Commercial Lighting

We generally start our evaluations of existing buildings with a building
energy audit, and come up with a list of suggestions for ways to improve
building energy efficiency.

This audit, which is primarily for energy (and water) efficiency, involves the
application of building science principles along with practical knowledge to come
up with suggestions for improvements. This usually includes ballpark cost figures on
some items and specific bids on others, where possible.

Expenses for lighting in commercial and industrial buildings represent significant portions
of the total electric bill, and so provisions for lighting the working spaces and surroundings are
likely to feature prominently in our recommendations. Advances in lighting technology have made it
possible to work with almost any installed system, to integrate it into the building control systems while
reducing operating and maintenance costs.

Of course, capital expenditures are usually involved to change and/or add components. But rebates are often available that offset a significant portion of the costs, and we will help you qualify for and obtain them. Depending on the size of the system and other factors, a feasibility study may be warranted to define the costs and savings precisely, and to provide justification for the investment on a cash-flow basis to all decision-makers involved.

The simplest retrofit involves simply replacing older T-12 fluorescent tubular lamps ("bulbs" in the vernacular) with more energy efficient T-8 lamps, along with the ballasts.