High-Bay Lighting Initiative

Lighting for performance in high-bay facilities

Lighting typically accounts for between 50% and 75% of electrical costs within warehouse storage or logistics facilities. Traditionally these spaces have been dominated by high-intensity discharge (HID) light sources, such as metal halide and high-pressure sodium lamps. Recent improvements in fluorescent lamps and the emergence of new high-intensity fluorescent fixtures have made high-output fluorescent lighting the best and most cost-effective choice for lighting high indoor spaces.

If you have high-bay lighting in your facility, BC Hydro can help

The new Power Smart High-Bay Lighting Initiative offers financial incentives and tools to help commercial customers identify, design and install more effective and energy-efficient lighting in high-bay facilities, such as warehouses, athletic facilities and large retail stores.

The offer

Financial incentives offered depend on the Power Smart lighting products you install and how much electricity you save. Customers may be eligible to receive funding for the following energy-efficient measures:

• Lighting Redesign Studies: Through to March 31, 2008, BC Hydro customers with high-bay facilities may qualify for a fully funded lighting redesign study to explore and identify the potential for energy saving technologies, including energy-efficient lighting and control upgrade measures.*
• Project implementation: In addition, projects can qualify for project funding (to a maximum of 60% of total project costs) to install new energy-efficient fluorescent lighting and controls in your facility. The incentive will be based on the total electrical savings of the project.**

* 50% of Lighting Redesign Study costs will be funded once the study is complete and the Lighting Redesign Study report has been approved by BC Hydro and an invoice with proof of payment has been received. An additional 50% of the Lighting Redesign Study cost will be funded by BC Hydro if an incentive application to implement electrical energy saving measures is submitted within one year of BC Hydro's approval of the Lighting Redesign Study report.
** Minimum savings criteria of 100,000 kWh apply. Projects are considered qualified once certain guidelines have been met.

The benefits of energy-efficient fluorescent lighting

• Reduced operating costs – more energy efficient than high-intensity discharge (HID) solutions.
• Reduced maintenance costs – increased equipment life means longer periods between re-lamping.
• Improved lighting quality and working conditions – better colour rendition, uniformity and reduced glare.
• Improved switching – flexible sensors and control systems allow for virtually instant re-strike capabilities.
• Sustained light output levels as lamps age.
• Continued reliability when there is lamp failure (high-bay fluorescent systems usually have between four and six lamps per luminaire versus one for HID systems; fluorescent systems continue to provide illumination if a single lamp fails).

Ideal uses

High-output fluorescent lighting provides uniform vertical light levels; a good choice for warehouse environments with shelving where products and labels must be clearly visible to warehouse employees.

In combination with occupancy sensors, high-output fluorescent lighting can result in significant energy savings. Unlike traditional metal halide lights which require several minutes delay between the moment when the light is turned off and the moment it can be turned on again, fluorescents have virtually instant re-strike capabilities.

Eligibility

To qualify for the High-Bay Lighting Initiative:

• You must be a BC Hydro commercial customer with an existing high-bay facility (commercial high-bay facilities include warehouses, retail, mixed-use buildings, schools, gymnasiums, healthcare and other government facilities).
• Projects must meet minimum requirements of 100,000 kWh per year energy savings and a minimum two-year payback period.
• The High-Bay Lighting Initiative is open to all BC Hydro customers with an annual spend of $50,000 or more.

My project does not meet these criteria, can BC Hydro still help?

• BC Hydro offers incentive options for smaller projects that may meet your needs. Please refer to our Product Incentive Program for more details.