Commercial Lighting Audit Guide
Many commercial and industrial facilities are still operating with outdated lighting systems that increase utility costs, compromise safety, and lead to unnecessary maintenance. A commercial lighting audit is the first step in identifying those issues and creating a plan to reduce energy use, improve performance, and save money.
At US Lighting Systems, we specialize in turnkey LED retrofit solutions. Our process covers everything from audit and engineering to installation and rebate management. The goal is simple: to help our customers cut operating costs and improve their lighting quality with minimal disruption.
Why Conduct a Lighting Audit?
A lighting audit gives you a complete picture of how your lighting system is performing and what improvements can be made. It allows you to identify inefficiencies, improve visibility and safety, and reduce energy and maintenance costs.
Audits often reveal common problems such as fixtures running longer than needed, outdated or high-wattage technologies, and underlit or overlit areas. These problems affect productivity, increase liability, and waste energy. A professional audit helps uncover these issues and provides data-driven recommendations that are specific to your space.
For companies managing multiple facilities, an
audit also creates a standard approach that can be rolled out across an entire portfolio. This makes budgeting and planning much more efficient.
Our Proven Audit Process
US Lighting Systems follows a structured, industry-proven audit process designed to be accurate, fast, and easy to act on. Every audit begins with a discovery phase to understand your goals, operations, and priorities. We tailor our audit plan based on your facility type, usage, and needs.
Discovery and Pre Site Planning
We start by gathering basic details such as building layout, hours of operation, utility rate structure, and known lighting issues. This helps us plan an efficient and focused site visit so we can gather exactly the data we need.
On Site Assessment
Our team visits your facility and conducts a walkthrough to evaluate all existing lighting systems. We document fixture counts, types, wattages, mounting heights, spacing, and condition. We also record how the space is used, when lighting is needed, and whether any lighting controls are currently in place.
We measure current light levels and take photos of critical areas. This allows us to compare your existing system against recommended standards and helps with design and modeling.
Environment and Footprint Analysis
Lighting performance depends heavily on the environment. We assess the space in terms of surface reflectivity, ceiling height, window placement, potential glare, and shadowed areas. These environmental factors are considered in the design recommendations to ensure light levels are uniform, effective, and energy efficient.
Data Modeling and Recommendations
After the audit is complete, we analyze the data and create a custom retrofit plan. This includes recommendations for new LED fixtures, controls, and layout improvements. We model projected energy savings, return on investment, and payback period based on your actual usage and utility rates.
Our team also identifies any rebate programs your facility qualifies for and outlines how to take advantage of them. The result is a clear, actionable plan that shows you what to expect and how quickly your investment will pay off.
What You Receive After the Audit
Our deliverables are designed to help you move forward with confidence and clarity. Each audit includes:
| Deliverable | Description |
|---|---|
| Lighting Inventory | A full breakdown of fixture types, wattages, and quantities |
| Light Level Analysis | Actual readings compared to recommended lighting levels |
| Energy and Cost Report | Side-by-side comparison of current and proposed systems, with estimated savings |
| Rebate Strategy | A summary of available incentives and next steps for claiming them |
| Retrofit Plan | Product recommendations, controls, layout changes, and total project scope |
| Implementation Roadmap | Timeline, budget guidance, and installation phases |
Why Partner with US Lighting Systems
We are a Lighting Certified team with deep experience across commercial, industrial, and multi-site environments. Our national reach and fast turnaround times help us support customers who need consistent execution across multiple properties or tight project timelines.
Our turnkey model includes auditing, design, installation, rebate management, and post-project support. We do not lock you into specific products or brands. Instead, we recommend what is best for your facility, based on performance, efficiency, and total cost of ownership.
Whether you are managing a single building or a national portfolio, we can provide a fast and reliable path to energy savings and better lighting.
