The Best Lighting Audit Software

A successful LED lighting retrofit doesn’t start with choosing fixtures-it starts with understanding the existing conditions. A professional lighting audit documents how a space is currently lit, how it’s used, and where energy, performance, and maintenance improvements can be made.

For warehouses, manufacturing facilities, parking lots, sports facilities, and other commercial or industrial environments, a proper lighting audit helps ensure that energy savings claims are realistic, light levels are appropriate for the tasks performed, and future issues like glare, over-lighting, or poor controls integration are avoided.

Important: Lighting audits and electrical upgrades should be conducted or reviewed by qualified professionals. All installations must comply with applicable electrical codes, safety standards, and local government authority requirements.

Warehouse Before Upgrade to LED Lights

What Is a Lighting Audit?

A lighting audit is a structured walkthrough of a facility to document existing lighting systems and operating conditions. The goal is to collect accurate data so informed decisions can be made about fixture selection, layout, controls, energy savings, maintenance impact, and rebate eligibility.

Lighting audits may apply to both indoor and outdoor areas and are commonly used when:

• Planning an LED retrofit or expansion
• Reducing energy and demand costs
• Improving visibility, safety, or uniformity
• Qualifying for utility rebates or incentives
• Addressing ongoing maintenance or lamp failure issues

Core Information Captured During a Lighting Audit

1. General Facility Information

• Floor plans showing current fixture locations
• Room dimensions and ceiling heights
• Mounting heights and obstructions
• Planned renovations or space-use changes (if applicable)

2. Existing Lighting System Details

Fixture and system data typically includes:

• Fixture quantity, type, and form factor
• Lamp and ballast type (for legacy systems)
• Fixture wattage and estimated total load
• Operating hours and usage patterns

3. Task and Visual Requirements

• Tasks performed in each area
• Task duration and frequency
• Working heights and critical visual zones
• Uniformity and glare considerations

4. Daylight and Environmental Factors

• Availability of natural daylight
• Outdoor conditions (weather exposure, glare sensitivity)
• Environmental challenges (dust, moisture, temperature, vibration)

5. Occupant Feedback

• Glare complaints
• Dark spots or uneven illumination
• Maintenance or reliability concerns
• Areas perceived as unsafe or visually uncomfortable

6. Financial and Energy Analysis

• Current energy consumption and operating cost
• Demand charges related to the lighting load
• Projected energy savings from LED conversion
• Estimated maintenance savings
• Rebate and incentive eligibility (where applicable)

Warehouse After Upgrade to LED Lights

What a Good Lighting Audit Delivers

A complete lighting audit should result in more than a fixture count. For commercial and industrial projects, useful deliverables often include:

• Recommended fixture types and lumen packages
• Preliminary lighting layouts or photometric guidance
• Energy and cost savings estimates
• Maintenance impact comparison (legacy vs LED)
• Controls strategy recommendations
• Documentation to support utility rebate applications

Tools That Can Support Lighting Audits

While audits can be performed manually, many teams use digital tools to speed up data collection, improve accuracy, and streamline reporting-especially on larger projects. These tools are aids to the process, not replacements for proper lighting knowledge or engineering judgment.

Commonly Used Lighting Audit Platforms

Examples of tools used in the field include:

• Retrolux – A tablet- and cloud-based platform used for lighting retrofit audits, proposals, and energy savings analysis.
• SnapCount – A mobile-based audit and project management tool that supports site visits, fixture documentation, and reporting.
• ecoInsight – A collaborative lighting specification and audit platform with proposal and comparison features.
• Lighting Assessor – A lightweight mobile audit application for quick fixture inventories and exportable audit data.
• OptoMizer – A desktop-based audit and retrofit analysis tool designed for detailed reporting and rebate tracking.

The selection of audit tools depends on project size, reporting requirements, and team workflow. Regardless of the software used, accurate inputs and proper interpretation remain critical.

Safety and Performance Certifications

A lighting audit should always consider the certifications and ratings required for the application. Professional analysis helps ensure that recommended fixtures meet safety, performance, and regulatory expectations.

• UL or ETL listings for electrical safety
• DLC qualification, where rebates are pursued
• Ingress protection (IP) ratings for wet or dusty environments
• Impact and environmental ratings for industrial conditions

Certification requirements vary by application, environment, and jurisdiction. Always confirm requirements with project specifications and local authorities.

Warranty and Warranty Support

Lighting audits should account for long-term ownership-not just initial savings. Evaluating warranty coverage and support is especially important for high-ceiling, mission-critical, or labor-intensive installations.

• Warranty length and coverage details
• Driver and controls warranty terms
• Replacement and support process
• Fixture availability for future matching replacements

Reduced maintenance and dependable warranty support are often as valuable as energy savings over the life of the system.

Planning an LED Replacement?

A well-executed lighting audit is the foundation of a successful LED conversion. If you’re evaluating a commercial or industrial lighting upgrade, our team can assist with application guidance, fixture selection, and lighting plans based on your facility’s specific requirements.

Contact us to request a lighting analysis or product recommendation. We’ll help you identify efficient, compliant solutions that support long-term performance and reliability.