rebates Archives - Learners Live

BriteSwitch: How the DLC V6.0 Transition Could Affect Your Lighting Rebates

William Attardi on October 14, 2026

When you’re quoting a commercial lighting project, the last thing you want is a surprise when it’s time to collect the rebate. On December 15, 2026, the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) will remove products that haven’t transitioned to its new SSL V6.0 requirements. As of October 12, more than 248,000 products were still listed under V5.1. With approximately 65% of commercial lighting rebate offerings requiring DLC-qualified products, this transition could have an major impact on projects extending into 2027. But losing DLC qualification doesn’t necessarily mean losing rebate eligibility. Some utilities will require V6.0 starting January 1, while others are allowing older products to remain eligible for a period of time. We took a closer look at how specific rebate programs are handling the transition and how you can avoid costly mistakes. How the DLC V6.0 Transition Could Affect Your Lighting Rebates

Updated DLC Qualified Products List Streamlines the Search of Rebate-Eligible Lighting by Jason Jeunnette

William Attardi on August 13, 2026

The DLC’s enhancements to the SSL QPL now enable contractors to easily identify rebate-eligible products with precise control features. Just as LED technology turbo-charged lighting sector energy savings 15 years ago, controls are now poised to take lighting savings to a whole other level. A 2020 studyby DLC showed that adding networked controls to LED lighting projects can boost energy savings by an average of about 50% across various building types. Follow up research in 2023 illustrated even greater savings opportunities through integration of lighting controls with HVAC – a practice the study showed could reduce a building’s HVAC energy usage by 30% and potentially cut whole building energy consumption by up to 20%. The DLC’s recently updated Solid-State Lighting (SSL) Technical Requirements and Qualified Products List (QPL) address one crucial barrier to wider controls adoption – the time and effort required to find luminaires that have integral controls capabilities tailored to specific project needs and can also earn valuable rebates and incentives. Finding listed products is simple — just create a free myDLC account. Updated DLC Qualified Products List Streamlines the Search and Selection of Rebate-Eligible Lighting with Specific Controls Capabilities | EC&M

BriteSwitch: Commercial Lighting Rebates Are Still Widely Available

William Attardi on June 18, 2026

As energy demand continues to rise, driven in part by new data centers built to support the growth of artificial intelligence, both homes and businesses are feeling the pressure of higher utility bills. For commercial customers, those increases are bringing renewed attention to energy-saving projects. One of the most familiar options, lighting upgrades, is once again becoming a way for businesses to help offset rising operating costs. Support for commercial lighting rebates remains strong and help make an even stronger case for lighting upgrades. Currently, 75% of the U.S.has access to an active commercial lighting rebate program. Rising Electric Rates Make Lighting Upgrades Worth Another Look

Wanted: Energy Savings: 2026 Lighting Rebate Outlook by Craig DiLouie

William Attardi on May 15, 2026

The commercial lighting rebate outlook for 2026 remains strong, with rebates available in about 75% of the United States and covering all popular LED and lighting control categories. About 7% of rebate programs started the year with bonuses already in place, according to rebate fulfillment firm BriteSwitch, Kingston, N.J., but many are taking a more strategic approach by aggressively promoting LED options most likely to produce high energy savings. Average rebates for LED products rose 17%, with larger increases—exceeding 30%—for products replacing HID luminaires. Meanwhile, the number of rebate programs incentivizing LED-to-LED upgrades increased by 22%. While still accounting for less than 10% of the total number of rebate programs, this is a trend worth watching. In 2026, 6% of programs shifted from basing incentives on a per-unit-installed basis to other metrics such as power or energy savings. This combines the flexibility and innovation of custom rebates with the relatively straightforward prescriptive rebates, promoting thoughtful design and product selection that maximize energy savings. Wanted: Energy Savings: 2026 lighting rebate outlook | Craig DiLouie – Electrical Contractor Magazine

BriteSwitch – Commercial Lighting Controls: A Growing Rebate Opportunity

William Attardi on April 22, 2026

Traditional controls fit well within prescriptive rebate programs because they are relatively easy to define, verify, and explain. For decades, programs have offered incentives for adding components such as fixture-mounted occupancy sensors, and these incentives are not going away. In fact, incentives for traditional lighting controls increased by 12–20% this year, depending on the measure. In addition to traditional controls, more advanced lighting control systems have gained prominence in recent years. These systems are typically more intelligent, allowing devices to communicate and respond dynamically to changing conditions. Rebates for advanced systems like NLC and LLLC have historically been more complex. While most programs provide incentives for these systems, the structure varies widely. Some offer incentives through custom programs based on projected kWh savings. Others provide per-fixture adders or separate line items based on control type. RebatePro for Lighting by BriteSwitch is designed to help contractors and distributors identify the best rebate opportunities, estimate incentives for specific projects, and stay current as programs continue to evolve across the US and Canada. Commercial Lighting Controls: A Growing Rebate Opportunity

2026 Commercial Lighting Rebate Outlook by Craig DiLouie

William Attardi on April 17, 2026

The commercial lighting rebate outlook is strong for 2026, with widely available rebates covering all popular categories of LED lighting and lighting controls, including networked lighting controls. Overall, 2026 marks a year of evolution for programs as they adapt to declining lighting energy savings due to LED market saturation. Average rebate amounts per LED product significantly increased, particularly for higher-energy-saving products. Some programs are shifting from incentivizing products to energy savings. More programs recognizing LED-to-LED upgrades were introduced. On the lighting controls side, average rebate dollars per installed solution generally increased in 2026. As AI infrastructure/data centers and meta projects continue to come online, rising demand for electric power is leading to cost increases. This article evaluates the 2026 commercial lighting rebate outlook based on data provided by BriteSwitch’s RebatePro for Lighting North America database, examines opportunities for LED lighting and lighting controls, and offers insights into how rebate programs are evolving as LED adoption increases. 2026 Commercial Lighting Rebate Outlook

EV Charger Rebate Trends for 2026 by BriteSwitch

William Attardi on March 11, 2026

2025 was a complicated year for the EV industry. EV sales fell sharply in Q4, and for those in the charging business, the headlines may have felt unsettling. But vehicle sales and the charging business are telling two very different stories. The US added 17% more charging ports, and utilization continues to climb. Electrek reported 141 million charging sessions in 2025, a 30% increase over the previous year. There are more EVs on the road than ever, and drivers are using public charging stations more frequently. Rebates still play a crucial role in building up the EV charging infrastructure in North America, and they’re as strong as ever. We break down the five biggest EV charger rebate trends shaping 2026:

BriteSwitch: Commercial Lighting Rebate Trends for 2026

William Attardi on February 12, 2026

Electricity costs continue to climb, and commercial customers are once again taking a closer look at energy efficiency. In 2025 alone, average commercial electricity rates increased by roughly 7%, with some regions seeing increases as high as 29%. As operating costs rise, lighting rebates remain one of the most effective tools for improving project economics. So what does the commercial lighting rebate landscape actually look like in 2026, and what’s different this year? Most programs are still available this year, incentive amounts are up, and rebate structures are continuing to evolve. The following trends are shaping the commercial lighting rebate landscape in 2026.

Commercial Lighting Rebate Trends for 2026

BriteSwitch: Rebates Bloom as Horticulture Lighting Market Heats Up

William Attardi on November 12, 2025

Once limited to research labs and specialized grow rooms, horticulture lighting has become one of the fastest-growing segments in the lighting industry. As technology costs drop and efficiency improves, these systems are now used in greenhouses, vertical farms, floriculture, and even in facilities producing plant-based vaccines. The global market is expanding at roughly 12% per year and is projected to reach $22 billion by 2033, making it one of the brightest opportunities for both lighting manufacturers and rebate-driven projects. Like they did with traditional lighting, LEDs have revolutionized grow lights. With 20 to 45% less energy usage than conventional HID grow lights, they provide a huge opportunity to cut operating costs for growers. The reduced wattage also means less waste heat, which is hugely beneficial to indoor growing operations. In October 2019, the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) created a new standard and Qualified Products List (QPL) specifically for horticulture lighting. Over the years, the DLC has become the de facto standard utilities use to ensure customers install high-quality lighting when applying for incentives. In 2025, the DLC released version 4.0 of its technical requirements. 55% of the US is covered by an active horticulture lighting rebate; 53% are calculated on a per-fixture basis. BriteSwitch Can Help You Find and Capture the Rebates:

RebatePro to Find Horticulture Rebates https://briteswitch.com/rebatepro-for-lighting.php

Outsourcing Rebate Processing https://briteswitch.com/news/OutsourcingRebates.php

Rebates Bloom as Horticulture Lighting Market Heats Up

LED-to-LED Upgrades: Emerging Well of Opportunity?

William Attardi on July 25, 2025

As the market for replacing traditional light sources with LED becomes more challenging, a new market is developing around upgrade of early-generation LED installations. This presents an opportunity to achieve greater energy savings, enhance lighting quality, and integrate advanced lighting controls. Supported by a small number of new commercial lighting rebates that are likely to expand in availability, this trend appears certain to grow. LED-to-LED Upgrades: Emerging Well of Opportunity?