Shop for an appliance these days, and you’re sure to find the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star rating for energy efficiency. Since the program’s inception in 1992, consumers have relied on this rating for guidance that the appliances they purchase won’t make their energy bill skyrocket.

In the commercial LED lighting space, the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) serves the same purpose: guiding contractors to high-quality lighting products that have met or exceeded certain efficiency standards.

But what does it take for a fixture to meet DLC requirements? And what happens to a fixture that doesn’t? We shine a light on the DLC listing process in this article.

What is the DesignLights Consortium?

The DesignLights Consortium is an energy-efficiency program sponsored by the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) that promotes high-quality, high-efficiency lighting solutions in the commercial lighting sector throughout the United States and Canada. The DLC maintains a Qualified Product List (QPL) of products that meet high-efficiency standards in predefined categories.

The DLC’s standards are updated frequently to stay aligned with progress in energy-efficient technology. A product that makes the list one year may be delisted the next if it’s not up to snuff. This assures both contractors and customers that listed products are highly efficient according to the latest standards.

The DLC Listing Process

The DLC’s solid-state lighting program is “home to the largest and most influential list of high-performing commercial lighting products in the world.”

The DLC qualifies commercial LED luminaires, retrofit kits, linear replacement lamps, mogul screw-base (E39/E40) replacement lamps, and four pin-base replacement lamps for CFLs for inclusion on the Solid-State Lighting QPL.

Manufacturers must go through the following process to get their product DLC-listed:

1. Submit an application that includes laboratory tests from an accredited laboratory that can ascertain appropriate testing conditions, testing equipment, and staff competencies necessary for accurate measurements.
2. Initial review from DLC to ensure all the proper documentation is provided.
3. Comprehensive review from DLC to ensure the product meets the Product Eligibility and Technical Requirements for the specific product categories to receive the desired accreditation.
4. Listing on the DLC QPL.
   
   

Key Features of DLC V5.1

The DLC periodically updates the requirements for listing. The active version, SSL V5.1, adds quality of light requirements, including spectral quality and glare, and controllability:

• Spectral Quality. The requirements now introduce Color Maintenance for qualification, improved Correlated Color Temperature consistency for a Premium designation, and set new efficacy allowances for great color, among other updates.
• Light Distribution and Glare. The requirements address beam angle and add a Unified Glare Rating (UGR).
• Dimmability is redefined as containing a dimmable driver or as a light that can be dimmed by external control signal and is specified as dimmable.

You can review the full V5.1 Standards on the DLC site.

Delisting of Non-Compliant Products

The DLC established deadlines to ensure that listed products comply with the latest technical requirements:

• V5.0 Compliance: Products not meeting V5.0 requirements were delisted on June 30, 2022.
• V5.1 Compliance: Products that did not comply with V5.1 standards were removed from the QPL on July 1, 2022.
  
  

Future Updates to SSL Technical Requirements: A Look at DLC V6.0

The DLC is preparing for a major update to its SSL Technical Requirements, designated as V6.0. While this was initially planned as a two-phased update, stakeholder feedback indicated that a single comprehensive update would provide greater value and reduce disruption. While the timeline for V6.0’s release is still in development, the DLC has shared preliminary plans for its scope and focus areas.

What to Expect in DLC V6.0

SSL V6.0 represents a significant evolution in the DLC's approach to energy efficiency, lighting quality, and environmental considerations. Key aspects of the update include:

• Efficacy Increases and Delisting: A notable boost in efficacy requirements is planned, along with associated delisting of non-compliant products to maintain the integrity of the QPL.
• Focus on Sustainability: Proposed updates will support lifecycle sustainability, enabling optional reporting of lifecycle analyses (LCAs), environmental product declarations (EPDs), and other sustainability metrics. Products meeting high sustainability standards may receive efficacy allowances as trade-offs.
• Outdoor Lighting Improvements: The DLC plans to address light pollution by introducing criteria for lower maximum correlated color temperature (CCT) thresholds for outdoor fixtures, with exceptions for specific applications like sports lighting. Standards for non-white light products, such as amber or red spectra, are also under consideration.
• Solar Integration: Optional fields will allow manufacturers to report solar panel and battery information for solar-powered lighting products.
• Enhanced Controls Framework: A restructuring of controls information aims to improve clarity around communication protocols, interoperability, and product capabilities. This will also create stronger connections between SSL and Networked Lighting Controls (NLC) QPLs.
• Product Lifetime and Quality Metrics: Reporting requirements for standardized flicker and color maintenance metrics, as well as improvements in lifetime reporting, will provide decision-makers with better insights into product performance and longevity.
• Form Factor and Mounting Data: New options will allow submitters to report detailed physical attributes of their products.

Why Contractors Should Choose DLC-Listed Fixtures

You still have time to review your commonly used fixtures to ensure they will continue to be DLC-listed (or updated to make the list).

Because DLC listing is so important to qualifying for the best rebates, most manufacturers will be making the effort but may be taking advantage of the eased DLC timelines due to supply chain issues. You should confirm their plans or identify a DLC-listed replacement soon.

Beyond the benefits in energy efficiency, there are other pluses to specifying DLC-listed fixtures.

• Product Quality. DLC-approved products have been tested and verified. They meet the highest industry standards for quality and efficiency. That will give customers peace of mind about having these LED lighting fixtures in their facility.
• Better Lighting Quality. DLC-listed products meet specifications for color rendering, light distribution, and glare. These all result in a better user experience. In fact, the right lighting can even contribute to employee safety, productivity, and end-product quality.
• Energy efficiency. DLC-certified LED lighting fixtures offer higher lumens per watt (LPW). The higher the LPW, the more energy is converted into actual output. Customers will like hearing they are getting the most lighting bang for their energy buck.
• Product Value. A customer may ask why they should choose a more expensive DLC-rated product over a cheaper product. It’s usually not difficult to get them to understand that a cheaper light won’t be eligible for top rebates, it may not last as long, it could require more maintenance, and it may not deliver an optimal user experience.

Need help positioning DLC-certified LED lights to your industrial clients?
Our “Guide to Selling Industrial Lighting” can help.

Litetronics: Your Home for DLC-Listed Products

Here at Litetronics, we keep close tabs on the DLC’s requirements and plan ahead. 100% of our products meet or exceed the current V5.1 standards. We’re also looking forward to aligning our products with V6.0 standards when those become available.

The availability and quality of rebates can make or break an LED upgrade project, so we proactively do our part to make sure all our products keep pace with DLC standards, especially because the majority of rebate programs require LED products to be DLC-listed to qualify.

Check our specs sheet download page to see the DLC Listed icon for each of our products.

Our handy rebate finder includes the DLC classification so you know you’re taking advantage of not just all the available rebates, but also the best ones.

Between the energy savings and the increased access to rebates, it’s easy to see why choosing LED lighting that meets DLC standards is the smart choice for contractors.