Duke Energy Wants To Pay You To Upgrade Your Commercial Lighting

Energy efficient upgrades pay for themselves over time through energy savings, but often there are available utility rebates and state or federal tax incentives that shorten the payback period – sometimes referred to as “icing on the cake.”

Duke Energy, the nation’s largest public utility, provides rebates and incentives for businesses that engage in energy efficient commercial lighting upgrades in the state of South Carolina.

According to the Duke Lighting Incentives website, “Lighting plays an important role in creating a work environment that’s both pleasant and productive – and it’s a big part of your electric bill. That’s why it pays to install high-efficiency lighting systems. You’ll lower your operating costs while maintaining adequate lighting levels. New efficient lighting technologies provide direct or indirect lighting. Best of all, they use up to 30 percent less energy than standard fluorescent lighting equipment. That can mean energy savings and significantly lower operating costs.”

Further analysis of the Duke Energy South Carolina Lighting Incentive Application found the following information regarding rebates for LED commercial lighting upgrades in Greenville, SC:

• A $40 dollar per fixture incentive is available on LED lighting upgrades.
• All equipment must be new to be eligible for incentives. Used equipment is not eligible for incentives.
• Incentive capped at 50% of the equipment cost.
• LEDs must be on the DLC qualified product list and in the appropriate category to be eligible for incentives.
• All fixtures must be installed indoors (in a heated and cooled enclosed space).
• DLC-approved Retrofit Kits for linear panels are eligible for incentives under this measure.

Net Zero USA offers high efficiency, DLC-approved LED Retrofit Kits in 30W, 40W, and 60W options.

Retrofitting a standard T12 fluorescent light fixture with 4 34W lamps (total of 136W each hour) to a 40W LED Retrofit Kit (total of 40W each hour) would provide a 70% energy savings, more lumens per watt, and a much longer lifespan.

Click to read the LED Lighting Retrofit Case Study – Republic Bank.

Based on the information listed above, it’s easy to see why Greenville, SC-based businesses in the Duke territory would be interested in LED commercial lighting upgrades. Not only will the lighting improvements pay for themselves over time, but thanks to the $40/fixture rebate the LED lighting retrofit is nearly free!