Original post by BriteSwitch
In February 2020, the Design Lights Consortium finalized the technical specifications for the next generation of LED products. These new requirements, versions 5.0 and 5.1, are designed to help usher in new levels of energy efficiency, light quality, and controllability.
The DLC started certifying products under the new v5 spec earlier this year, and they will remove older products that don’t meet this certification on December 31, 2020. This change can have a significant impact on the potential rebates a project may receive.
What is the DLC?
The Design Lights Consortium is a non-profit organization that sets standards for efficiency, controllability, and light quality of LED products and controls. Their product specifications ensure that customers get high-quality and efficient lighting that they can depend on. Their qualified product lists cover most types of commercial lighting, as well as networked lighting controls and horticulture lighting.
What does the DLC have to do with rebates?
The DLC does not provide any rebates or incentives themselves. Instead, their certification is used as a benchmark by many rebate organizations across North America. Based on data from our RebatePro tool, between 70 - 85% of rebates require that a product is DLC listed in order to get a rebate. This means that most customers who want to receive an incentive will have to use a DLC listed product.
How can I make sure I still get rebates for my project?
If the product is still showing version 4.4, you'll need to make sure the project finishes, and the final rebate paperwork is submitted before the product is delisted on February 28. If it's a project for which you received pre-approval, reach out to the rebate program to see what implications this change may have on your incentive.