Commercial Lighting Knowledge Center

Financials & ROI

What is the average paycheck period for a commercial LED retrofit?

Most commercial projects achieve full ROI within 12 to 24 months. By combining energy savings (often 50-75%) with reduced maintenance labor and utility rebates, the system effectively pays for itself. US Lighting Systems provides a detailed Investment & Incentive Analysis for every project to project these savings accurately before you sign.

How does US Lighting Systems maximize my utility rebates?

We provide complete rebate and incentive administration. Our team identifies all available prescriptive and custom rebates in your specific zip code, handles the complex paperwork, and ensures the products used are DLC-listed to guarantee eligibility. We don’t just find rebates; we manage the process from application to check-in-hand.

What is "Buying Power" and how does it affect my project cost?

US Lighting Systems buys direct from manufacturers, bypassing the "bloated supply chain" and traditional electrical distributors. This national buying power allows us to pass 20-30% equipment savings directly to our clients, significantly lowering the initial capital expenditure.

How much can I save on maintenance by switching to LED?

Maintenance savings often account for 30% of the total ROI. LEDs eliminate the need for ballast replacements and frequent "re-lamping." For high-ceiling facilities or parking lots where lift rentals are required, the savings in labor and equipment rental are immediate and substantial.

Design & Tech

Why is a Photometric Study necessary for my facility?

A Photometric Study is a 3D digital map of how light will behave in your specific space. It ensures that light levels meet IES standards for safety and productivity while eliminating "hot spots" and glare. USLS provides these layouts to guarantee performance before installation begins.

What is the benefit of "Lighting Certified" (LC) expertise?

"Lighting Certified" is the industry’s highest professional credential. It means your project is being designed by experts who understand the physics of light, not just someone selling fixtures. This expertise ensures your system is compliant, efficient, and visually optimized.

How do I choose the right Color Rendering Index (CRI) for my industry?

For retail and dealerships, we recommend 90+ CRI to ensure colors are vibrant and accurate. For warehouses and industrial spaces, 70-80 CRI is the standard, focusing on maximum lumen output and energy efficiency.

What are "Advanced Controls" and "Daylight Harvesting"?

These systems use sensors to detect occupancy and natural sunlight. Daylight Harvesting automatically dims your LEDs when the sun provides enough light, while occupancy sensors ensure you aren't lighting empty rooms. These controls can add another 20% to your energy savings.

Does US Lighting Systems offer custom lighting designs?

Yes. We specialize in Custom Solutions tailored to your brand aesthetic and technical needs. Whether it's a specific "identity" for a retail chain or specialized optics for a sports facility, we engineer the fixture to fit the application.

Operations & Installation

How does your Nationwide Service work for multi-location businesses?

We have installation crews in every major market across America. Through our National Account Program (NAP), we provide a single point of contact (Dedicated Account Manager) to oversee rollouts across dozens or hundreds of locations simultaneously, ensuring consistent quality and pricing nationwide.

Can you install lighting without disrupting my operations?

Absolutely. We specialize in "Live Environment" retrofits. Our crews can work after-hours or in phases to ensure your business stays productive. We coordinate closely with your team to manage staging, disposal, and safety during the transition.

What is the difference between an LED retrofit and a full fixture replacement?

A retrofit uses your existing housings but replaces the internal components, which is faster and cheaper. A full replacement involves new fixtures and often qualifies for higher rebates and better light distribution. We audit your facility to recommend the most cost-effective path.

How do you handle disposal of old fluorescent or HID lamps?

As part of our turnkey service, we handle the environmentally compliant disposal and recycling of all old lamps and ballasts. We provide the necessary documentation to show your company is meeting EPA regulations.

What kind of ongoing support do you provide after installation?

We are committed to support for the life of your solution. This includes managing all manufacturer warranty claims and providing technical support. You won't have to chase down a manufacturer; you just call your USLS account manager.

Industry Specific

What are the best lighting solutions for Parking Lots and Dealerships?

Exterior lighting is about Uniformity. We custom design and use multiple types of optics to ensure light covers the entire lot, eliminating dark corners, enhancing security camera footage, and making vehicles look their best.

How does LED lighting improve safety in Warehouses?

In industrial settings, we focus on both horizontal and Vertical Footcandles. This ensures that workers can clearly read labels on the highest pallet racks. As safety is a major concern, properly lighting up your facility will help reduce reportable incidents. Instant-on LEDs also eliminate the dangerous "warm-up" period required by old metal halide lamps.

What is unique about lighting for Hospitality and Restaurants?

In hospitality, lighting is about Mood and Aesthetics. We use dimmable LEDs with high-quality "warm" color temperatures to create welcoming environments that mirror the brand's identity while still slashing energy costs.

How do you handle lighting for Sports Facilities and Gymnasiums?

These spaces require high-output, impact-resistant fixtures with specialized glare control to ensure visibility for athletes and spectators without "blinding" them during play. Custom control systems are often added to give you a detailed level of control of the lighting.

Why should Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) partner with USLS?

Our National Account Program is built specifically for REITs. We take the "operational complexity" out of managing multiple vendors across a portfolio. We provide proprietary software to track the progress of every location, from the initial audit to the final rebate check.