High Bay LED Lamp versus Integrated Fixture for Warehouses in Ontario

Credit: eledlights

Upgrading legacy high bay lighting is one of the fastest ways to reduce demand charges and improve visibility in Ontario warehouses and industrial plants. Lighting can account for 20 to 40 percent of a warehouse’s hydro bill, so switching from metal halide or high-pressure sodium to LED can yield immediate savings.

When you make the change, you generally have two main paths:

1. High bay LED lamps – screw-in retrofit bulbs that reuse your existing fixtures.

2. Integrated LED high bay fixtures – complete luminaires that replace your old housings.

This guide compares performance, cost, maintenance, controls, and Save on Energy rebate eligibility so you can choose the right option for your ceiling height, aisle layout, and budget.

For more detailed lighting strategies, you can also review our High Bay Lighting for Warehouses Buyer Guide and our LED Retrofit vs New LED Fixture guide.

TL;DR

• Energy savings: Both paths cut 50–60% vs. metal halide or HPS. Adding controls on integrated fixtures can push savings even higher (20–40% extra).

• High Bay LED Lamps (screw-in)

  • ✅ Low upfront cost, fast install (reuse housing, bypass ballast)

  • ⚠ Limited optics, glare control, and dimming options

  • ⚠ Generally not eligible for Instant Discounts in Ontario (may qualify custom route only)

  • Best for interim upgrades or non-critical areas under 20 ft

• Integrated LED High Bay Fixtures

  • ✅ Complete new luminaires with purpose optics (aisle/open-area beams)

  • ✅ Built-in dimming & sensor-ready (motion, daylight, NLC)

  • ✅ Eligible for Save on Energy rebates ($50–$140/fixture depending on lumens)

  • ✅ Lower long-term maintenance, longer warranties

  • Best for active aisles, docks, and ceilings >20 ft

• Ontario rebates: Fixtures qualify for Instant Discounts + control incentives (e.g., $30 per occupancy sensor). Lamps rarely do.

• Verdict: Lamps = budget relief now. Fixtures = better optics, rebates, and lowest 10-year cost of ownership.

• Next steps:

  • Estimate incentives with the Lighting Rebate Estimator

  • Model ROI with the Lighting Retrofit Savings Calculator

  
  

What is a High Bay LED Lamp?

Credit: chiuer

A high bay LED lamp is a self-contained light source that screws directly into the existing mogul base of your metal halide or high-pressure sodium fixture. To install:

• Keep the old reflector and housing.

• Remove or bypass the ballast.

• Screw in the new LED lamp.

This method offers a fast, low-disruption path to LED.

Example:

A Mississauga distribution centre swapped 80 metal halide lamps for 120W high bay LED lamps in under two days, without changing a single fixture. Energy use dropped over 60 percent immediately.

Where it Fits Best

• Interim upgrades when capital is tight and you need fast relief on hydro bills.

• Non-critical zones and storage areas where light precision is less important.

• Lower mounting heights (under 20 ft) where spill light is acceptable.

Pro tip: If your existing housings are corroded or sockets are failing, a lamp-only approach could lead to ongoing maintenance headaches.

What is an Integrated LED High Bay Fixture

Credit: etlin-daniels

An integrated LED high bay is a complete luminaire with purpose built LEDs, heat sinking, driver, and optics. You remove the old metal halide or high pressure sodium housing and install a new fixture whose optics are designed for open areas or narrow aisles. Most quality models support 0 to 10 volt dimming out of the box and can accept motion and daylight sensors as accessories, which makes them easy to network later. For examples, see mainstream high bay lines that advertise dimming and high efficacy on their spec sheets.

Where it fits best

• Aisle lighting, active picking, and staging where uniform vertical light matters

• Ceilings above twenty feet where you need tighter beams and lower glare

• Facilities standardizing on controls, networking, and rebates

Ontario rebate snapshot for fixtures

Save on Energy’s Instant Discounts Program offers per fixture, point of sale incentives for LED high bay fixtures that scale with lumen output. Current examples include:

• LED high bay fixture at least 10,000 lumens and under 105 watts: up to $50

• LED high bay fixture at least 15,500 lumens and under 178 watts: up to $90

• LED high bay fixture at least 34,700 lumens: up to $140

  
  

Discounts are applied by participating distributors and the eligible product list is updated from time to time. If you want a deeper dive on distributions, controls, and real world layouts, see our High Bay Lighting for Warehouses Buyer Guide and our LED Retrofit vs New LED Fixture guide.

Lamp versus Fixture at a Glance

Factor	High bay LED lamp	Integrated LED high bay fixture
Install	Reuse housing, bypass ballast, screw in lamp	Replace entire fixture with new luminaire
Optics	Uses old reflector with wide uncontrolled spread	Purpose optics for open area or aisle distributions
Glare control	Limited and dependent on old reflector	Lenses and shields available for comfort
Typical efficacy	Commonly about 120 to 150 lumens per watt on current E39 retrofit lamps	Many fixtures reach 140 to 190 plus lumens per watt in current spec sheets
Dimming and controls	Often on or off only. A few models offer 0 to 10 volt dimming	0 to 10 volt dimming is common and sensor ready across major lines
Maintenance	Old sockets and wiring remain in service	All new components with longer rated life
Rebate eligibility in Ontario	Screw in lamps are generally not listed in the Instant Discounts categories for high bays	LED high bay fixtures qualify for Instant Discounts at point of sale when listed, which improves total project payback
Best use	Budget refresh and non critical areas	Long term standard for warehouse aisles and docks

Notes and sources for the table

• Recent screw in high bay lamps are typically in the 120 to 150 lumens per watt range, with many marketed as non dimmable and some variants offering 0 to 10 volt control.

  
  

• Current integrated fixtures from major manufacturers publish dimming as standard and show high efficacy values that often exceed 140 and can approach or exceed 190 lumens per watt, depending on package.

  
  

• Ontario Instant Discounts explicitly list LED high bay fixtures with tiered incentives by lumen package, applied through participating distributors. Lamps are not called out as a separate high bay category.

For quick math on your site, try our Lighting Rebate Estimator, Lighting Retrofit Savings Calculator, and Lighting Operating Cost Calculator.

Photometrics and Light Quality

Credit: Superbrightleds

In a warehouse, good lighting is about more than lumen output — it is about where and how that light lands over time. Photometrics determine whether your team sees clearly on the floor and on the vertical faces of shelving, not just directly under the fixture.

• Aisles benefit from aisle optics, which shape the beam into a narrow rectangle that throws light down the run of racking and reduces wasted spill into upper shelves. This increases vertical illumination for barcode scanning and order picking at height. Integrated LED fixtures often come with specific aisle or narrow beam distributions right from the manufacturer, along with IES photometry files so you can model light levels before committing.

• Open areas need wide, even coverage with minimal hot spots or dark patches. Modern integrated high bays use precision lenses and reflector combinations to create overlapping beams that keep uniformity ratios low — an important factor for worker comfort and safety.

• Glare control is essential for operators on forklifts and order pickers who spend hours looking up into light sources. High glare can cause visual fatigue and slow productivity. Many integrated high bays now include frosted lenses, prismatic diffusers, or low-glare optics to meet IES recommended glare ratings, reducing discomfort without losing usable light.

Real-world example:

An Ontario cold storage facility replaced 250W metal halides with 150W DLC-listed integrated LED high bays using narrow aisle optics. By tailoring the beam to the racking, they reduced fixture count by 20 percent, improved vertical footcandle levels by over 30 percent, and eliminated glare complaints from forklift operators, all while lowering annual lighting energy use by roughly 55 percent.

Controls and Runtime Reduction

Controls cut operating hours, multiplying your wattage savings. In many warehouses, lights run 3,000–5,000 hours per year, even though many areas are unoccupied much of that time.

Common strategies:

• Motion sensors — dim or shut off lights in unused aisles.

• Daylight sensors — reduce output near dock doors, windows, or skylights.

• Scheduling — adjust light levels to match shift patterns or cleaning schedules.

Why fixtures have the edge:Most integrated LED high bays are 0–10V dimming capable and can accept plug-in or built-in controls, making it easy to integrate networked lighting control (NLC) systems. In contrast, many screw-in high bay lamps are on/off only, limiting your control options to full power or off.

Ontario incentive note:

The Save on Energy Retrofit Program provides additional incentives for advanced controls, such as up to $30 per occupancy sensor when installed with eligible fixtures. Combining fixture upgrades with controls can improve payback time and help meet corporate sustainability targets.

Cost, Savings, and a Simple Model

To put the lamp-versus-fixture decision into perspective, let’s model a real-world Ontario warehouse scenario.

Scenario:

• 100 legacy 400W metal halide high bays

• 4,000 operating hours per year

• Ontario average electricity cost: $0.14/kWh (blended rate including delivery and regulatory charges)

Path 1: High Bay LED Lamps

• Replace with 125W E39 base LED lamps

• Reuse existing housings and wiring (ballast bypass required)

Annual energy use per fixture:125W × 4,000 hrs = 500 kWh

Annual cost per fixture:500 kWh × $0.14 = $70

Total annual cost for 100 fixtures:100 × $70 = $7,000

Key considerations:

• Limited dimming and control options in many lamp models.

• Old sockets and wiring remain in service — potential future maintenance.

• Generally not eligible for Save on Energy Instant Discounts in the high bay fixture category.

Path 2: Integrated LED High Bay Fixtures

• Replace with 150W DLC-listed integrated LED high bays

• Include aisle optics and built-in dimming capability

Full output annual energy use per fixture:150W × 4,000 hrs = 600 kWh

Full output annual cost per fixture:600 kWh × $0.14 = $84

However, integrated fixtures with occupancy and daylight sensors typically cut runtime by 20–40 percent. Let’s assume a 30 percent reduction:

Adjusted annual energy use per fixture: 600 × 0.7 = 420 kWh

Adjusted annual cost per fixture: 420 kWh × $0.14 ≈ $58.80

Total annual cost for 100 fixtures: 100 × $58.80 = $5,880

Key considerations:

• Eligible for Save on Energy Instant Discounts — up to $90 per fixture for qualifying lumen packages.

• Better optics improve usable light and may allow a lower fixture count.

• All new components with longer rated life, reducing maintenance cost.

Savings Comparison

Path	Annual Energy Cost	Est. Rebate Potential	Maintenance Over 10 Years	Light Quality & Controls
High Bay LED Lamp	$7,000	Limited/Custom Path	Higher (old sockets & housings)	Broad spread, limited dimming
Integrated Fixture	$5,880	High (up to $90/fixture)	Lower (all new)	Purpose optics, glare control, full controls

Verdict:

While integrated fixtures have a higher day-one cost (often 1.5–2× the lamp option), they can deliver stronger long-term savings through control-enabled runtime cuts, better light quality, and higher rebate eligibility.

Rebates in Ontario

Ontario’s Save on Energy Instant Discounts Program is the main provincial incentive for high bay lighting upgrades in 2025.

For Integrated LED High Bay Fixtures (DLC-listed):

• 10,000–15,499 lumens, ≤105W → up to $50 per fixture

• 15,500–34,699 lumens, ≤178W → up to $90 per fixture

• 34,700 lumens or more → up to $140 per fixture

These discounts are applied at the point of sale through participating distributors, so you see the savings immediately.

For Screw-In High Bay Lamps:

• Not listed as a separate eligible category under Instant Discounts.

• May be considered under a custom retrofit application in the Save on Energy Retrofit Program, but incentives are typically lower and require pre-approval, photometric evidence, and a longer processing time.

Controls Incentives:

• Occupancy sensors: up to $30 each when installed with eligible fixtures

• Networked lighting controls: incentives vary based on project scope and control strategies

For complete details and updated incentive tables, visit the Save on Energy Instant Discounts page.

Which Path Should You Choose?

Choose High Bay LED Lamps when:

• You need a fast, low-cost energy reduction in non-critical areas.

• The existing housings and wiring are in good condition.

• You can accept broader light spread and minimal dimming capability.

Choose Integrated LED High Bay Fixtures when:

• Aisle accuracy, glare control, and uniformity directly impact productivity.

• You plan to leverage Save on Energy rebates for maximum payback.

• You want to standardize fixtures and controls across multiple facilities.

• You’re looking for the lowest total cost of ownership over 10+ years.

Book Your Free Warehouse Lighting Assessment

LumaEnergy will:

• Survey your aisles and open areas

• Measure existing light levels

• Model photometric layouts for each upgrade path

• Provide a clear cost, savings, and rebate plan

Book your free audit today to find out exactly what mix of high bay LED lamps and integrated fixtures will deliver the best results for your Ontario warehouse.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a high bay LED lamp and an integrated high bay fixture?

A high bay LED lamp is a screw-in retrofit bulb that reuses your existing metal halide or HPS housing after bypassing the ballast. An integrated LED high bay fixture is a complete unit with dedicated LEDs, optics, and driver, designed for optimal light distribution and controls.

Are high bay LED lamps eligible for Save on Energy rebates in Ontario?

Generally, screw-in high bay lamps are not listed in the Save on Energy Instant Discounts categories. They may qualify under the Retrofit Program’s custom track, but rebates are often smaller and require pre-approval. Integrated high bay fixtures that are DLC-listed are more likely to qualify for the maximum point-of-sale incentives.

How much can I save by upgrading my warehouse high bays to LED?

Savings depend on wattage reduction and control strategies. For example, replacing 400W metal halides with 150W dimmable integrated LED fixtures can cut lighting energy use by 50–60%, and occupancy/daylight sensors can reduce runtime by another 20–40%.

How do I choose the right optics for warehouse lighting?

Optics should match your space type: aisle optics direct light down racking aisles with minimal spill, while wide beam optics suit open areas. Integrated fixtures typically offer multiple optic options, while screw-in lamps rely on the existing reflector, which may limit beam control.

What is the typical lifespan of high bay LED lighting?

Quality integrated LED high bays often have rated lifespans of 50,000–100,000 hours, which can mean 10–15 years in a warehouse running 4,000 hours annually. Screw-in retrofit lamps may have slightly lower ratings and are limited by the condition of the old housing and wiring.

Can I add motion or daylight sensors to screw-in high bay lamps?

Most screw-in high bay lamps are on/off only and not designed for dimming or advanced control. In contrast, integrated fixtures usually come with 0–10V dimming and are compatible with plug-in sensors or networked lighting control systems.