluded that this efficient lighting was a no-brainer.

Office Lighting: Upgrading to LED During a Pandemic (Video)

The Retrofit Companeis, Inc. had the pleasure of working with Johnson, Doerhoefer & Miner P.A. (JDM), at their Owatonna location, to improve their interior office lighting with a simple LED refresh. The Partners at JDM recognized the importance of proper workspace lighting and during, what some are calling, an economic recession, these financial gurus easily concluded that this efficient lighting was a no-brainer.

Retail Lighting: Small Business Owners Support Each Other During Pandemic (Video)

TRC supports a local small business in Owatonna, MN with improved retail lighting, finding the best options for their budget, excellent rebates from local utilities, and huge savings during a tough time for businesses both small and large.

Lights that Kill Germs: Do They Really Work?

Sanitizing through light: LEDs and UVs meet the desperate needs of sanitizing options beyond chemicals, hand-washing and mask-wearing.

Iowa Rebates Increase by 50% Effective July 1, 2020

Special recovery rebates from Xcel Energy for damaged businesses in Twin Cities, Minnesota. Learn if you qualify and The Retrofit Companies, Inc. can process these rebates and install your lighting upgrade for your business.

Special Recovery Rebates for Damaged Twin Cities Businesses

Special recovery rebates from Xcel Energy for damaged businesses in Twin Cities, Minnesota. Learn if you qualify and The Retrofit Companies, Inc. can process these rebates and install your lighting upgrade for your business.

Myths about LED Lighting and LED Light Bulbs

LEDs are the new standard in efficient lighting. Here we explore some of the LED lighting myths you’ve heard about and discover the truth about this lighting option. Are they too expensive? Do they really last forever? Is every LED created equal? The Retrofit Companies, Inc. in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Minnesota, shares their expertise and solutions to these common lighting myths.

Tunable Lighting Improves Performance and Morale in Workplace

Advanced Masonry Restoration, of St. Paul, Minnesota, worked with TRC, custom Lighting and Design experts, to upgrade their office to the latest LED Tunable Lighting, fully equipped with customized controls in every room. Full color tuning available in every office allows employees to customize their settings to their personal preferences and increases productivity throughout the workplace.

Healthcare: How Lighting Supports Medical Staff and Patients

Does Lighting Really Impact Human Health? It’s no secret that lighting has proven positive effects on mental health, productivity and impacts the human circadian rhythm, sleep patterns and even mental alertness.   Even more importantly, proper lighting in healthcare facilities has proven to reduce patients length of stay, decrease depression and even dementia in some […]

5 Ways to Save Money When Your Building is Empty [checklist]

The Retrofit Companies, Inc., Lighting Designer and Contractor out of St. Paul, Minneapolis, Minnesota, provides suggestions on how to save money with a temporarily empty or semi-occupied building.

Advanced Lighting Controls: CLCP Certified

TRC’s Team of Lighting Professionals Recognized by NALMCO   CLCP Official! TRC’s entire Project Development team has received their Certified Lighting Controls Professional (CLCP) designation, placing them at the top of the competitive market within the lighting professionals industry.   As lighting and controls become increasingly complex, TRC is proud to provide our customers with […]

5 Things You Should Know About 2020 Energy Rebates in Minnesota

Minnesota rebate programs have been busy rolling out major updates to their 2020 rebate terms. Updates include “bonus rebates,” extended timelines, and newly qualifying lamps/tubes/fixtures.   This is big news for businesses that are considering a lighting retrofit or have been waiting for more incentives to support their lighting upgrade projects. LED lighting upgrades in […]

Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives Renewed Through 2020

An enormous and much needed boost to domestic green buildings was just pushed through congress, most notably supporting energy efficient commercial buildings.

Xcel Energy Solutions Expo 2019

  Energy Champions Once again we were honored to exhibit at this year’s Xcel Energy Solutions Expo as a featured Energy Partner, sharing our knowledge and services that reduce energy usage and support customers in meeting their sustainability goals.   This expo brings together energy champions in the industry to celebrate achievements in energy management, […]

5 Ways Lighting Reduces Operating Costs

Reducing Operational Costs Through Lighting Plans By: Bret Wobschall   Despite cost savings being just one of the many benefits of an LED retrofit, it is typically the primary justification of an organization doing an LED retrofit.  What many people don’t know is that there are still many cost savings that are not typically accounted […]

Importance of Proper Light Levels

Whether in industrial or office settings, lighting in your workplace is very important. Believe it or not, proper light levels may increase productivity and alertness in the workplace, whereas poor light levels could cause less productivity, along with health concerns. The perfect level of light can be measured by using foot-candles. Making sure the light-levels […]

Difference Between Residential and Commercial Grade Lighting

When shopping for light bulbs it is often hard to know the difference between one another because they all look so similar. You may wonder, “if they all look the same, do they all work the same?” The answer is no. Light bulbs come in all shapes and sizes but what you don’t see are […]

Flicker Effect with LED Lights

Thought the days of flickering lights were over? As lighting sources have evolved from fluorescent lighting systems to the highly efficient LED lighting systems, many thought the days of light flickering were over, but that’s not the case. Although LED lights have less flickering than fluorescent lighting systems, there are so many different LED tubes […]

LED Lighting – Understanding Color Temperature

Have you ever noticed multi-colored light coming from a light fixture and wonder why part of the fixture is yellow and part is blue, or white?   Being in the lighting industry, the staff here at The Retrofit Companies, Inc, notices far too often, that the color temperature of lighting solutions is overlooked. Lighting color […]

Customer Spotlight – Samaritan Bethany

PROJECT OVERVIEW Samaritan Bethany is a senior care facility in Rochester, MN. Coming up on their 100th Anniversary, Samaritan Bethany continues to serve the residents of their community by making sure their needs are met as they age. With the goal of having their facility feel like home, they strive to make the environment as […]

Understanding Energy-Efficient Product Certifications

What are Energy Star and DLC? On the packaging of many different energy efficient light bulbs and products, you may notice some approved by Energy Star, whereas others may be approved by the DLC. It is common for many consumers to be unaware of what these logos mean. We break down the two to give […]

Tariffs – The Rising Impact On Your Lighting Project

WHAT ARE TARIFFS Tariffs are essentially taxes on imported and exported goods. Tariffs date back centuries, however the most pressing issues on tariffs in the US are primarily focused on the continuing trade war with China, and other nations. The cost of delaying a lighting project could grow exponentially as tariffs continue to rise. WHAT’S […]

Supporting The Interior Lighting Campaign

The Interior Lighting Campaign (ILC) is a recognition and guidance program from the U.S. Department of Energy designed to help facility owners and managers take advantage of energy-saving opportunities from high-efficiency interior lighting solutions. TRC is a proud supporter of this campaign!

Customer Spotlight – Amesbury Truth

Customer Spotlight featuring TRC’s Carl Murray, discussing the recent lighting upgrades at Amesbury, Truth in Owatonna in both their office spaces and their production areas.   PROJECT OVERVIEW Amesbury Truth, a leading provider of window and door components, has a rich history dating back to as early as 1914 where Truth Hardware began in a […]

Xcel Energy Efficiency Award Recipient – 2018

Energy Efficiency Partner Award Once again, The Retrofit Companies, Inc. is proud to accept the Energy Efficiency Partner Award as a Business Lighting Efficiency Program Winner. It is always an honor to be recognized as a top-tier trade partner and to be considered one of the most effective lighting trade allies.     Thank you Xcel […]

TRC Lighting Experts Receive Prestigious Certifications

Digger Anderson, TRC’s Lighting Project Development Director, and Chris Wendling, TRC’s Project Developer, receive Lighting Certified (LC) Professionals certifications in January, 2019. Digger is one of approximately 62 individuals with this certification in the state of Minnesota, and Chris Wendling is one of 41 individuals in Iowa.

LED Tunable Lighting – 3 Types

LED TUNABLE LIGHT LED Lighting continues to offer consumers more than just energy efficiency, and with new types of tunable lighting technology becoming more readily available, there are a variety of additional benefits. LED Luminaires, with the ability to deliver varying light color, have been on the market since early days of LED lighting, but the […]

Tariffs – The Rising Impact On Your Lighting Project

Tariffs are essentially taxes on imported and exported goods. Tariffs date back centuries, however the most pressing issues on tariffs in the US are primarily focused on the continuing trade war with China, and other nations. The cost of delaying a lighting project could grow exponentially as tariffs continue to rise.

3 types of linear LED tubes

Confused about different types of linear LED tubes? We break down the 3 most common types of T8 and T5 LED tubes used in LED lighting retrofit projects and their various pros and cons.

Case Study – ISD #299 Caledonia Public Schools LED Upgrade

ISD #299 Caledonia Public Schools prides themselves on empowering learners for life and their strong ties to the community. In a school district serving Caledonia and the surrounding areas, it became abundantly clear to superintendent Craig Ihrke and his team that providing a welcoming environment was a necessity.

Customer Spotlight – Crown Plastics

“We just took a look at our overall lighting, mainly from our production areas, and they were all either running T8 or T12 fixtures, some metal halide…and they were failing. I was done switching them over. I didn’t want to do it one by one…I knew there had to be a better solution out there,” -Matt Van Beusekom.

Customer Spotlight – Steve Grandgenett, Algona Municipal Utilities

“In the process we were able to reduce the amount of energy we use per fixture by 45-50%.”  – Steve Grandgenett, Algona Municipal Utilities Located in the small town of Algona, Iowa, approximately 3 hours south of the Twin Cities, the Algona Municipal Utilities (AMU) recently renovated their office building. AMU supplies electric, water, cable, internet, and […]

Customer Spotlight – Nate Cardin, Southern Hills Golf Course

The frustration of continuously changing and replacing burnt out light bulbs and ballasts is a maintenance nightmare for anyone, and Nate Cardin, the General Manager at Southern Hills Golf course, was experiencing this daily hassle before he decided to give TRC a call.

Industry Expert NALMCO Highlights LED Project

TRC is thrilled to grace the pages of the NALMCO LM&M Magazine as a featured Project Spotlight in the newly released May issue. NALMCO is an organization that has really set the standard for Lighting Quality Management and brings together business experts in the Lighting Industry.

5 Ways Lighting Can Save Our Planet

Chances are that your business has discussed ways to limit their carbon footprint, be more environmentally friendly and maybe even kick starting some green initiatives. Learn more about how easy it is have a positive impact on our planet with this 5 Easy Ways Lighting Can Save Our Planet infographic. 

Lakeville School District – Lighting Case Study

Lakeville Schools (MN) and The Retrofit Companies, Inc. (TRC) recently partnered to discuss the district’s 2 and 10 year plans at Eastview Elementary School. Both of the strategic plans included goals of implementing energy saving lighting solutions across the entire district.

How To Find the Best Energy Rebates

You probably know that there are a lot of energy rebates out there that may save you money upfront or have a great payback in the end. But are you sure you are maximizing your savings through energy rebate programs? Do you hear about rebate programs in your area but are not sure what you quality for?

Another interview with Darin at Wausau Supplies : Exterior Lighting LED upgrade

Earlier this year, we completed his exterior lighting LED upgrade project, and Darin was nice enough to let us know how it went. “The outside of our building had traditional metal-halide bulbs on the building and on light posts. Very poor lighting and not cost effective at all…We were throwing money away!!”

Xcel Energy Efficiency Awards 2017

Thank you to Xcel Energy, once again, for including The Retrofit Companies in this year’s Energy Efficiency Partner Award recipients! This is the 3rd year in a row that TRC has received this award.

Interview with Darin at Wausau Supplies : HID to T8 to LED

Central Regional Manager for Wausau Supply Darin at Wausau Supplies has five locations to watch over. He “really appreciates the value of TRC doing a complete job – something you’re going to stand behind, that you’re going to do it the way that we want it, and listen to us. We’ve found that to be true with The Retrofit Companies.”

Parking Garage LED Lighting Retrofit Case Study

This parking garage lighting project’s dramatic improvement in lighting came along with $23,634 in utility rebate incentives, plus a Green Business Cost Sharing program from the city of Minneapolis when this client upgraded the aging, inefficient high pressure sodium lighting.

Interview with Trent Lowe: Allied Parking LED Retrofit

Recently, we shared a new case study about an LED retrofit project recently completed at Allied Parking’s Gateway ramp located downtown Minneapolis. This facility is unique because the first floor is a layover terminal for MTC buses. Keep reading to find out why Trent felt that working with TRC was different than working with other contractors.

2017 Xcel Energy Rebate Updates

Xcel Energy recently shared the 2016/2017 Minnesota Business Rebate structure updates in their newsletter to TRC. Some previously unavailable utility rebate options are now available for LED down light retrofits and for LED screw-in as HID replacements. LED street lighting and area lighting are two Xcel Energy rebate options that are greatly improved for 2017. Keep reading […]

Why Invest in a Lighting Study? (Video Interview)

Sweet Harvest facility manager, Brian Pleschcourt talks about his experience with an aging and inefficient lighting system, and tells us how the Lighting Redesign Study process worked for his facility.  Read the interview now. Why did Sweet Harvest decide to replace the lighting in your facility? What were the issues you faced and what were some […]

The Surprising Impact of Lighting Redesign

Primary issues with the old lighting, aside from being inefficient and expensive to operate, included cones of light and many shadows within the arena area. The customer began working with The Retrofit Companies to have a new lighting system designed and installed. Consultants from The Retrofit Companies designed a system where interior and exterior metal halide and incandescent fixtures were replaced with new LED fixtures.

Linear LED & Other T8 LED Resources

There’s a giant world of information about LED linear tube options, energy efficient lighting, and how to get the most from your retrofit project, but do you really have the time to seek it all out? If you’re like most any professional we’ve met, the answer is no. We give you concise, accurate information in order to make informed business decisions.

Understanding LED Maintenance Challenges

This article discusses reliability of LED lighting, understanding lamp life with respect to useful lamp life, and how to understand variables in product quality across brands. It concludes with some overlooked maintenance factors for LED: cleaning, controls, and proactive troubleshooting. 

Understanding LED Linear T8 tubes

Even when you have the correct combination of linear LED tubes and existing ballast or wiring configuration, simply grabbing an LED tube and installing it may change lighting levels drastically, undoing the original success of a well-designed lighting solution.

T8 LED Lighting Retrofit Introduction & Safety

Are you considering a lighting upgrade and have you investigated replacing your T8 fluorescent lamps with T8 LED linear tubes for energy efficiency? This is a wonderful leap in the lighting world, affording lighting designers, facility managers, and other contractors the ability to essentially retrofit existing fluorescent fixtures with LED linear tube options.

Exterior LED Lighting Upgrade

This hotel had inefficient metal halide and incandescent lamps lighting the exterior of their building, with many burned out lamps. The result was a poor quality light that demanded a fair amount of attention and money to maintain. Business managers decided to take action and develop a plan for their exterior LED lighting upgrade with help from The Retrofit Companies.

Xcel Energy Efficiency Awards 2016

Pros and Cons of T8 LED REPLACEMENTS

A couple weeks ago we shared a video showing how a T8 LED replacement bulb can catch fire if it is incorrectly installed. Because we have committed to being a vendor neutral company we thought a good approach to understanding this technology, and to help guide your decision making, would be to provide the perspective from many different angles, […]

Retrofit Case Study: Interior and Exterior Lighting Upgrades

This church and school decided it was time to update the look of their facility and invest in energy-efficiency by implementing this full facility lighting upgrade and retrofit. The areas addressed in this project ranged from office and classrooms, to a gymnasium/auditorium, and a sanctuary space that required a dynamic lighting control system.

Hazards of LED T8 Lamps

We believe that a lighting system should be functional and efficient. This is the obvious and most intended goal for retrofit projects we do, and we know many options are available. Knowing you have so many choices, we always share the future risks and maintenance scenarios to help our clients make informed decisions for the best long […]

Auto Sales Lot LED Lighting Retrofit

Many lighting projects focus on the inside of a facility, but there are many businesses that require high-quality, energy-efficient lighting for their exteriors. Auto sales lots are a great example of a business that needs exceptional exterior lighting. Their “sales floor” is the entire parking lot.

VIDEO of LED Motion Sensor Test in Warehouse

This space was redesigned to include energy-efficient LED fixtures on a system of motion sensors that control the on/off of fixtures as people and equipment, like the forklift seen in the video, move through the spaces. Take a look to see the both the rapid movement and slow movement tests.

Instant 400 watt reduction with LED retrofit

This recent lighting retrofit case study comes from a larger project completed by The Retrofit Companies. We thought this was not only a visually impactful set of before & after photos, but energy use was reduced over 400 watts for each fixture replaced!

Case Study: Test Fixtures & Exterior Lighting

For this exterior lighting project, the client is a company with facilities located nationwide. Their savings goals take into consideration the entire network of facilities, but we can see in this single project area how much of an impact that an HID to LED retrofit can make, visually and in energy savings.

Lighting Redesign Using LED Technology

A lot of the time, we judge lighting projects on the very dramatic before and after photos we see. That’s certainly a very interesting and immediate way to judge success of a project, does it look better afterward? Well, not all projects look dramatically different before and after, even in the case of this lighting redesign. However, the results for this project are dramatic and easily measured.

Case Study: Exterior LED Lighting

Well designed lighting will create inviting spaces around the exterior of your business, such as statues, monuments, green spaces, or other landscaping highlights that are lit during non-daylight hours. By completing these projects, you can address an area that is essentially running half of every day.

How a Single Variable Can Ruin a Lighting Project

it’s important to do your homework for every project, to look at photometrics, understand the products that are being specified in your project, and know how they will perform in real life. This knowledge is paramount to project success.

The History of Retrofitting : Industry Insight from TRC Founder

Steve Kath, TRC’s CEO and Founder, will be sharing his experiences in the lighting industry here in a series we’re calling The History of Retrofitting. Keep an eye out for Steve’s features. He’s starting off his series by recounting some of the energy-efficiency technologies that were popular almost 30 years ago, some that worked and some that did not. For more insight on lighting history, keep reading.

Why Invest in a Lighting Audit?

Energy-efficiency is a direct path to savings and makes a positive impact to the bottom line for many businesses, but you may be wondering “What’s the point in investing in a lighting study,” or investment grade audit?

Case Study: Hallway Lighting Retrofit

Deciding to take control of their maintenance costs by upgrading their hallways was a pretty simple decision for this school. An area with aging fixtures and astronomical replacement costs was a great target to start saving. The major problem? Fixture lenses were brittle, easily broken, and no longer manufactured meaning they cost a ton to replace.

9 Signs You Should Invest in LED Lighting

Deciding to invest in energy-efficiency is a decision that every company or business must come by on their own. Oftentimes, an investment in energy-efficiency will yield more than a return on investment. Let’s look at 9 signs that could be telling you it’s time to consider investing in LED Lighting

Lighting Before and After – Manufacturing Facility

Due to the nature of their business, Northern Iron & Machine required a fixture that would handle a more than 100 degree Fahrenheit ambient temperature. They wanted to redesign their lighting system with a long-term solution for optimum efficiency and minimal maintenance. 

My T12 Lights Still Work – Why should I replace them?

Since 2005, starting with T12 magnetic ballasts, T12 lighting technologies have been slowly phased out. On July 14, 2012 the manufacturing of T12 lamps ceased for distribution. Along with the final phase out date came the end of some of the sweet-spot utility rebates that were being offered to utility customers who upgraded from inefficient T12 lighting to something better, like T8 or T5 lamps and ballasts.

How do I get a rebate for my lighting project?

Eligible “projects” can range from installing a high-efficiency water heater in your home to completely revamping the HVAC system in your factory. In this case, we’re going to discuss rebates for energy-efficient lighting upgrades because we think they are one of the most important efficiency measures you can take.

Lighting a Building Exterior: Secure, Efficient & Well Designed

Are you positive you aren’t over-lighting, wasting energy and polluting the night sky with extra light? There is a fine line to stride when it comes to designing the best exterior lighting system for your building.

Fluorescent Lamp Recycling: Small amounts of mercury, big hazard

Many states have required recycling of all fluorescent lamps. While it is not yet a nationwide law, the EPA recommends that all types of fluorescent lamps be disposed of as if they are a hazardous waste.

7 Great Energy Saving Tips You Can Use Today

We talk a lot about how businesses can start saving energy and resources by retrofitting their lighting systems. This can seem like a humongous project if you aren’t a business owner, or if you aren’t the person at your company who is responsible for finding this type of savings opportunity.

Safety & Savings: Parking Ramp Lighting Retrofits

There really should be a funnier punch line to the joke, “how many lighting contractors does it take to change a light bulb?” – But in all honesty, every single lighting contractor you talk to will likely have a different answer for how to save energy and reduce your overhead.

Parking Ramp Lighting Retrofit Case Study

This client qualified for more than$23,000 in utility rebate incentive when they upgraded. They now have better light quality in their facility, increased safety for their patrons, and they are saving money and resources at the same time!

5 Ways to Control Lighting for Maximum Energy Savings

These five ways to control lighting for maximum energy savings are all relatively easy to implement alongside your lighting upgrade to increase savings, but most of them can also be installed or carried out after a lighting project is completed.

When Are Your Fluorescent Lights Being Discontinued?

While the discontinued products may no longer be manufactured, they can still be sold until existing supplies are gone. In the meantime, consumers are likely to pay a premium for the lamps themselves, but also more in utility costs because these technologies use more energy. If you are using these lamps, it’s a great time to consider lighting efficiency projects.

Warehouse Retrofit Case Study: Why more lights aren’t always better

In today’s business climate, consumers require their products and materials faster than ever. Factories and manufacturers must meet this demand in all industries while keeping employees safe and continuing to provide quality products. How then, can a factory or a manufacturer remain competitive, contain costs and retain productive employees, all while being lean and green?