Feed Editor Learn about valuable Utility Rebates and Tax Deductions that can help save on your next lighting project. http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/index.html en-us Electric utilities and government organizations across the nation have been busy updating their rebate programs for 2013. A majority have already released their new programs, with others to have them by the end of the month. While every program is different, some of the most common changes we have seen this year are T12 rebate amounts being reduced or removed and more programs adding new incentives for LED lighting solutions. At this time, incentives for energy efficient commercial lighting cover 71% of the US. Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:01:00 EST http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jan13-1.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jan13-1.html As LED lighting solutions have continued to penetrate the market, rebate and incentive programs in North America have taken notice and revised their program offerings. Over the past few years, these programs have added new incentives for many types of LED solutions and worked to refine requirements for these products. In fact, according to our North American Rebate and Incentive Database, the number of rebate programs for LEDs has increased by 54% since January 2012! While the growth in programs could have been expected, it maybe be surprising to learn that the average rebate amount has decreased over the same time period. For LED replacement lamps, the average rebate decreased by 7% since January 2012. For LED fixtures, the rebates also went down; high bay fixtures decreased by 8%, accent lighting by 12% and recessed down lights by 66%. Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:01:00 EST http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jan13-2.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jan13-2.html Although a lot of people are aware of rebates for installing energy efficient equipment in older facilities, few people realize that rebates and incentives may also be available for new construction projects. Unlike retrofit projects which base rebates on how much energy is saved compared to the old equipment, new construction programs often base the incentives on the savings over a building code, most commonly a version of ASHRAE 90.1. Programs can cover equipment such as HVAC systems, interior lighting, exterior lighting, refrigeration, and water systems. Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:01:00 EST http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jan13-3.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jan13-3.html As we enter the final stretch of the calendar year, an increasing number of rebate and incentive programs are exhausting their funds. According to our North American Rebate and Incentive Database, 9% of all US commercial lighting rebate and incentive programs are currently out of funding. Locations that would have previously qualified for rebates may no longer be eligible because the rebate organization has no money left. At this time, there are active incentive programs for energy efficient commercial lighting available in 70% of the US. Over the next few months, we expect more programs to run out of funding as well. In order to not miss out on your rebate dollars, it's best to submit your pre-approval as soon as possible to reserve money for your project. This step is especially important in areas where funds are running low. Fri, 21 Sept 2012 11:01:00 EST http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept12-2.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept12-2.html When thinking about an upcoming energy efficiency project, most people want to take advantage of available rebates and incentives, but they forget to allocate an appropriate amount of time for the pre-approval process. Many rebate providers require pre-approval prior to installation to be eligible for program funds. We analyzed the time required to get pre-approvals across the nation by looking at our project database that tracks the thousands of projects we complete each year. On average, it takes 30 days from the day you first submit paperwork until you get pre-approval for a project; an increase from the 26 days we recorded last year. That time does not take into account any time spent finding the correct rebate program, filling out paperwork, gathering spec sheets, getting the proper signatures, etc. Fri, 21 Sept 2012 11:00:00 EST http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept12-3.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept12-3.html Over the past year, rebate and incentive programs have caught up to the growing number of LED lighting solutions being used in the market today. Today, thousands of programs are available for LED solutions. In fact, according to our database, the number of rebate programs for LEDs has increased by 51% since January this year! An interesting trend is that while the number of rebates has steadily grown over the past year, the average rebate amount has actually gone down. For LED replacement lamps, the average rebate has decreased by 4% since January 2012. Incentives for LED recessed down lights have also decreased by 29% during the same time period. These reductions are mostly due to the cost of LEDs coming down over the last year, which means less incentive money is needed to make these solutions financially attractive. Fri, 21 Sept 2012 11:05:00 EST http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept12-1.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept12-1.html Buildings in thousands of municipalities across the US are now eligible for rebates, incentives and grants from state organizations and local utilities. These programs provide customers with incentives to upgrade inefficient lighting systems which significantly reduces the initial cost. Although there are programs in all 50 states, that doesn't mean all areas are covered by a rebate. Currently, incentives for energy efficient commercial lighting cover 79% of the US. Click the jump to see a map showing how rebates have changed in the US Fri, 23 Sept 2011 11:00:00 EST http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept11-1.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept11-1.html In 2009, Congress passed legislation that established efficiency standards for general lighting. While the law did not specifically outlaw any technologies, it set efficiency standards that essentially phases out older technologies in use at many businesses today such as T12 fixtures and incandescent/halogen reflector lamps. Rebates currently exist for many of the possible upgrades from the older products and can help lower the cost of the project. It is possible that due to the legislation, the incentive levels for the replacement products may fall or stop completely once the old technologies are phased out. If you have old, inefficient technologies in your facilities, consider upgrading sooner than mandated so you won't miss out on any of the valuable rebates. Click the jump to see the rebates available for replacement products Fri, 23 Sept 2011 11:00:00 EST http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept11-2.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept11-2.html A lot of rebate and incentive programs have a fixed budget and timeframe for their initiatives. Some operate on a calendar year basis, others operate on a fiscal year basis. As customers take advantage of these programs, funds dwindle and occasionally, the programs run out of money before the year is over. This year, a record number of organizations have run out of funds before the program's end date. Some of these organizations ran out of money more than 6 months before the deadline! These programs have left many customers who were planning upgrades in the next few months confused and frustrated. Fri, 23 Sept 2011 11:00:00 EST http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept11-3.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept11-3.html Many electric utilities and government organizations across the nation have been busy updating their rebate guidelines for 2011. A majority have already released their new programs, with others to have them by the end of the month. While every program is different, some of the most common changes we have seen are higher rebate amounts, additional restrictions on which lighting systems may qualify for rebates, and the addition of LED lighting solutions into their programs . Follow the jump to see a map showing how rebates have changed in the US. 21 January 2011 10:56:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jan11-1.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jan11-1.html LED is the new buzzword when customers are looking to upgrade to efficient lighting. Their energy efficiency has improved over the past few years and as the cost of LED solutions fall, they are making their way into many mainstream applications. Energy Star established regulations for many LED solutions, prompting rebate programs to start offering incentives for these products. 21 January 2011 10:52:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jan11-2.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jan11-2.html Have you worked on a large lighting project in 2010? If so, that project may still qualify for a significant tax deduction thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Because the EPAct certification does not need to happen at installation, any lighting project put into service in 2010 can still qualify for the deduction. That means you can save money when filing your taxes for 2010. However, you have to act now or you will lose the opportunity. 21 January 2011 10:48:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jan11-3.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jan11-3.html One question that we frequently hear from our customers is, "How long does it take to get a rebate check?" To answer the question, we looked at several thousand projects that took place across the nation last year and created a graph to illustrate how long it took to receive the final rebate check after the installation of the equipment. 21 January 2011 10:48:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jan11-4.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jan11-4.html When it comes to rebates and incentives for energy efficiency projects, it takes careful attention and planning to get the most money possible. Planning a project to get the most money involves optimizing timing, paying attention to bonus programs and negotiating rebates. The whole process is a daunting task for many businesses, but by doing it correctly, you can get a lot more money for your projects. Follow the link to to see how one customer maximized their rebates to achieve an additional $66,100 in rebates. 18 June 2010 10:56:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jun10-1.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jun10-1.html The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT) allows commercial buildings to claim a tax deduction for upgrading to energy efficiency equipment. While many types of buildings can qualify for EPAct, warehouses and distribution centers have a huge opportunity with EPAct because of their large area and ability to install very efficiency lighting systems. One retailer took advantage of this tax deduction for $66,332 in one of their large distribution centers. Follow the link to see how the EPAct tax deduction reduced the payback period to 1 year. 18 June 2010 10:55:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jun10-2.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jun10-2.html Rebate programs are wildly popular with businesses trying to reduce the cost of their energy efficiency projects. Often there's a frenzy to get the money when it becomes available. In fact, one program is so popular it just can't seem to keep its funds. This year, a program offered by the State of Virginia offered $6.5 million for energy efficiency projects. Customers could take advantage of the funds starting on March 22nd. Four days later, the program stopped accepting new applications and had a wait list of 3,200 applications! Follow the link to see how you can make sure you're not missing out on programs like this one. 18 June 2010 10:55:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jun10-3.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jun10-3.html Energy efficiency programs have increased rapidly the past few years, expanding in both funding levels and geography. In 2009, US utilities increased their spending on energy efficiency programs by 43% according to the Consortium for Energy Efficiency. Geographically, rebates for commercial lighting are spreading out to more parts of the US, and are growing more popular in the Southeast and South Central US. Click here to see the projections for rebate funding in the future and to learm how many states currently have rebates for commercial lighting projects. 19 Mar 2010 15:56:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Mar10-1.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Mar10-1.html Looking for yet another way to improve payback on your lighting projects? You might be able to take advantage of tax credits being offered by some state agencies. Certain parts of the country have these beneficial tax credits for customers who participate in energy efficient lighting projects. These programs are scattered throughout the US, but can be quite significant. Even better, these credits are ON TOP of any utility rebate or Federal EPAct tax deduction for which you may be eligible. Click here to see how state tax credits can help you. 19 Mar 2010 15:56:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Mar10-2.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Mar10-2.html 2009 has been an incredibly good year for businesses looking to take advantage of valuable rebates for upgrading their lighting systems. Even in light of a struggling economy, utilities and governments across the country continued to invest money into conservation programs. At the beginning of the year, organizations in 36 states had a rebate program available for energy efficiency programs. Over the course of the year, another 10 states have enacted programs. Now, rebates for energy efficient lighting in non-residential applications cover over 60% of the zip codes in the US. 10 Dec 2009 15:56:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Dec09-1.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Dec09-1.html Are you still using T12 fixtures in your facilities? They are all too common in commercial lighting applications in the US. In fact, according to NEMA, 115 million 4' T12 lamps were still sold in the US last year. These systems are very inefficient; needlessly forcing customers to waste money on their utility bills. In an effort to lower the energy demand in the US, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires manufacturers stop producing magnetic ballasts for most T12 fixtures after June 30, 2010. While these dates might seem far off, you should look to upgrade dated facilities now in order to take advantage of sizeable rebates. 10 Dec 2009 15:55:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Dec09-2.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Dec09-2.html Were you involved in a large lighting project in 2009? If so, that project may still qualify for a significant tax deduction thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Any lighting upgrade job that was completed in the last year potentially qualifies for the deduction. Because the EPAct certification does not need to happen at installation, any project put into service in 2009 can still qualify for the deduction. 10 Dec 2009 15:54:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Dec09-3.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Dec09-3.html Thanks in part to the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, more and more areas of the country have rebates available for commercial lighting upgrades. These programs customers with incentives to upgrade inefficient lighting systems which significantly reduces the initial cost. Organizations in 42 of the states now offer rebate programs for commercial lighting. 17 Sep 2009 15:56:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept09-1.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept09-1.html With long life and high energy efficiency, LED is the new buzzword when customers are looking to upgrade to efficient lighting. While not a viable option in the past, the efficiency and cost of LED fixtures are now reaching more acceptable levels for some customers. From wall washers to accent lighting in stores and restaurants, LEDs are making their way into mainstream applications. Utilities and government agencies have noticed this trend and they are starting to provide rebates for LED products. 17 Sep 2009 15:57:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept09-2.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept09-2.html Many utilities create energy efficiency programs to help reduce electrical demand on the grid and to meet goals set by local, state, and federal governments. To meet these goals, organizations sometimes offer bonus programs to increase participation. By increasing the rebate amounts on certain products for a limited time, they're hoping to increase utilization of their programs and decrease energy usage. 17 Sep 2009 15:59:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept09-3.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Sept09-3.html 2009 has proven to be an excellent year for lighting rebate programs. In the past month, organizations in both North Carolina and Maryland have added rebate programs for Commercial Lighting. With the addition of these programs, organizations in 38 of states now offer lighting rebates to commercial end users. 04 Jun 2009 15:56:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jun09-1.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Jun09-1.html In light of the soft economy, many people wonder if the incentive programs that we've seen over the past few years will continue. Since funding varies per region and organization, it's hard to give an all-encompassing answer, but all indications point out that the programs will continue, if not increase. Click here to learn more. 17 Apr 2009 15:56:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Apr09-1.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Apr09-1.html Earlier this year, the Department of Energy announced that ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004 is the new national reference code. That means all states must certify that their commercial building codes are at least as stringent as 90.1-2004. How does this help you? If built to ASHRAE 90.1-2004, certain facilities may be good candidates for an EPAct tax deduction. Click here for the list 17 Apr 2009 15:56:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Apr09-2.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Apr09-2.html Did you ever wonder how many people are actually taking advantage of energy efficiency programs? Even with a very low energy rate of about $0.05 per kWh, the state of Idaho provides a great example of how many people are using these programs. In fact, one utility in the state reported that in the first 10 weeks of 2009, they have already received 200 preliminary applications. Click here to learn more. 17 Apr 2009 15:56:09 GMT http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Apr09-3.html http://www.briteswitch.com/newsletter/Apr09-3.html