A decade after the widespread shift from fluorescent and HID lighting to LEDs, early adopters are now facing the need to replace their first-generation LED fixtures. Traditionally, utility rebate programs have not supported “LED-to-LED” upgrades, focusing instead on the initial move away from legacy lighting. However, as LED technology and energy efficiency standards have advanced, this is beginning to change.
LED lighting has seen remarkable improvements in both light quality and efficacy over the past ten years. The Design Lights Consortium (DLC), which sets performance standards for commercial lighting, provides a useful benchmark for these advancements. In 2015, DLC’s technical requirements for 4-foot tubes, 2×4 troffers, and high bays were 100, 85, and 80 LPW, respectively. By 2025, these standards had risen to 120, 110, and 120 LPW—a 20% to 50% improvement depending on fixture type.
This increase in efficacy means that newer LED fixtures can deliver the same amount of light using significantly less energy. For example, a Lithonia 8’ direct linear fixture that required 83W for 10,000 lumens in 2015 now needs only 68W for the same output—an 18% savings. Similarly, a TCP high bay fixture from 2015 used 130W, while today’s equivalent uses just 90W, resulting in a 30% energy reduction.
While the energy savings from upgrading LEDs may not always justify a retrofit on their own, they become compelling when fixtures reach end-of-life. Replacing old LEDs with new, more efficient models can also reduce maintenance costs and allow for “right-sizing” the lighting, especially with the rise of field-adjustable fixtures. For example, a Minnesota paint store could achieve a payback period of about 2.4 years by upgrading to new LEDs, factoring in rebates and energy savings.
A recent DNV study found that replacing burned-out LEDs can have a payback as short as six months, while a full retrofit typically pays back in two to six years.
Utility rebate programs are evolving to support LED-to-LED upgrades, especially as the market becomes saturated with LED installations. Custom and midstream rebate programs are generally the most flexible, offering incentives based on calculated energy savings regardless of the existing technology. For example, Avista (Idaho and Washington) and Xcel Energy (Minnesota) now offer rebates for TLED-to-TLED replacements, with incentives based on the wattage reduction achieved.
- Avista offers $3 per lamp for a 3–4W reduction and $5 for 5W or more.
- Xcel Energy gives $3 per lamp for TLED upgrades and $75 per fixture for high bay upgrades.
- PSE&G (New Jersey) only allows LED-to-LED upgrades through custom applications.
Some programs have restrictions, especially if the original LED installation received a rebate or if a minimum “in-service” period is required. As LED adoption grows, rebate programs are expected to further embrace LED-to-LED upgrades. DNV’s recent report highlights these upgrades as a major opportunity for future energy savings, second only to advanced lighting controls.
As LED technology rapidly improves, upgrading from older LEDs to newer, more efficient models is becoming both a practical and financially viable option, with utility rebates increasingly available to support these projects.
More information is available here.
Image: electricalcontractor.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.