LED Lighting Rebates & Incentives
Here at Shine Retrofits, we know there are many great things about energy efficient lighting. On top of the energy savings you’ll experience when you make the switch, we’re happy to inform you that you can save even more money savings by using energy efficient lighting rebates and energy efficient grants to your advantage.
Many of the wide assortment of products that you will find on ShineRetrofits.com are eligible for rebates from utility companies, which sometimes sounds like it’s a deal too good to be true. These include basic LED lighting rebates and government rebates for commercial LED lighting. The great news is that it’s just as good as it sounds. Your utility company wants to give you money to save electricity, and we want to help as much as we can in that process.
The real question is if you’ll qualify for any of the lighting rebate programs. It all comes down to where you’re located and what products you’re installing for your project.
Receive Government Rebates for Energy Efficient Lighting
Curious if your project will fit your budget due to a rebate? That can depend on a lot of factors. The first thing you can do is reach out to your local electric company to see what they can offer for your LED lighting retrofit or other energy efficient project. Although we wish we could provide you with an easy link to follow, that gets a little difficult when you consider there are over 3000 utility companies in the United States. We suggest starting with a call to your local electric company or government and seeing where your project stands.
Some of the lighting certifications that often qualify for rebates are Design Light Consortium (DLC) and Energy Star products. Buying products with those certifications is a great first step and can help you get LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, which is a good way to access even more lighting rebate programs in the future.
If you’re at all confused about the process, the Shine Retrofits team of certified lighting experts is available to help you with your rebate over the phone from 6AM-6PM MST, Monday-Friday at 1-800-983-1315. Or, feel free to tell us about your project via our contact us form and we will get back to you ASAP.
Meanwhile, here’s a little more information about the types of energy efficient lighting rebates that are currently available in today’s market.
What is a prescriptive rebate?
A prescriptive rebate is when a utility cost offers a predetermined dollar amount for a specific type of fixture that you’re planning on installing. For example, there are many types of LED lighting rebates available that fall into this category. This is similar to earning a rebate for a set of tires, where you apply for it once you have installed the new technology. A prescriptive rebate might also be referred to as an "Instant Rebate".
What is a custom rebate?
Not all rebates that would be of interest to an electric company have been prescribed and listed. Sometimes, you have to propose your own specific rebate to an electric company. This is especially true for larger projects with many various types of fixtures that doesn’t fit any current rebate available.
For this type of lighting rebate, you will want to submit a proposal and have an auditor from the utility visit you to assess the energy savings. Once you have installed the energy-efficient lighting, they will visit once again for a final inspection before sending you the cash that was earned in a rebate.
Why would an energy company offer a rebate, don't they want you to use more electricity?
Because of the growing population in our country, energy utility companies can depend on the fact that there will always be increasing demand for their product, which is a necessity for modern life. With more customers that need energy in their homes, the companies will eventually need larger power plants. In these cases, it is sometimes cheaper to incentivize their customer base to use less electricity than to build a new power plant or add on to a currently existing one. That’s where lighting rebates and incentives come into the equation.
Also, electric companies are often semi-public or owned by the customers as a co-op, so energy savings and reduced dependence on fuel is typically in their best interest. Plus, these programs are often spurred on by government rebates for commercial or residential LED lighting projects, helping to stress the importance of switching to new, more energy efficient technologies.
What product categories are available for rebates?
The products that are available for rebates varies by region, but we thought we would share the list from Xcel Energy, one of the largest energy companies in the United States (from their rebate page):
- LED Troffer Fixture & Retrofit Kits DLC QPL Required
- LED Parking Garage Fixture DLC QPL Required
- High-efficiency fluorescent T8 systems
- High-bay fluorescent systems, replacing high intensity discharge (HID) systems
- Low watt T8 lamps: 28W or 25W
- CFL fixtures replacing incandescent systems that use three to five times more energy
- Occupancy and daylighting sensors
- ENERGY STAR®-qualified interior LED screw-in or pin-based lamps, and interior LED downlight luminaires, replacing incandescent or halogen systems that use three to six times more energy
- LED wall pack fixtures
- Parking garage T8 Lamps
- LED cooler and freezer case strip lighting (for five and six foot doors)1 replacing less efficient fluorescent systems
- Exterior LED canopy or soffit fixtures replacing HID systems that use three to six times the energy
- T12 to T8 optimization retrofits
Keep in mind that energy utilities also offer custom rebates, so just because your product is not on this list does not mean you won't be eligible for a rebate. Always call your local electric utility company first, where you can discuss various lighting rebates
If you have any more questions please give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you to save money!