Top 5 Energy-Efficient Lighting Upgrades for Commercial Buildings
February 19, 2026
When a 200,000-square-foot distribution center in Indianapolis approached Stasy’s Art 2.0 about upgrading their aging metal halide lighting, they had three goals: reduce energy costs, improve visibility for their workforce, and qualify for utility rebates. Here’s how we delivered on all three.
The Challenge
The facility was operating with 120 fixtures of 400W metal halide high bays installed in 2008. After 18 years of operation, the lighting system had several critical problems:
- Declining light levels: Metal halide lamps had depreciated to approximately 60% of initial lumens, creating dark areas throughout the warehouse
- Frequent maintenance: The facility was replacing 2-3 lamps per month at a cost of $150-200 each (including lift rental and labor)
- High energy costs: The 120 fixtures consumed approximately 55kW, costing the facility over $28,000 per year in electricity
- Safety concerns: Employees reported difficulty reading labels and pick tickets in several areas, leading to fulfillment errors
- Long warm-up times: After power interruptions, the facility was in near-darkness for 15-20 minutes while MH lamps restriked
Our Solution
Phase 1: Assessment and Design
Our lighting design team conducted a comprehensive site assessment including:
- Light level measurements at 50+ points throughout the facility
- Electrical panel audit to verify capacity
- Review of workflow patterns and task requirements by zone
- Photometric design in AGi32 with multiple fixture options
The assessment revealed that light levels had dropped to 12-18 foot-candles in most areas — well below the IES-recommended 30 foot-candles for warehouse operations.
Phase 2: Product Selection
Based on the photometric analysis, we recommended:
- Main warehouse area (100 fixtures): 150W LED UFO high bays with 90° optics — delivering 24,000 lumens each at 160 lumens per watt
- Shipping dock area (12 fixtures): 200W LED linear high bays with asymmetric optics for wall-wash distribution
- Racking aisles (8 fixtures): 100W LED linear high bays with narrow 60° optics for targeted aisle illumination
All fixtures were DLC Premium listed and CCT-selectable (4000K/5000K), allowing fine-tuning during installation.
Phase 3: Installation
To minimize disruption to the client’s 24/7 operations, our team:
- Completed installation over two weekends (Saturday-Sunday shifts)
- Worked in zones to maintain lighting in active areas while upgrading adjacent zones
- Installed integrated occupancy sensors in low-traffic zones (restrooms, break rooms, seasonal storage)
- Added emergency battery backup to 20 fixtures for code-compliant egress lighting
Total installation time: 4 days with a crew of 6 electricians.
The Results
| Metric | Before (MH) | After (LED) | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total wattage | 54,960W | 17,600W | 68% reduction |
| Average light levels | 15 fc | 38 fc | 153% improvement |
| Annual energy cost | $28,740 | $9,204 | $19,536/year saved |
| Annual maintenance cost | $4,200 | $0 | $4,200/year saved |
| Project payback | 18 months (after rebates) | ||
Utility Rebates
Our team filed rebate applications with Indianapolis Power & Light (now AES Indiana), securing $8,400 in prescriptive rebates — covering approximately 22% of the total project cost.
Client Feedback
“The difference was immediate and dramatic. Our team noticed the improvement the moment they walked in Monday morning. Pick accuracy has improved, we’ve had zero lighting-related maintenance calls in six months, and our energy bill dropped by nearly $20,000 per year. Stasy’s Art 2.0 made the whole process seamless.” — Operations Manager
Your Facility Could Be Next
Every commercial facility is different, but the fundamentals are the same: LED lighting delivers better light at a fraction of the cost. Whether you’re operating a warehouse, office building, retail space, or manufacturing plant, our team can design and install a solution that pays for itself.
Ready to see what LED can do for your facility? Contact us for a free lighting assessment and energy savings projection.
