Step-by-Step Guide for Bay Area Commercial Tenants: Planning an LED Retrofit in Your Space
- Mari Vigil-Harris
- Oct 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 28
If you’re a commercial tenant in the San Francisco Bay Area or the Central Valley, upgrading to energy-efficient LED lighting in your leased space can lower your operating costs, improve comfort and productivity, and advance your company’s sustainability goals.
Whether you lease a downtown Oakland office, operate a retail space in San Jose, or manage a a warehouse in Stockton, a tenant-initiated commercial LED retrofit can deliver significant benefits. In this guide, we’ll walk through each step of the retrofit planning process—from collaborating with your landlord to securing rebates and ensuring Title 24 compliance—so you can upgrade with confidence.
1. Set Clear Goals for Your LED Retrofit
Start by identifying what you want your retrofit to achieve. Are you aiming to:
Reduce electricity bills passed through your lease?
Improve light quality for employee productivity and customer experience?
Meet sustainability or ESG commitments?
Clarifying your goals will guide your decisions throughout the retrofit process.
2. Assess Your Current Lighting and Costs
Before you can design an upgrade, you’ll need to understand what’s in place now. A lighting assessment from an LED retrofit expert helps you:
Document all fixtures, wattage, and condition (indoor and outdoor)
Identify burned-out or inefficient bulbs raising energy use
Spot opportunities for smart sensor controls to reduce waste
Confirm Title 24 code compliance and uncover urgent issues
Pro Tip: Companies like LED Lighting Solutions offer a FREE site audit to give tenants a clear picture of their current lighting systems.
3. Collaborate with Your Property Manager or Landlord
Since an LED upgrade benefits both you and your landlord, this step is critical. To gain approval:
Review lease terms regarding tenant improvements
Share your retrofit proposal and highlight building benefits
Engage a Bay Area contractor with experience in tenant-focused commercial LED retrofits
4. Explore Bay Area Rebates and Incentives
One of the biggest advantages of retrofitting in the Bay Area is access to lighting rebates and financing programs for tenants. Some key programs include:
PG&E’s On-Bill Financing Program – Zero out-of-pocket financing for eligible customers; payments roll into your monthly energy bill. Learn more about this in our on-demand webinar, Financing Your LED Retrofit with Zero Out-of-Pocket Costs: The Four Easy Steps to Paying for Your Bay Area LED Retrofit.
BayREN Business Program – Covers retrofit costs for eligible small businesses in hard-to-reach areas.
Measured Savings Program for Summer Reliability (MSSR) – Performance-based rebates available through PG&E for specific counties.
Marin Clean Energy (MCE) Commercial Efficiency Market Program – Rebates for tenants in Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, and Solano Counties.
These programs differ by eligibility and service territory. Working with a business who is enrolled with these programs as an aggregator, as LED Lighting Solutions is, simplifies the process—we handle the rebate paperwork and program enrollment so you can focus on your business.
5. Decide on the Retrofit Approach
With goals and financing options in place, it’s time to design your retrofit. Key questions include:
Which fixtures are right for your space?
Should you add smart lighting controls for additional savings?
Do you need extra fixtures to improve visibility?
Is your planned design Title 24 code-compliant?
An experienced retrofit partner can provide tailored, code-compliant solutions that balance performance, cost, and sustainability.
6. Prepare Financing and Rebate Materials
If you’re applying for rebates or financing, you’ll need supporting documentation. Partnering with an enrolled aggregator like LED Lighting Solutions ensures your applications are completed correctly and quickly—saving you from navigating the process on your own.
7. Install Your LED Lighting
When installation begins:
Coordinate timing with your landlord and neighboring tenants
Plan work during off-hours where possible
Communicate schedules clearly with your team
During installation, confirm that:
Fixtures and controls match your plan
Lighting levels and functionality meet expectations
Warranties and maintenance documents are provided
8. Enjoy Savings and Better Light
After your retrofit, you’ll notice an immediate difference:
Brighter, more comfortable lighting
Lower electricity usage (and savings on your electric bill)
Progress toward sustainability goals and compliance standards
Take the first step today
Looking to improve your leased commercial space with energy-efficient LED lighting?
Our Bay Area retrofit experts help tenants collaborate with landlords, secure rebates, and achieve code-compliant, cost-saving lighting upgrades.
Contact us today for a FREE audit of your facility:
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