LEDs light the way to an ESG boost
Updated February 25, 2025
By Jamey Koehler | former Lighting Manager with 25 years in the industry
By Jamey Koehler | former Lighting Manager with 25 years in the industry
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From worker safety to reduced energy costs, upgrading lights is a smart move.
As ESG grows in the minds of both the public and organizations, it’s becoming far more important to think about how lighting plays into the equation. If you ever wonder, “Should I update my lights?” The short answer is yes. Between potential improvements in cost savings, worker safety, and productivity, you shouldn’t have trouble finding a reason to upgrade your lighting. Who can benefit? Whether you’re running HID, incandescent, or fluorescent lights, be thinking about upgrading. Really any source that isn't LED should be considered. Even some first and second generations of LED lights can be upgraded through incentivized programs with local electrical utilities. Wherever you find yourself on the path to new lighting, there’s likely an improvement you can make. The numbers I commonly hear questions along these lines. “When I switch to LEDs, what savings can I expect?” A rule of thumb would be, if you've got a fairly new fluorescent system, it might be a 50% reduction. If you add any advanced controls, it could be much more than that. Now, if you're still using an older HID system, it can be a 75% reduction. The ESG angle
A lot of people ask for detailed, documented proof of planning and implementation for some of these efficiency measures to make sure there’s continued improvement on sustainability goals. Any upgrades you’re doing for efficiencies within a facility can be documented and shown in your annual ESG reporting. Plus, there are certifications you can get. But it’s become an important piece of corporate messaging to show you’re taking the right steps to be environmentally responsible. A better workspace Lighting ergonomics are truly important in modern workspaces. Studies confirm that working in a place that's too dark can lead to people becoming sluggish and unsafe. Poor lighting hasn’t always been recognized as a performance factor. But the amount of light, the contrast, and the color in a space can have a huge effect on mood, performance, and even medical conditions. So, when we retrofit facilities, we make sure the light levels are correct, the glare is minimized, and all the controls are positioned correctly. These and other factors are important for optimal performance in any space. Next steps If you're serious about investigating how to upgrade the lights in a space, I highly recommend bringing in a consultant of some sort. An expert in the field can come in and catalog what's going on in your current space. They can note all of the light fixtures, levels, glare issues, etc. Then, they’ll develop an engineered solution for the space that makes sure everything is balanced between energy efficiency and true performance for the people in that space. 
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