Though LED adoption is on the rise, according to the most recent Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, 68% of commercial buildings are still using traditional fluorescent lighting.1 Troffer fixtures account for a large portion of this, with over 350 million installed in U.S. buildings.2 With three retrofit options for these fixtures providing energy savings of up to 60% and many energy efficiency incentives available troffers can be a great starting point for an energy-saving project.
The most time and cost-effective way to retrofit troffer fixtures is lamp replacement with tubular LED lamps, otherwise known as TLEDs. Though they boast a lower price point, two of the three types of TLEDs require electrician installation and only provide 30-50% energy savings. Additionally, existing ballasts may not always be compatible with TLEDs and there is a risk that a ballast may fail before the lamp, especially with Type A replacements.
The opposite of lamp replacement is a full fixture replacement, including the housing, to maximize energy savings. Replacing existing fixtures with new LED luminaires is the most expensive and time-consuming option for replacing troffers. Requiring an electrician installation and, often, control system design, a full LED fixture replacement will see your largest utility incentives and an energy savings of approximately 60%. One of the biggest challenges encountered when one-for-one fixture replacement is excessive light output requiring costly redesign.
Touting the same energy savings as a full fixture retrofit but with an easier installation and a lower price tag, retrofit kits offer a solution that will bring maximum savings without the labor of a full retrofit. An often overlooked benefit of opting for a retrofit kit over a full fixture replacement is the waste reduction achieved by using the existing housing.3 To provide maximum efficiency and additional incentive opportunities, pair these kits with controls and control systems.
Be sure to use DLC® certified products on your next project to ensure maximum energy savings and increase opportunities for energy rebates. Programs in North Carolina, New York, and Maryland are offering the most significant rebates for Retrofit Kits for 2x4 Luminaires at this time.
Diving Deeper into Top Programs in Top 3 States with Highest Rebates
North Carolina
Duke Energy Carolinas Smart Saver Business Program is offering incentives up to $40 per fixture for up to 75% of the project cost. All lighting measures require a minimum of 1,800 annual operating hours and pre-qualification is available to confirm account and equipment eligibility for prescriptive rebates.
New York
The Consolidated Edison (ConEd) Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency Program is offering incentives up to $45 per fixture up to 70% of the project cost, excluding internal labor or 100% of the measure cost. Pre-approval is required prior to installation. NWS adder incentive bonuses of $2,000 per kW up to 100% of each measure cost, and 100% of total project cost, are available for projects in eligible neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens.
Maryland
The Potomac Edison Company Energy Solutions for Business Program is offering incentives up to $45 per fixture up to 50% of the total project cost, including labor, with a maximum of $1,000,000 per project, per customer, per year. Pre-approval is required before the purchase of equipment and is valid for 90 days with extensions offered for installation delays.
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