RELIGHT Lighting Design Program

Efficiency Vermont presents RELIGHT, a program designed to encourage commercial customers to enlist the support of lighting design professionals on lighting retrofit projects.

Lighting design professionals can not only provide expert advice on lighting equipment and design, but can also guide a business to the maximum energy savings possible during a lighting upgrade.

Financial incentives provided by Efficiency Vermont as part of the RELIGHT program are intended to reduce the cost barrier of working with a lighting designer.

Participating Lighting Designers (pdf 30kb)

Why promote the use of lighting designers?

Lighting retrofits have been successfully completed for years, resulting in significant energy savings. However, simple 1-for-1 retrofits that match new lighting equipment to the layout and light level of a previous lighting installation may not always achieve the maximum energy savings possible. Past Efficiency Vermont projects have shown that lighting designer involvement can increase energy savings by an average of 40% compared to standard 1-for-1 retrofits.

Beyond increased energy savings, redesign often also improves project economics and customers' lighting quality - uniformity, light level, and color - appropriate to the application.

Who are RELIGHT participating lighting designers?

Lighting design professionals eligible to enroll in the RELIGHT program are Lighting Certified (LC) by the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP.) Vermont licensed Professional Engineers (PE) are also eligible to enroll in the program.

Participating Lighting Designers (pdf 30kb)

If you are a design professional meeting the RELIGHT qualifications listed above and are interested in becoming a RELIGHT participating lighting designer, please contact Efficiency Vermont at 888-921-5990.

How does the RELIGHT program work?

To take advantage of the design incentives and equipment rebates available from Efficiency Vermont through the RELIGHT program, follow these simple steps:

1. Select Lighting Designer
Customers select a lighting designer from the list of Participating Lighting Designers (pdf 30kb). Alternatively, a customer may already be working with a lighting designer who is not yet enrolled in the RELIGHT program. If the designer meets the qualifications, they can enroll in the RELIGHT program by contacting Efficiency Vermont toll-free at 888-921-5990.

2. Perform Audit
The participating lighting designer completes an audit of the facility, collecting information on existing lighting equipment, layout, light levels, lighting needs, operating schedule, etc.

Efficiency Vermont RELIGHT Audit Incentives:
Efficiency Vermont will cover up to the full cost of the audit (max. of $2,000.)

Efficiency Vermont pays 50% of the audit cost up front (max. of $1,000.); the customer is responsible for the remaining 50%.
Upon completion of the lighting upgrades, Efficiency Vermont will refund the customer up to the remaining 50% of the audit cost. The refund amount is proportional to the energy savings implemented vs. the energy savings possible based on the designer recommendations.

3. Complete Design
The participating lighting designer will identify retrofit options appropriate for the customer and will work with Efficiency Vermont to calculate energy savings and applicable project incentives. The customer will receive a detailed list of design recommendations and a bid specification. Additional lighting design services may include lighting layouts, CAD drawings, equipment schedules, etc.

Efficiency Vermont RELIGHT Design Incentives:
If the project energy savings are greater than the potential savings resulting from a standard 1-for-1 retrofit, an Efficiency Vermont design incentive will apply. The exact incentive amount is to be determined based on the depth of savings obtained and is intended to cover a significant portion of the lighting designer fees.

4. Install Lighting Equipment
Customers can choose to bid the project or work with a contractor of their choice to purchase and install the lighting equipment identified by the lighting designer.

Efficiency VermontCommercial Lighting Equipment Rebates:
Efficiency Vermont rebates on lighting equipment apply regardless of a lighting designer's involvement. Details are available on Efficiency Vermont's Commercial Lighting Equipment and Commercial LED Lighting Equipment Rebate Applications located online in the Business Rebate Center, or by calling toll-free 888-921-5990.

RELIGHT Fact Sheet (pdf 127kb)