LED Lighting Retrofits for Offices, Shops and Warehouses

Lighting is one of the most practical places for a business to cut electricity use, and an upgrade is a good chance to fix tired fixtures at the same time. Here is how we approach LED retrofits for offices, shops and warehouses, along with the ESA rules and Save on Energy incentives worth knowing before you start.

Why businesses retrofit

Save on Energy, the energy-efficiency program run by Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), points out that most building lights stay on even during non-working hours. It also says modern designs that use LEDs and lighting controls make spaces brighter, more attractive, safer and more comfortable, on top of the operating cost savings.

Maintenance matters too. Save on Energy lists lower maintenance costs among the benefits of the energy-efficient upgrades in its small business program, and a retrofit that removes the old fluorescent ballasts leaves no ballasts behind to fail.

Your main retrofit options

Plug-and-play LED tubes (Type A)

These tubes go into the existing fixture in place of the fluorescent tubes, with no rewiring, and the existing ballast stays in place. That makes them quick to install, but they still rely on the old ballast, so we check the ballasts before recommending them.

ESA treats a Type A tube as a direct substitution for a fluorescent lamp, so no notification is needed for the swap itself.

Ballast-bypass tubes (Type B)

Here the ballast is disconnected and the lampholders are rewired to supply the tube directly. You lose the ballast and its upkeep, but in Ontario you are now modifying the fixture, and that matters. ESA’s guide on retrofitted luminaires says that when an approved electrical product is modified, it is no longer approved. Where the ballast is disconnected and the lampholders rewired without an approved retrofit kit, ESA requires field evaluation of every modified fixture. A Retrofitted Luminaires Notification is needed for each project site, and ESA checks that the fixture is marked with the correct replacement lamps so no one puts fluorescent tubes back in.

ESA also warns against certain kits in fixtures with “shunted” lampholders, which are found with instant-start ballasts, because of the fire or shock hazard. This is one more reason we check each fixture type before choosing a tube.

Approved retrofit kits or new LED fixtures

An approved retrofit kit is certified for converting an existing fixture. Installed with its own parts and instructions, and properly labelled, it can be accepted by ESA on inspection without field evaluation. Replacing a fixture outright with a new LED fixture is treated by ESA as ordinary wiring work that needs a standard notification.

In our experience, new fixtures make the most sense when the old ones are worn out or the layout is changing, while tubes or kits can suit fixtures that are still in good shape. We file the right ESA notification for whichever route you choose. Our ESA permits guide explains how notifications and inspections work.

Controls in plain terms

• Occupancy sensors turn lights off when a room, washroom or aisle is empty, and back on when someone walks in.
• Daylight sensors (“daylight harvesting”) dim the lights near windows or skylights when there is enough daylight. This needs dimmable fixtures or drivers.
• Timers and photocells switch signs, parking lot and exterior lights on a schedule or at dusk.

Save on Energy describes lighting controls such as occupancy sensors, daylight sensors and dimmable equipment as a way to avoid energy waste while automatically adjusting light levels to what a task or space needs. It also notes that in larger buildings, many controls can tie into the energy management or building automation system.

High-bay lighting for warehouses

High ceilings make warehouses a natural fit for LED high bays, and the work usually means a lift, careful planning around racking, and coordination with your forklift traffic. Fixture-mounted occupancy sensors can keep aisles dimmed or off until someone comes through, and Save on Energy’s discount list includes sensors made for high-bay fixtures.

If you plan to use Save on Energy’s Instant Discounts for high bays, note that the program requires complete fixtures listed by the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) as high-bay or low-bay luminaires. Retrofit kits are not eligible for that measure.

Scheduling the work around your business

Most retrofits can be planned so you keep operating. Before quoting, we walk the space, count fixture types, check ballasts and note anything that needs repair. From there we work out a schedule with you, such as zone by zone, so a shop in Galt or an office in Waterloo is not left in the dark during business hours.

A retrofit is also a good time to look at emergency lighting. Ontario’s Fire Code requires self-contained (battery) emergency lighting units to be inspected and tested monthly, plus a full-duration test at least every 12 months. If yours have not been checked in a while, our emergency services include emergency lighting.

If you are adding EV chargers at the same time, plan the electrical capacity together. Our post on commercial EV charging stations covers what to think about.

Incentives: Save on Energy

As of October 2026, Save on Energy lists several programs that can help with business lighting:

• Instant Discounts Program. Point-of-sale discounts on eligible lighting from participating distributors, including LED tubes, high and low bay fixtures and occupancy sensors. It applies to existing commercial, agricultural, industrial, institutional and multi-unit residential buildings in Ontario, only where less efficient lighting was there before (not new construction). Products must be listed by DLC or ENERGY STAR, and must be installed within 90 days of purchase. For ballast-bypass tubes, the program only accepts certified “double ended” tubes.
• Retrofit Program. Since January 1, 2025, standard lighting controls have been offered through Instant Discounts, while network lighting controls remain in the Retrofit Program. Retrofit projects need pre-project approval before installation.
• Small Business Program. Ontario businesses with 50 or fewer employees can get a free on-site assessment and eligible upgrades installed at no cost, up to the program’s limits. Under this program, only Save on Energy’s own qualified contractors can do the installation.

Under the Instant Discounts rules, you cannot also take another IESO or Ontario government incentive for the same products. Save on Energy also adjusts incentives from time to time and expects its next Retrofit update in fall 2026, so confirm the details on saveonenergy.ca before you order anything.

Get a quote

Whether you run an office in Kitchener, a shop in Guelph or a warehouse in Milton, we can help you choose between tubes, kits and new fixtures, add sensors where they make sense, and handle the ESA side. Borealis Electric is owned by a Master Electrician, licensed with ECRA/ESA (licence #7017294) and fully insured, with 15+ years of experience. See our commercial services, or contact us for a free quote.