In 2023, the legislature passed a ban on the sale of certain types of lamps and lamp ballasts as part of the Omnibus Environment and Natural Resources budget and policy legislation. The bill banned several types of bulbs that started in 2025 and expanding in 2026 (Minn. Stat. 116.92).

Prohibited sale as of 2025: screw base compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), bayonet base CFLs, mercury vapor lamps, and mercury vapor lamp ballasts.

Prohibited sale as of 2026: pin base CFLs and linear fluorescent lamps, which are common in many commercial buildings.

The legislature chose to ban mercury-containing and less efficient lighting.

Fluorescent lights contain mercury, a toxin that can impact human health and the environment.

LED lights are more efficient than fluorescents and don't contain any mercury.

Commercial building operators can keep any fluorescent tubes they already have but will not be able to purchase new ones. This means that, as existing fluorescents burn out, they will need to be replaced with LEDs.

Convert your whole building to LEDs as soon as you can. This will prevent the uneven lighting caused by a mixture of fluorescent and LED lighting and put you ahead of the curve on reducing your electricity bills.

Energy Smart provides free energy assessments and can help make a plan for converting to LEDs.

Xcel Energy and other electric utilities have rebates to reimburse some of the cost of converting to LEDs. Energy Smart can take care of that paperwork for you to save you time and deliver the rebates to your business.

Energy Smart has grant funding to further reduce the upfront costs of converting to LEDs. There are additional grant programs available for some geographic locations, and Energy Smart can connect you with those opportunities as well.

Yes! Thanks to existing contracts, Energy Smart’s consultation services are completely free for businesses that have Xcel Energy and/or CenterPoint Energy as their utility providers or are members of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

Any commercial property served by Xcel Energy or CenterPoint Energy, and/or a Minnesota Chamber of Commerce member, is eligible for Energy Smart’s free services.

No, if your business is served by Xcel Energy or CenterPoint Energy, you can participate. Membership with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is not required. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce reach out to our membership team.

All businesses can find opportunities for energy savings!

After submitting a consultation request form, an Energy Efficiency Specialist will contact you within two business days to schedule an on-site consultation. To make the consultation most effective, please ensure access to all relevant equipment, including rooftops and utility areas, or have someone available who knows the building’s systems well.

During an Energy Smart Energy Efficiency Consultation, we will:

• Review your goals and priorities for energy efficiency
• Walk through the facility to identify energy efficiency cost saving opportunities
• Inform you of available rebate and grant programs
• Provide support throughout the planning and installation process

Energy Smart’s on-site consultation usually lasts 30-60 minutes. Within two weeks of your consultation, you’ll receive a personalized Energy Action Plan outlining recommended upgrades, corresponding utility rebates, and available financial resources. If a business is interested in moving forward with any recommended energy efficiency upgrades, we are happy to provide free technical assistance (including proposal review, rebate and grant applications) to help get your projects to the finish line.

Yes, our team is well-versed in local utility rebates, grants, and loan programs for energy efficiency projects. Your Energy Efficiency specialist will complete most of the incentive paperwork. Your prompt signatures and responses will keep things moving quickly.

Yes, both building owners and tenants can benefit from Energy Smart’s free services. Our recommendations range from low-cost or behavioral improvements, such as thermostat programming, to capital expense upgrades, like upgrading the HVAC. Whether you are a tenant or the building owner, we can help you find ways to reduce your energy consumption, reduce your energy bills, or improve the comfort of your space.

No, our Energy Action Plan provides vendor-neutral, no-pressure recommendations. There’s no obligation to implement any of our recommended projects. Our goal is simply to help you identify opportunities and connect you to available funding. If you are interested in moving forward with any of our recommendations, we are happy to provide you with any technical assistance you need to move your projects forward.

Our recommendations range from low-cost or behavioral improvements to capital expense upgrades. Common low-cost or behavioral recommendations include programming thermostats, installing programmable or smart thermostats, or completing seasonal maintenance on HVAC equipment.

Common upgrade recommendations at an investment level include switching to LED lighting, replacing aging equipment such as HVAC systems, and assisting with selecting energy-efficient, rebate-eligible models when purchasing new equipment.

We often meet businesses that have already completed projects eligible for rebates but never submitted a claim. If that’s the case, we can help you gather the right documentation and submit the rebate paperwork to your utility company so you don’t miss out on those savings.