Case Study: Horticulture Grow Facility LED Retrofit

Cut energy, reduce cooling load, improve light quality and safety, and unlock rebates.


Client Overview

  • Industry: Indoor Horticulture / Grow Facility
  • Facility Size: 30,000 sq ft
  • Utilities: DTE Energy & Consumers Energy
  • Vegetative Room: 40× 1,000W HPS → 40× 600W LED
  • Flowering Room: 60× 1,000W HPS → 60× 600W LED

Annual Energy Use

HPS total: 525,600 kWh

LED total: 315,360 kWh

Savings: 210,240 kWh/yr
≈ $29,433/yr (@ $0.14/kWh)

Cooling Load Reduction

Veg HPS: 13.6 tons  |  Flower HPS: 20.5 tons

LED combined load: ~21.1 tons (≈ 13-ton reduction)

$12,000–$15,000/yr
Estimated HVAC savings

Legacy HPS

  • Fixture cost: $25,000–$30,000
  • Bulb replacement: ~ $6,000/yr
  • Warranty: ~2 years
  • Maintenance: High

LED Retrofit

  • Fixture cost: $65,000–$85,000 (100 fixtures)
  • No bulb/ballast replacements
  • Warranty: ~5 years
  • Maintenance: Minimal

Vegetative Stage

  • Lower PPFD, less stretch
  • Tunable spectrum for healthy starts

Flowering Stage

  • High PPFD, deep canopy penetration
  • Enhanced terpene/resin development
  • Dimming during pre-flower/stretch
40–60% energy reduction • Cooler temps → HVAC savings • Longer lifespan • No mercury

Utility Rebates

DTE Energy: Up to $500/fixture, HVAC reduction bonus, prescriptive/custom options.

Consumers Energy: Up to $500/fixture.

Example: 100 fixtures × $250 avg rebate = $25,000 back

ROI Snapshot (100 Fixtures)

  • LED Fixture Cost: ~ $70,000
  • Utility Rebate: ~ $25,000
  • Net Project Cost: ~ $45,000
  • Annual Energy + HVAC Savings: ~ $42,000
~13 months
Simple Payback

We would Love to Make Your Facility Our Next Case Study!

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We'll Provide Energy & Cost Saving Estimates, Calculate Utility Incentive/Rebates & Assess Your Best-Fit LED Solution!