Sept. 8, 2025

This piece is sponsored by Xcel Energy.

As a business owner, you are always looking for ways to reduce costs and improve your bottom line.

“One often-overlooked area where you can achieve significant savings is through your lighting,” said Joe Anderson, Xcel Energy key account manager.

According to Energy Star, lighting accounts for up to 17 percent of a typical business’ electricity consumption. If your lighting is outdated or inefficient, you may be paying extra to keep the lights on.

In a community, it’s the taxpayers who save money when the school district replaces inefficient lighting. Bridget Imus, a savvy Sioux Falls School District energy technician, is saving hundreds of thousands of dollars for the community with LED lighting rebates from Xcel Energy.

Imus learned about the rebates from Anderson at an annual meeting for businesses to learn about energy efficiency and other relevant topics.

“Getting started was easy with Joe Anderson’s guidance,” Imus said. “He is very knowledgeable about the process and assisted us from beginning to end.”

The gym at Marcella LeBeau Elementary, which opened in August, features LED lights.

In the past few years, the Sioux Falls School District has installed LED lights in three new buildings and replaced lighting in six additional schools with a $163,000 LED lighting rebate. The projected energy cost savings helps pay for new lighting in more schools the following year. With 45 district facilities, the potential savings will grow exponentially as more buildings are retrofitted with LED bulbs.

Benefits of LED lighting

Switching to LED lighting can offer numerous benefits for your business:

• Longevity: LEDs last 15 times longer than traditional bulbs, reducing your replacement and maintenance costs.
• Energy efficiency: LEDs emit less heat, which may help your business realize indirect cooling savings. Additionally, because LEDs typically are brighter than traditional bulbs, the same space can be lit with fewer light fixtures, saving even more energy.
• Rebates and incentives: Lighting-efficiency rebates reduce your upfront costs on lighting upgrades. Taking advantage of these rebates can help improve your ROI and put money back into your pocket. Rebates are available per fixture, bulb or watt, depending upon the type of equipment you are replacing.
• Environmental impact: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LEDs, especially Energy Star-rated products, use at least 75 percent less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lighting, which means you’ll use less energy and need to replace your bulbs less frequently.

Applying for lighting-efficiency rebates

Applying for a lighting-efficiency rebate from Xcel Energy is easy. Complete a rebate form online, or ask your lighting contractor to submit the application for you.

Bottom line

Upgrading to LED lighting is a smart investment for any business owner. Not only will you save on energy costs, but also you’ll reduce maintenance expenses and take advantage of available rebates. By making the switch, you’ll be contributing to a more sustainable future while improving your bottom line.