You’re trying to figure out which lighting system works best for your business: LED, solar, or the traditional wired systems. But every option comes off as promising.
Here’s the quick answer:
We’ve done the research for you so you don’t have to Google them one by one. This article covers everything, from installation costs and challenges to long-term performance and ROIs.
Let’s start right away.
Before we compare the different types of commercial lighting, here’s a snapshot comparing LED, solar, and wired systems across key facets.
| Feature | LED | Solar | Wired |
| Energy Source | Grid electricity | Sun panels + battery | Grid electricity |
| Installation Effort | May only need to swap old fixtures or mount new ones without trenching | Takes time to find a place with maximum sunlight, but no wiring or trenching is involved | Involves permits, trenching, grid connection, and wiring |
| Brightness Range | 3,000-40,000+ lumens | 1,000-15,000 lumens | 3,000-40,000+ lumens |
| Initial Cost | $150-$600 per fixture + wiring | $300-$1,200 per fixture + battery | $100-$400 per fixture + trenching, wiring, permits, labor |
| Energy Efficiency | 60-70% energy cost savings, 75-90% less energy than incandescent bulbs | 100% free energy, converts 15-40% of sunlight to electricity | 60-70% energy cost savings using wired LEDs, but grid connection increases utility bills |
| Maintenance Load | Low | Medium | Low |
| Smart Features | Timers, dimmers, apps | Motion sensors, timers | Timers, dimmers, apps |
As you can see, each lighting design has its pros and cons in terms of upfront cost, installation hassle, and long-term expenses. For example, solar costs the most at first, while wired seems cheap until you factor in the total costs of permits, trenching, grid connection, and wiring.
But comparing their pros and cons is not enough. You need to see how each system fits with real spaces. A few examples include:
Looking at it this way, it’s easier to choose a lighting setup without overthinking what each pro and con does for your project.
The different types of commercial lighting networks include LED commercial lighting, solar LED street lights, and wired lights. Knowing how these lights function gives you an idea of how much your installation, energy bills, and maintenance will cost.
Check out each system’s functions, benefits, and use cases.
LED commercial lights are energy-efficient lighting technology that have 200% longer lifespan than traditional lighting solutions like incandescent and halogen lamps. They have about 75-110 lumens/watt, which means you get bright light without burning through electrical power. LED lights also last more than a decade, so you’re not constantly swapping out bulbs.
You’ll see LEDs in grid-connected buildings, signs, and parking lots where LED flood lights work really well. As per the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) information about LED Lighting, LEDs “use at least 75% less energy, and last up to 25 times longer, than incandescent lighting.” That’s a massive drop not just in your monthly electricity bill but in future spending as well.
Take Walmart, for example, the world’s largest retailer. As part of their partnership with DOE in 2009, they decided to use advanced LED technology everywhere, starting with a store in South Euclid, OH, in 2013. This move reduced their store’s light energy consumption to 25% and refrigeration load to 20% (yes, by LED technology everywhere that includes ref lights).
Solar LED street lights rely on renewable energy, solar panels, batteries, and LEDs to power fixtures by harnessing solar energy. What does that mean?
If you’re lighting up a campus, remote roadway, or park, solar lighting systems let you skip trenching altogether. That’s going to save you $1,000+ (digging trenches is NOT cheap). You don’t have to dig up the ground or run electrical lines that traditional streetlights require. Plus, you avoid monthly utility costs because the sun does all the work.
Sounds perfect, right? Well, there’s a catch.
Storage capacity affects how long your lights run during low-sun periods. If you’re in an area with cloudy winters, you’ll want bigger batteries to maintain illumination through those stretches.
Wired systems are connected to the power grid using either low or high-voltage infrastructure. This means they work consistently, no matter the weather.
Since they are protected underground, they’re best for shaded areas or regions with limited sun exposure. This includes downtown streets with tall buildings or parking garages where solar panels wouldn’t get enough light.
However, before anything lights up, you’ll need:
All this paperwork and manpower will cost you time and money.
We’ve seen customers spend about $150,000–$250,000 per mile on trenching alone, depending on surface type. This excludes labor and above-ground costs (poles, fixtures, and bases). Yes, they’re more reliable than solar lights, but be prepared to spend a bit more to get your project rolling (and don’t forget the monthly energy bill).
But if you already have cables in place, we recommend using traditional LED street lights for retrofits. You can swap out old lighting fixtures without redoing the entire electrical setup to help reduce upfront costs.
Once you’ve figured out the right lighting for your space, the next question is how well it can perform over time. This is when you think of brightness, energy use, and eco footprint.
As mentioned, LED lights offer bright light without using too much power. Being energy-efficient is why they have a lifespan exceeding 50,000 hours. That’s almost 6 years, possibly even 15-17 years if your business operates only 8 hours a day.
Compared to that, solar panels can last 20+ years. The problem is that they rely on sun availability while the sun constantly moves across the sky. So, consider installing solar panels with adjustable arms. Like sunflowers, they adjust to face direct sunlight to maximize energy capture throughout the day.
Other than performance and efficiency, also take note of their environmental impact. According to The Climate Group, Inc., a global switch to LEDs could save over 1,400 million tons of CO2. But despite transitioning to LED, the biggest contributor of CO2 is electrical infrastructures because of their reliance on fossil fuels.
In that case, opt for LEDs with a renewable source like solar power. You not only help reduce carbon emissions, but you can even contribute to a healthier environment.
Now that you know how each system performs, let’s talk about what they actually cost upfront and in the long run. Because the installation cost is only part of the picture.
If you go back to the table above, you’ll notice that the cost of a solar fixture is the highest. But after that, your energy expense cuts down to zero. That means you’re paying more today to save every month down the road. It’s up to you if that trade-off makes sense for your budget.
Another factor is maintenance costs, which vary by system:
One business we’ve worked with used these integrated LED solar streetlights and achieved a payback period of just 3 years (wired lights have a payback period of 5-10 years). After that, the lights were basically free to operate.
Note also that rebates or credits for renewable installs help reduce the overall commercial landscape lighting cost. Check what’s available in your area before you buy. This website by DSIRE is cited by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, so you can check the rebates offered in your area.
For instance, in Oklahoma, replacing traditional lights with LED lighting gives you a rebate amount of $6-$130 per fixture.
With performance, costs, and types of lighting clarified, this section ties it all together. We want to help you match the right system to your specific commercial application.
Also, consider advanced features, such as:
Lastly, you can consider hybrid solar-wired options for semi-shaded areas that demand 24/7 illumination. These systems automatically connect to the electrical grid once your stored solar energy runs out.
Yes, but you need to compute the lumens needed for your space. Here’s a sample:
Offices: 20-30 lumens per square foot
Retail Stores: 50-100+ lumens per square foot
Warehouses and Factories: 30-50+ lumens per square foot
For instance, if you have 100 sq. ft. of office space, you need 2000+ lumens, which is within the range of solar light brightness (see table above).
Solar lights typically perform 10-25% less efficiently in cloudy or shaded areas. Their batteries don’t charge as much, and the lights are much dimmer. Choose larger solar panels, LED lightbulbs, and higher capacity batteries.
LED lights often last around 50,000 hours and rarely fail prematurely. For commercial solar lighting systems, solar panels last 20–25 years, and batteries need replacing every 5-10 years.
Compare long-term ownership costs, not just the upfront price.
Yes. Solar lighting saves money during sunny days, and on sunless days, the system automatically switches to grid connection. This ensures reliable lighting despite weather changes.
So what should you do next? Narrow down your choices. Here’s a good baseline:
Finally, think about your lighting performance needs, budget, energy use, and site conditions. These 4 factors will help you choose the right lighting solution for you.
Visit our complete LED Product catalogs today to see our full range of solar street lights, commercial LED fixtures, and hybrid lighting setups perfect for you.
