Greentec
A Long-Term Partnership Delivering Proven Energy Savings and Better Workplace Lighting.
Greentec is a Canadian leader in secure e-waste recycling, IT asset disposition, and data destruction. Now in its 30th year, the company remains strongly committed to sustainability and the circular economy.
Client Overview
Greentec is a Canadian leader in secure e-waste recycling, IT asset disposition, and data destruction. Now in its 30th year, the company remains strongly committed to sustainability and the circular economy. In 2012, Greentec partnered with Think Green Solutions to complete its first major lighting retrofit. More than a decade later, that partnership has evolved into a long-term success story that continues to deliver measurable financial, environmental, and operational benefits.
The Challenge
By 2012, Greentec’s existing lighting was outdated, energy-intensive, and difficult to maintain. Shadowing on the warehouse floor reduced productivity; task-specific lights were required at workstations; and office staff experienced eye strain throughout the day. With ceiling heights reaching 30 to 40 feet, ongoing maintenance was both costly and disruptive.
Leadership also approached new sustainability proposals with caution. Many solutions sound appealing on paper, yet do not deliver long-term performance. Greentec needed a partner they could trust, backed by real engineering and measurable results.
The Solution
Phase 1
2012 Retrofit
Think Green Solutions performed a full facility lighting assessment, complete with engineered fixtures and a detailed financial model. The upgrade reduced energy use by 50 percent, generated 165,000 kilowatt hours in annual savings, and delivered the environmental equivalent of planting 4,500 trees. Over the first 10 years, the reduction in energy and maintenance costs totaled $328,000.
Phase 2
2024 LED Upgrade
After 11 years of operation, the original system had a failure rate of less than 3 percent, and most fixtures remained functional. Despite the strong performance, newer LED technology offered higher efficiency, better light quality, and access to modern incentive programs. Think Green Solutions completed a second retrofit that included more than $30,000 in incentives and a 2.6 year payback period. Ten-year projected savings from the LED upgrade alone total $264,000. Together, both phases position Greentec to achieve $630,000 in savings over a 20-year period from a combined investment of $120,000.
Environmental Impact
Sustainability is central to Greentec’s mission, and the lighting projects played a significant role in advancing internal environmental targets.
Across both retrofits, Greentec achieved a 78 percent overall energy reduction and more than 22 million pounds of CO2 offset. This impact is equivalent to planting over 7,200 trees.
Workplace Improvements
Warehouse Operations
In the warehouse, Think Green Solutions installed brighter, more uniform lighting that improved accuracy and efficiency. During installation, each phase revealed immediate improvements. Shadows were reduced, visibility improved, and operators no longer needed task lighting at their workstations. Productivity increased as staff could perform detail-oriented work with greater confidence.
Office Environment
The office team also experienced noticeable improvements. More natural and consistent light reduced glare and eye strain, especially for staff working at computer stations for extended periods. Employees reported feeling less fatigued at the end of the day and described the updated lighting as warmer and more comfortable. Visitors and drivers entering the shipping office frequently commented on how bright and welcoming the space felt.
Low Maintenance and Reliable Performance
With high ceilings and continuous operations, Greentec needed a system that would minimize service calls. Think Green Solutions provided a lighting solution that required virtually no maintenance for more than a decade.
During the first 10 years, fixture failures remained below 3 percent, and any required service was handled quickly and efficiently. The result was a reliable system with predictable performance and no disruption to operations.
Client Confidence
Throughout the process, Think Green Solutions provided engineered products, coordinated installation, and consistent communication. Greentec leadership noted that the installation was well organized, the work was completed without interrupting productivity, and the long-term results aligned with their financial and environmental expectations.
Greentec’s decision to return to Think Green Solutions more than a decade later reflects the trust built through real-world results, dependable service, and solutions that continue to perform long after installation.
Conclusion
Over 13 years, Think Green Solutions has helped Greentec modernize its lighting, reduce energy consumption, lower operating costs, and significantly improve work environments. The partnership demonstrates how engineered lighting solutions can support both profitability and sustainability, while providing consistent and reliable performance for years to come.
