T8 LED Tube Replacement Guide for Commercial Buildings in Ontario

Lighting often makes up 20 to 40 percent of a commercial building’s electricity bill in Ontario. For decades, fluorescent T8 tubes were the standard choice in offices, schools, warehouses, and retail spaces. But today, with hydro costs rising and fluorescent technology being phased out due to mercury content, the smart move is upgrading to T8 LED tubes.

Upgrading is more than just swapping a bulb—it’s about cutting up to 60 percent in energy costs, eliminating expensive ballast failures, and giving your tenants or staff brighter, flicker-free light. In many cases, building owners see a payback in under three years, especially when factoring in Save on Energy rebates.

For comparison, if you’re considering full fixture replacements instead of a retrofit, see our post: LED Retrofit vs New LED Fixture.

TL;DR – T8 LED Tube Replacement in Ontario

• Energy savings: Replacing 32W fluorescent tubes with 15W T8 LEDs cuts 50–60% off lighting hydro costs.

• Payback: Most projects pay back in under 3 years, faster with Save on Energy rebates.

• Lamp lifespans: Fluorescent = 10–15k hrs; LED T8 = 40–50k hrs, often with 5–10 yr warranties.

• Mercury-free: Fluorescents are being phased out in Ontario due to hazardous materials—LEDs are safer and recyclable.

• T8 LED types:

  • Type A (plug-and-play) → quick installs, relies on ballasts

  • Type B (ballast bypass) → no ballast failures, higher safety requirements

  • Type C (remote driver) → best efficiency, longest warranties, control ready

• Where used: Offices, schools, warehouses, retail, and parkades across Ontario.

• Controls = more savings: Occupancy, daylight, and scheduling trim an extra 20–40% energy use.

• Rebates: Instant Discounts save $1–$3 per tube at checkout; Custom Retrofits cover advanced controls.

• Next steps:

  • Run ROI instantly with the Lighting Retrofit Savings Calculator

  • Check eligibility with the Lighting Rebate Estimator

What is a T8 LED Tube?

A T8 LED tube is the modern replacement for the traditional T8 fluorescent lamp. The “T8” refers to the lamp’s one-inch (8/8”) diameter, which has been the industry standard for decades. LEDs use semiconductor chips instead of gas and mercury to create light, meaning they are safer, longer-lasting, and more efficient.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Feature	Fluorescent T8	LED T8
Wattage per lamp	28–32 W	12–18 W
Typical lifespan	10,000–15,000 hrs	40,000–50,000 hrs
Contains mercury	Yes	No
Warm-up time	30–60 seconds in cold temps	Instant on
Ballast required	Yes	Sometimes / No

Where T8 LEDs Are Used in Ontario

T8 LED tubes are found in almost every type of commercial or institutional building.

Common applications include:

• Office corridors and boardrooms – even, glare-controlled light for productivity

• Educational facilities – flicker-free light for classrooms, labs, and libraries

• Industrial facilities – continuous rows for warehouse aisles, manufacturing lines

• Retail stores – bright, colour-accurate light to improve product displays

• Parkades and basements – reliable performance in cold Ontario winters

💡 Tip: If your site has drop ceilings with 2x4 recessed troffers, a retrofit with T8 LEDs works well. But if the troffers are yellowed or damaged, you may want to consider 2x4 LED flat panel lights for a cleaner look.

Why Upgrade from Fluorescent to LED Now

Ontario businesses are moving quickly toward LED for three key reasons:

1. Hydro savings: Cutting 32 W lamps to 15 W LEDs across 500 fixtures running 12 hours per day saves over 28,000 kWh annually—roughly $4,500 per year at Ontario’s average commercial hydro rates.

2. Maintenance savings: No more ballast replacements every 3–5 years. LEDs often come with 5–10 year warranties.

3. Compliance: Fluorescent tubes contain mercury and are being phased out under environmental regulations. LEDs are safer and recyclable.

To see what this looks like in your building, try our Lighting Operating Cost Calculator.

T8 LED Types Explained

Not all T8 LED tubes are created equal. Ontario building owners have three main options when upgrading, and the best choice depends on your ballast condition, safety requirements, and long-term maintenance goals.

Type A: Plug and Play with Existing Ballast

Type A lamps are the most common entry point for retrofits because they’re direct replacements—just remove the old fluorescent tube and install the LED. They work with the building’s existing electronic ballast.

Pros:

• Fast install with no wiring changes

• Lower labour costs upfront

• Good option for offices and schools with newer ballasts

Cons:

• LED performance is limited by the ballast

• Ballasts still fail, leading to higher maintenance costs later

💡 Tip: If your ballasts are under five years old and you need a fast, low-disruption upgrade, Type A is usually cost effective. But if your site already has frequent ballast failures, Type B or C will make more sense.

Type B: Ballast Bypass (Single End and Double End)

Type B tubes remove the ballast completely, wiring directly to line voltage. This reduces long-term maintenance since there’s no ballast left to fail.

Single-end wiring means power goes into one side of the lamp only.

Double-end wiring means hot and neutral connect at opposite ends.

Wiring	Pros	Cons
Single-End	Higher efficiency, fewer wiring points	Easy to miswire, requires relabeling
Double-End	Easier retrofit, less risk of error	Slightly more wiring work upfront

Pros of Type B:

• Lower long-term maintenance (no ballast)

• Higher system efficiency

• Widely available and DLC listed

Cons of Type B:

• Requires electrical rewiring

• Safety concerns if lamps are miswired

• Ontario ESA (Electrical Safety Authority) requires proper relabeling after ballast bypass

⚠️ Ontario Code Note: ESA mandates permanent labeling of fixtures after ballast bypass. Missing labels are one of the most common retrofit violations in audits.

Type C: Remote Driver Kits

Type C T8 LEDs use a separate driver (similar to how LED flat panels or high bays work). The fluorescent ballast is removed and replaced with a remote driver that powers multiple tubes.

Pros:

• Best efficiency and light quality

• Advanced control compatibility (dimming, sensors)

• Longest lifespan and warranties (often 7–10 years)

Cons:

• Highest upfront cost

• More complex install

• Better suited to larger projects where long-term ROI matters

💡 Pro Insight: Many industrial lighting upgrades in Ontario choose Type C kits because they integrate seamlessly with advanced controls like occupancy sensors and daylight harvesting.

Safety and Code Notes for Ontario Installs

Ontario has stricter requirements than some provinces due to ESA enforcement. Key points:

• Label all retrofitted fixtures after a ballast bypass

• Use certified DLC-listed lamps for rebate eligibility

• Confirm emergency circuits are properly wired (especially in stairwells and exit paths)

• Maintain as-built documentation for ESA inspection

When Each Type Makes Sense

Here’s a quick decision guide:

Building Type	Best Choice	Why
Office with new ballasts	Type A	Fast install, low disruption
School with aging ballasts	Type B (double end)	Removes ballast headaches, safer wiring
Warehouse running 24/7	Type C	Higher efficiency + control options
Parkade in cold climate	Type B	Works reliably in low temps, fewer failures

👉 Pro Tip: If you’re not sure which type fits your site, book a free commercial lighting upgrade audit. LumaEnergy’s team tests your ballasts, reviews ESA requirements, and provides a side-by-side ROI for each option.

How to Choose the Right T8 LED for Your Site

Not every T8 LED tube is the same, and the right choice depends on how your building is used, how old your existing gear is, and what performance outcomes you want. Here’s how to evaluate.

Ceiling Height, Operating Hours, Ambient Temperature

• Ceiling height: In offices with 8–10 ft ceilings, standard 1,800–2,200 lumen T8 LEDs work well. In warehouses with 16–20 ft ceilings, choose higher-lumen tubes (up to 3,000 lm) or consider high bay fixtures.

• Operating hours: Buildings running 12–24 hrs/day (like hospitals, factories, or parkades) benefit most from higher efficacy models (>150 lm/W).

• Temperature: Cold Ontario winters cause fluorescent flicker and dimming. LEDs rated for -20°C to -40°C ensure consistent brightness in parkades and freezers.

💡 Tip: For any site running 4,000+ hrs per year, LEDs often pay back in under 2 years, especially when paired with rebates.

Ballast Age and Failure Rates

If your ballasts are more than 7 years old, chances are they’re already causing outages. Type A tubes (which keep the ballast) will not save you the hassle. In this case, Type B or Type C are better.

Ballast Age	Failure Risk	Best T8 LED Choice
< 5 years	Low	Type A okay for now
5–7 years	Medium	Type B preferred
8+ years	High	Type B or Type C

Efficacy, Power Factor, DLC Listing, Warranty

When comparing lamps, look beyond the sticker price:

• Efficacy (lm/W): Aim for ≥130 lm/W for offices and ≥150 lm/W for 24/7 facilities.

• Power factor: Choose ≥0.9 for stable performance on Ontario’s grid.

• DLC listing: Required for Save on Energy rebates.

• Warranty: Look for at least 5 years, ideally 7–10 years for industrial use.

Colour Temperature, CRI, Flicker, Glare Control

• Colour temperature (CCT):

  • 3500K for warm office environments

  • 4000K for classrooms and hospitals

  • 5000K for warehouses and retail

• CRI (Colour Rendering Index): 80+ is minimum, 90+ for design studios or retail.

• Flicker: Ensure flicker <5% to avoid eye strain.

• Glare control: Diffused lensing is important in low ceiling spaces.

Decision Flow Chart: Type A vs Type B vs Type C

Scenario	Best Choice	Why
Newer ballasts, low run hours	Type A	Low cost, quick swap
Aging ballasts, mid run hours	Type B	Removes ballast failures
24/7 facility, planning controls	Type C	Highest ROI, control ready

👉 If you’re unsure which option fits, our Lighting Rebate Estimator runs the numbers instantly for Ontario projects.

Installation Basics and Common Pitfalls

Even the best T8 LED tubes can underperform—or worse, fail ESA inspection—if installed incorrectly. Here are the essentials.

Verifying Wiring and Tombstone Condition

Before any retrofit:

• Check tombstones (lamp holders) for cracks or loose connections

• Confirm polarity and wiring match the lamp type (single vs double end)

• Test circuit voltage—most tubes are rated 120–347 V in Canada, but not all

💡 Pro Tip: In older Ontario buildings, mixed circuits are common. Always verify before powering.

Correct Labeling After Ballast Bypass

Ontario ESA requires clear fixture labeling after a ballast is removed. Labels must state:

• “Ballast bypass retrofit”

• “Use only with line voltage LED lamps”

• Voltage rating

🚫 Common Pitfall: Skipping labels leads to ESA red tags during inspections.

Emergency Circuits and Always-On Locations

Emergency and exit path lighting circuits must remain compliant after retrofit:

• Use DLC-listed emergency-compatible LED tubes or retrofit with a separate emergency driver.

• Keep critical stairwells and exit corridors on dedicated always-on circuits.

Parkade and Cold Environment Considerations

Ontario’s winters expose the weaknesses of fluorescents, but even some LEDs fail in extreme cold.

• Choose -30°C rated lamps for parkades and unheated warehouses.

• Use IP65 damp-rated fixtures for high-humidity basements.

• In parkades, consider adding occupancy sensors to cut idle runtime by 60%.

👉 To avoid these pitfalls, LumaEnergy’s lighting audits include wiring checks, ESA labeling, and emergency circuit reviews before installation begins.

Cost and ROI for a T8 LED Upgrade

Upgrading to T8 LED tubes isn’t just about better lighting — it’s one of the fastest payback projects in Ontario facilities. Between lower wattage, reduced maintenance, and available rebates, most projects pay for themselves in 2 to 4 years.

Typical Material and Labour Ranges per Fixture

The cost of a retrofit depends on the tube type, fixture condition, and whether ballasts are removed.

Retrofit Type	Material Cost per Lamp	Labour per Fixture	Typical Total (per fixture)
Type A (plug and play)	$8 – $15	$5 – $10	$15 – $25
Type B (ballast bypass)	$10 – $18	$15 – $25	$25 – $40
Type C (remote driver kit)	$20 – $35	$25 – $35	$45 – $70

💡 Tip: Costs drop significantly on projects of 500+ fixtures due to bulk purchasing and streamlined labour.

Energy Savings: 32 W Fluorescent vs 12–18 W LED

Here’s a real-world comparison for a corridor with 200 fixtures running 12 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Lamp Type	Wattage	Annual Energy Use (kWh)	Hydro Cost (¢13/kWh)
Fluorescent T8	32 W	33,600 kWh	$4,368
LED T8	15 W	15,768 kWh	$2,050
Savings	–	17,832 kWh	$2,318/year

That’s a 53% energy reduction on lighting alone.

Maintenance Savings When Ballasts Are Removed

• Average ballast replacement cost in Ontario: $60–$90 (parts + labour)

• Ballasts typically fail every 5–7 years

• In a 500-fixture site, that’s $30,000–$45,000 in avoided costs over 10 years by going ballast-free (Type B or C)

🚫 Common Mistake: Some facility managers choose Type A LEDs to save on upfront labour but forget they’re locking themselves into ongoing ballast costs.

Simple Payback Calculator Example

Let’s use a mid-sized Ontario office with 300 fixtures:

• Material + labour: $30 per fixture → $9,000

• Annual hydro savings: $3,500

• Annual maintenance savings: $1,200

• Save on Energy rebate: $3,000

Total first-year savings: $7,700

Net cost after rebate: $6,000

Simple payback: <1 year

👉 Run your own numbers instantly with our Lighting Retrofit Savings Calculator.

Controls That Multiply Savings

Installing T8 LED tubes already cuts your hydro bills by 50–60 percent. But when you layer in lighting controls, the savings often double—with little extra effort. In Ontario’s commercial spaces, controls can reduce runtime by 20 to 40 percent on top of LED efficiency.

Occupancy Sensors in Corridors and Parkades

• How they work: Motion sensors dim or switch off lights in unused spaces.

• Savings impact: Up to 30% additional reduction in energy use.

• Best locations:

  • Underground parkades

  • Washrooms

  • Office corridors after hours

💡 Pro Tip: Pair Type B or Type C T8 LEDs with controls—Type A lamps are limited because they still rely on ballast wiring.

Daylight Trimming Near Windows and Perimeter Zones

• How it works: Sensors dim artificial light when natural light is available.

• Savings impact: 10–20% cut in daytime energy use.

• Best locations:

  • Perimeter offices with big windows

  • Atriums and lobbies

  • Classrooms with natural daylight

📊 Example: In a Toronto office with 100 perimeter fixtures, daylight trimming reduced lighting energy by 8,000 kWh annually, a $1,040 savings at current rates.

Scheduling for Low Traffic Times

• How it works: Automated scheduling turns lights down/off during predictable low-use hours.

• Savings impact: Up to 15% additional savings in office and retail spaces.

• Best locations:

  • Corporate offices (weekends and evenings)

  • Retail stores outside business hours

  • Schools during holidays and summer break

💡 Ontario Note: If you integrate controls with Type C systems, you may also qualify for custom Save on Energy incentives, not just prescriptive rebates.

The Bottom Line on Controls

Control Type	Typical Extra Savings	Best For
Occupancy	20–30%	Parkades, corridors, washrooms
Daylight	10–20%	Windowed offices, lobbies
Scheduling	10–15%	Offices, retail, schools

👉 When bundled with LED retrofits, controls often cut lighting costs by 70–80% overall. That’s why we often recommend combining them in a full office lighting upgrade or industrial lighting project.

Rebates and Compliance in Ontario

One of the biggest advantages of upgrading to T8 LED tubes in Ontario is the availability of rebates through the Save on Energy program, administered by the IESO (Independent Electricity System Operator). These incentives help offset upfront costs, often cutting project payback times in half.

Save on Energy Retrofit Eligibility and DLC Requirements

• Eligibility: T8 LED tubes must be DLC listed (DesignLights Consortium) to qualify.

• Scope: Rebates apply to a wide range of retrofit projects including offices, schools, warehouses, and parkades.

• Incentive levels (2025):

  • Instant Discounts (midstream): $1–$3 off per lamp at the point of purchase through participating distributors.

  • Custom Retrofit Projects: Larger upgrades with advanced controls can qualify for additional incentives.

💡 Tip: The midstream program is the fastest way to save—rebates are applied right on the distributor’s invoice, with no paperwork for the customer.

How LumaEnergy Handles the Application

At LumaEnergy, we manage the rebate process start to finish so you don’t have to:

• Work only with distributors enrolled in the Instant Discounts program, ensuring point-of-sale savings on every T8 LED tube.

• Submit and track all pre-approval documentation for larger retrofit or custom control projects.

• Provide ESA-compliant as-built documentation and labeling so you’re audit-proof.

• Run the numbers using our Lighting Rebate Estimator so you see your net cost before starting.

📊 Example: In a Mississauga office with 400 fixtures, the Instant Discounts program reduced upfront costs by $1,000, while a custom control incentive added another $3,500—cutting project payback from 2.5 years to under 1 year.

👉 Rebates are one of the fastest ways to lower your out-of-pocket cost. Whether it’s a straightforward Instant Discount on T8 LED tubes or a custom incentive for controls, our team ensures you capture the maximum available savings.

Ready to Plan Your T8 LED Project?

Switching from fluorescent to T8 LED tubes is one of the smartest upgrades Ontario building owners can make. You’ll see immediate hydro savings, fewer maintenance headaches, and better light quality across your site. With the Save on Energy Instant Discounts program, rebates are applied directly at purchase—making it easier than ever to upgrade without heavy paperwork.

At LumaEnergy, our process is simple:

• A free lighting audit to review your site and test your fixtures.

• A detailed ROI report using our Lighting Retrofit Savings Calculator.

• End-to-end installation with ESA compliance and rebate management included.

Whether you manage an office, warehouse, or parkade, we’ll guide you through the best options—Type A, B, or C—and ensure you capture every rebate dollar available.

👉 Book your free audit today and see how much you could save in the first year alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between a T8 LED tube and a fluorescent T8?

A fluorescent T8 uses mercury vapor and requires a ballast, while a T8 LED tube uses solid-state technology. LEDs consume about 50–60% less energy, last 3–4 times longer, and don’t contain hazardous materials.

2. Can I install T8 LED tubes without changing my fixtures?

Yes. With Type A T8 LEDs, you can plug and play into existing electronic ballasts. However, if your ballasts are older, a Type B (ballast bypass) or Type C (remote driver) system is more cost effective long-term.

3. Do I need an electrician to install T8 LED tubes?

For Type A plug-and-play, no rewiring is needed. For Type B or Type C, Ontario’s Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) requires a licensed electrician for ballast bypass or driver installs.

4. What rebates are available for T8 LED tubes in Ontario?

Ontario’s Save on Energy Instant Discounts (midstream) program provides $1–$3 off per T8 LED tube directly on your distributor invoice. Larger custom retrofit projects with controls may qualify for additional incentives.

5. How much can I save by upgrading to T8 LED tubes?

On average, a 32W fluorescent replaced with a 15W LED saves about $11–$15 per year per lamp (based on 12 hours/day at Ontario’s hydro rates). For a 300-fixture office, that’s $3,500+ in annual savings, plus reduced maintenance costs.

6. Should I choose Type A, B, or C T8 LED tubes?

• Type A: Best for newer ballasts and quick installs.

• Type B: Best when ballasts are aging or failing, lower long-term costs.

• Type C: Best for large projects requiring advanced controls and maximum efficiency.

👉 Still unsure? Use our Lighting Rebate Estimator or book a free audit for a site-specific recommendation.