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Scope 1  ·  2.3.6

Lighting

Transitioning all interior and exterior lighting to high-efficiency LED technology and smart controls to reduce electricity consumption (Scope 2). Lighting is typically one of the fastest-payback energy efficiency measures available and is often the entry point for broader building decarbonization programs.

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Self-Assessment

Select where your organization currently operates and where you want to get to. There is no obligation to reach "Leading Org." — choose the target that is right for your business context and investment capacity.

📍 Current Level
🎯 Target Level
Select your current and target levels above to map your assessment on this initiative.
Fundamental
Market Standard
Above Average
Leading Org.

Technology

  • LED retrofit of highest-use interior spaces (offices, warehouses, common areas)
  • Occupancy sensors in conference rooms, restrooms, and low-traffic areas
  • Basic lighting controls with manual dimming capability

Process

  • Conducting a lighting inventory and energy audit across facility portfolio
  • Calculating payback and ROI for LED retrofit on a room-by-room or zone basis
  • Identifying utility rebate programs for LED upgrades prior to procurement

Financing

  • Internal capital with typical 2–4 year payback on LED retrofits
  • Utility rebate programs (often $0.10–0.50/kWh saved) accessed for qualifying LED upgrades

Technology

  • Fundamental Technologies +
  • Full facility LED retrofit including exterior, parking, and signage
  • Daylight harvesting sensors with automatic dimming linked to photocell controls
  • Networked lighting control system (NLCS) enabling zone-level scheduling and monitoring

Process

  • Developing a portfolio-wide LED retrofit rollout plan with site prioritization
  • Integrating lighting controls with BMS for centralized scheduling and fault detection
  • Reporting lighting energy intensity (kWh/sq ft) as part of sustainability KPI dashboard

Financing

  • Lighting-as-a-Service (LaaS) contracts eliminating upfront capital — cost paid from energy savings
  • Green lease provisions requiring tenant LED standards in leased spaces

Technology

  • Market Standard Technologies +
  • Human-centric lighting (HCL) systems adjusting color temperature for occupant wellbeing and productivity
  • IoT-enabled luminaires providing real-time occupancy, temperature, and air quality sensing
  • Lighting integrated with HVAC and plug load controls for whole-room energy optimization

Process

  • Using lighting occupancy data to inform workplace utilization strategy and real estate decisions
  • Integrating lighting system data into digital twin for predictive maintenance and energy optimization
  • Benchmarking lighting EUI against ASHRAE 90.1 and IECC 2021 standards across portfolio

Financing

  • LaaS contracts bundled with BMS and controls upgrades for integrated managed energy services
  • Demand response payments from lighting load curtailment during utility events

Technology

  • Above Average Technologies +
  • Fully adaptive lighting ecosystem integrated with building digital twin and grid signals
  • Li-Fi (light-based data communication) enabled luminaires providing dual energy and connectivity value
  • Lighting system contributing to grid demand flexibility as part of VPP and GEB architecture

Process

  • Achieving LEED v4.1 or WELL Building Standard lighting certification across portfolio
  • Publishing lighting energy intensity reductions as verified component of Scope 2 decarbonization pathway
  • Sharing lighting occupancy and sensor data for net-zero workplace strategy

Financing

  • Revenue from lighting-enabled demand response and grid services quantified in managed energy services agreement
  • Portfolio-scale lighting upgrade bundled with smart building, BMS, and EV charging as integrated decarbonization package

Related Pathways

← All Pathways 1.3.1 HVAC 1.3.2 Smart Building Management