Why Choose Lumen Solutions for Your Commercial or Industrial Lighting Retrofit?
More Than Better Lighting Fixtures. A Smarter Lighting Upgrade.
Choosing the right lighting upgrade is about more than selecting LED fixtures. For commercial and industrial facilities, the right solution must deliver suitable light levels, reliable performance, energy savings, a well-coordinated installation, and measurable long-term value.
You can purchase lighting fixtures directly, hire an electrical contractor to install them or work with a partner that manages the retrofit as an engineered project. In Ontario, rebates are applied at the point of sale and can only be issued by the fixture seller or distributor, so who you buy from directly affects the rebates available to you.
Lumen Solutions helps businesses plan and deliver commercial and industrial LED lighting retrofits, from lighting assessment and solution design through installation coordination and project handover. As the fixture seller, Lumen provides 100% of eligible rebates.
Whether you operate a warehouse, manufacturing facility, food processing plant, school, office or other commercial property, we help you evaluate the right approach for your building, operational needs and energy-saving goals.
Three Ways to Approach a Lighting Upgrade
Every facility has different requirements. The best approach depends on your in-house expertise, project complexity, operating schedule and the level of project management you need.
Option 1: Buy Lighting Fixtures Only
Purchasing LED fixtures directly can be a suitable option when your organization already has the technical expertise, electrical contractors and project management resources needed to deliver the upgrade.
However, purchasing fixtures is only one part of a successful retrofit. You may also need to coordinate lighting design, product selection, installation, incentive applications, commissioning and performance verification. Rebate eligibility is tied to the purchase itself, so check that your supplier can issue the rebates your project qualifies for, and in what amount.
This approach may suit you if:
- You have an experienced facilities or engineering team.
- Your lighting design and product specifications are already established.
- You have installation and project coordination covered.
- You are comfortable managing supplier and contractor relationships.
Consider before you buy: Make sure the selected fixtures are appropriate for your facility, mounting heights, operating conditions, lighting levels, controls and applicable safety requirements.
Option 2: Hire an Installation-Only Electrical Contractor
An electrical contractor can be the right choice when your lighting design, fixture specifications and project requirements are already defined and you primarily need qualified professionals to complete the electrical installation.
Depending on the contractor’s scope, additional responsibilities may remain with your team, including fixture selection, photometric design, energy-savings calculations, rebate coordination, commissioning and performance documentation.
This approach may suit you if:
- Your engineering or consulting team has completed the lighting design.
- You have selected the products and established the project scope.
- Your team can coordinate suppliers, incentives and other project requirements.
- You need installation support for a clearly defined scope of work.
Consider before you proceed: Confirm who is responsible for design verification, installation scheduling, safety coordination, testing, documentation, warranty claims and any work required after installation.
Option 3: Choose Lumen for a Turnkey, Engineered Lighting Retrofit
When you want a more coordinated approach, Lumen can help bring the key elements of a lighting retrofit together. The project can start with an assessment of your existing lighting and facility requirements, followed by solution development, project planning, installation coordination and handover.
The specific services included depend on your facility, project scope and agreed proposal.
This approach may suit you if:
- You want to evaluate lighting performance and energy-saving opportunities before selecting products.
- You need a coordinated approach to design, equipment, installation and project delivery.
- Your facility has production schedules, operating hours, safety requirements or other constraints to consider.
- You want to evaluate available incentives and the potential financial return.
- You need a clear project scope, documented assumptions and a defined handover process.
The Lumen difference: Instead of treating the project as a fixture purchase alone, we help you evaluate the lighting upgrade as a complete business and facility improvement.
Lumen Solutions vs. Other Lighting Upgrade Options: At a Glance
The table below compares typical responsibilities. Actual services vary by supplier, electrical contractor, project consultant and agreed contract scope.
Project consideration | Fixtures only | Installation-only contractor | Lumen turnkey retrofit |
Fixture selection | Products supplied; selection may be yours | Usually based on the supplied specification or agreed scope | Helps evaluate suitable lighting solutions within the agreed scope |
Lighting design and photometrics | Typically arranged separately | May be excluded unless specified | Lighting assessment and design support, as scoped |
Installation coordination | Managed by your team or appointed contractor | Installation coordination within the contractor’s scope | Coordinated project delivery within the agreed scope |
Energy-savings estimates | Must be sourced separately or calculated internally | May be excluded unless specified | Savings assessment and financial analysis, as scoped |
Rebate and incentive support | Available only if the seller or distributor issues it at the point of sale; eligibility and paperwork may need separate coordination | Not available through the installer; rebates come from the fixture seller or distributor | 100% of eligible rebates provided and applied at the point of sale, with incentive assessment and coordination as agreed |
Safety planning | Depends on who manages the project | Contractor manages applicable responsibilities for its work | Project planning considers site requirements and agreed responsibilities |
Commissioning and testing | Must be arranged separately unless included | Depends on the contract | Handover testing and commissioning, as scoped |
Warranty coordination | Product warranty generally follows the supplier or manufacturer terms | Installation workmanship terms depend on the contractor | Product and installation warranty responsibilities are defined in the proposal |
Post-installation support | Depends on the supplier and separate service arrangements | Depends on the contractor’s service offering | Support arrangements are defined by the agreed project scope |
Best suited for | Teams equipped to manage the rest of the project | Projects with established design and specifications | Businesses seeking a more integrated retrofit process |
Important: This is a general comparison, not a statement that every fixture supplier or electrical contractor excludes these services. Ask each provider to confirm exactly what is included in writing.
Why Lighting Design and Photometrics Matter
Choosing an LED fixture based only on wattage, price or a product specification can leave important questions unanswered.
Will the new lighting provide adequate illumination at working surfaces? Will there be dark areas, excessive brightness or glare? Are the mounting heights, fixture spacing and environmental conditions suitable for the proposed solution?
Photometric analysis helps evaluate how light is distributed across a space. Depending on the application, the design may consider:
- Required illumination levels for the work being performed.
- Fixture layout, mounting height, spacing and distribution.
- Glare, uniformity and visual comfort.
- Colour characteristics and visibility requirements.
- Controls, occupancy patterns and operating hours.
- Environmental conditions such as dust, moisture, temperature or washdown.
- Applicable codes, standards and facility requirements.
For industrial and commercial properties, a well-planned lighting design can help align the selected equipment with the actual needs of the space.
With Lumen: Ask us how lighting assessment, design and photometric considerations would be addressed in your proposed retrofit.
A Lighting Retrofit That Considers Your Operations
Lighting upgrades in active facilities require more than a product list. Installation may need to account for production schedules, warehouse traffic, employee access, equipment locations, food safety protocols or the daily requirements of a commercial building.
We can work with your team to understand these constraints and develop a project plan appropriate to the agreed scope.
Depending on the facility and project, planning may address:
- Installation sequencing and access requirements.
- Phased work or off-hours installation where practical.
- Coordination with facility managers, maintenance staff and other contractors.
- Site-specific safety procedures and responsibilities.
- Equipment delivery and installation scheduling.
- Testing, documentation and handover.
Our goal is to help you evaluate the upgrade in the context of your operations—not just the number of fixtures being replaced.
What Should You Ask Before Choosing a Lighting Retrofit Provider?
Lighting design
Is the solution supported by a lighting assessment and appropriate photometric analysis?
Fixture selection
Are the proposed products suitable for the environment, operating conditions and required lighting performance?
Energy savings
Are the calculations based on our actual operating hours, existing equipment and energy costs?
Incentives
Who checks eligibility and manages any required rebate documentation?
Project delivery
Who coordinates equipment, scheduling, installation and other contractors?
Safety
What site-specific safety procedures, responsibilities and access requirements apply?
Commissioning
What testing and documentation will we receive after installation?
Warranty
Which product and workmanship warranties apply and who handles claims?
Support
What post-installation assistance is available and what response commitments are documented?
Financial assumptions
What is included in the quoted cost and what could create additional charges?
Is Lumen Solutions the Right Fit for Your Project?
Lumen Solutions may be a strong fit if you manage a commercial or industrial facility and want to assess energy-saving opportunities, improve lighting performance and coordinate the key elements of a retrofit.
We encourage you to discuss your facility, existing lighting, operational constraints, project objectives and preferred delivery approach with our team.
Whether you are planning a complete facility upgrade or exploring improvements to a specific area, we can help you determine the appropriate next steps.
Let's Evaluate Your Lighting Upgrade
Frequently Asked Questions
Why not just hire an electrician to replace our existing lights?
An electrician may be exactly what you need if the design and specifications are already complete. For a more complex retrofit, you may also need lighting design, photometric analysis, savings estimates, incentive coordination, commissioning and performance documentation. Confirm which responsibilities are covered by each provider.
Can Lumen work with our existing electrical contractor or lighting consultant?
Lumen can discuss a collaborative approach based on your existing team and the project requirements. Responsibilities, approvals, installation arrangements and deliverables should be established before the project begins.
How long does it take for an LED retrofit to pay for itself?
Payback depends on the project cost, energy savings, maintenance savings where applicable and eligible incentives. Lumen's published case studies show different payback periods for different facilities. Your estimate should state its assumptions and distinguish estimated results from actual verified performance.
Can we upgrade lighting in phases to avoid disrupting operations?
Phased installation or work outside normal operating hours may be possible, depending on the facility, site access, safety requirements and project scope. Discuss your operating schedule and any production or occupancy constraints during the initial assessment.
What information should we prepare for a lighting assessment?
Useful information includes facility size, existing fixture types and quantities, operating hours, electricity costs, lighting concerns, facility drawings if available and any upcoming renovation or maintenance plans. An initial discussion can help identify what information is needed for the next step.