LED grow lights have become essential in commercial plant growing. The demand for high-quality LEDs leads to the formation of the DesignLights Consortium (DLC). It’s a non-profit organization based in Massachusetts. This group has established universally recognized criteria for assessing LED quality. Manufacturers meeting DLC standards showcase their commitment to innovation and eco-friendliness, which appeals to potential customers. This blog post aims to provide you with everything you should know about DLC listed LED grow lights!
What Is DLC in Lighting?
The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) functions as a non-profit entity dedicated to advancing high-caliber and energy-saving lighting options, like LED capabilities and lumens. It enforces rigorous prerequisites that a company’s product must satisfy to attain the “DLC Listed” designation. Manufacturers of lighting products undergo scrutiny against these benchmarks to gain certification for their offerings.
As per its website, DLC fosters quality, effectiveness, and energy-saving lighting solutions for commercial purposes. This is achieved through collaborative efforts involving federal, regional, state, utility, and energy efficiency program participants, along with lighting manufacturers, lighting designers, and other stakeholders in both the United States and Canada.
A partnership between UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and the DLC has led to the development of thorough assessment criteria for lighting products. This alliance ensures that only superior and energy-efficient solutions make their way to consumers for various applications. Ultimately, this benefits not only the companies and the industry but also individual customers.
What Is a DLC Listing?
A DLC listing signifies that a specific product has been thoroughly examined and proven to exhibit exceptional energy efficiency. Meeting the demanding performance and reliability criteria for DLC listing involves several key factors, including:
- Achieving an efficacy of over 1.9 umol/J within the 400-700nm range.
- Maintaining long-term performance at 90% or higher after more than 36,000 hours of use.
- Ensuring the driver’s lifespan exceeds 50,000 hours.
- Offering a warranty period of more than 5 years.
DLC-listed lights undergo rigorous assessments, aligning with the organization’s strict benchmarks for quality, efficiency, and lumens. These products, qualified through LED pros, bring several advantages compared with traditional lighting, including extended operational lifespans and decreased energy consumption.
DLC listed LEDs typically exhibit superior lumens per watt (LPW) ratios. A higher LPW value indicates a greater conversion of energy into usable light, resulting in less energy lost to heat and other inefficiencies. For end-users, this translates to reduced electricity bills. Click here to search for DLC listed lighting products.
What Are the Benefits of Using DLC Listed LED Grow Lights?
Unmatched Quality and Performance
DLC certifications are a testament to the supreme quality of products. To gain approval from the DLC, lighting solutions must undergo rigorous assessments, including evaluations of their consistent performance, durability, safety measures, and other pivotal factors.
This exhaustive verification procedure guarantees that end-users are furnished with trustworthy products that not only meet their needs but also mitigate potential hazards associated with inferior lighting options. For instance, an external testing facility’s investigation revealed that among several LED bulbs lacking DLC certification and tested under demanding stress conditions, 30% malfunctioned within the initial 100 hours of use.
In contrast, DLC listed products consistently exhibited remarkable performance and extended lifespans. In short, the DLC certification holds more significance than merely being a label. It guarantees unparalleled quality and efficacy for lighting solutions.
Energy Efficiency
DLC listed LEDs stand as exemplars of energy efficiency. They are subjected to meticulous evaluations to meet exacting energy standards. This guarantees their consumption of less energy compared with non-DLC listed counterparts. Consequently, this leads to a reduction in your electricity expenses. To illustrate, a DLC listed LED light bulb may utilize 80% less energy than incandescent lights, resulting in substantial long-term savings.
Moreover, according to the US Department of Energy, the extensive adoption of LED lighting has the potential to save approximately 348 TWh of electricity by 2027 – a figure equivalent to the yearly output of 44 large-scale power plants.
Built to Last
You don’t want to frequently replace the light. Fortunately, DLC listed lights conform to stringent durability and reliability criteria, yielding lighting solutions that outlast and demand less upkeep in comparison to non-DLC listed options.
Imagine a 24/7 operating warehouse necessitating uninterrupted illumination for safety and efficiency. Opting for DLC labeled lighting promises an extended operational life with reduced maintenance concerns, ultimately leading to time and resource savings over the long term.
Eco-friendly
Selecting environmentally-friendly choices is crucial today. By deciding on DLC-certified goods, enterprises actively play a role in promoting a more sustainable environment. This entails curbing energy usage and endorsing eco-conscious lighting technologies characterized by substantial lumens. The benefits are two-fold: not only will you reap financial savings and experience superior performance that aligns with technical standards, but you will also contribute to safeguarding our planet as a socially responsible entity.
Boost Your Brand Image
In the contemporary business world, there is a growing demand for companies to give precedence to sustainability and environmentally conscious approaches. Opting for DLC listed lights allow you to showcase their dedication to these principles, thereby elevating the brand image.
Both customers and stakeholders value enterprises that prioritize initiatives aimed at diminishing their ecological footprint. Embracing energy-efficient lighting alternatives, such as those accredited by the DLC, provides a concrete means for organizations to signal their concern for the planet and their proactive steps toward effecting positive change.
Unlocking Rebates
Numerous utility companies throughout North America offer rebates and incentives to those embracing DLC-approved products within their energy efficiency initiatives. This win-win situation applies to both households and businesses, fostering a transition towards sustainable methodologies while endorsing environmental conscientiousness.
Opting for DLC listed lighting solutions allows enterprises to access financial rewards that mitigate the initial expenses of installation. To illustrate, specific utility providers offer rebate programs to commercial clients who install top-tier LED lights adhering to DLC specifications. These programs can offer incentives of up to $100 per fixture, rendering the adoption of energy-efficient technologies more budget-friendly.
You can visit this website to find rebates in your area.
Save Money
As previously discussed, DLC listed LED lighting solutions offer substantial cost savings for commercial cultivators. These lights not only ensure energy efficiency but also fulfill the criteria for either predetermined rebates or personalized incentives, commonly offered by utility companies.
Under the prescriptive rebate plan, operators of grow rooms make an upfront payment at a reduced rate to facilitate the replacement of HPS fixtures with LEDs. Conversely, participants in the custom incentive program receive rebates based on the discernible disparities in energy consumption and demand. These metrics are quantified in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and kilowatts (kW), respectively.
In terms of cost considerations, retrofitting an HPS grow space with LED lights is a smart choice. Even if LEDs are integrated into an existing commercial grow room employing HPS technology, a notable augmentation in bud production and a reduction in overall energy expenses should be prominently evident.
In summary, DLC certification serves as a valuable guide for individuals making investments in energy-efficient lighting solutions. These choices bring about enduring financial advantages and lessen environmental repercussions, simplifying the decision-making process by confirming the fulfillment of quality and performance criteria. Added incentives from utility companies enhance the appeal, rendering DLC listed lighting an appealing selection for enterprises pursuing sustainable alternatives.
What Is a DLC “Premium” Listing?
Introduced in 2020, the “DLC Premium” label was designed to distinguish products that achieve greater energy savings and surpass DLC Standard requirements in terms of light quality and controllability performance.
A product carrying the Premium label will provide:
- Outstanding light quality, including precise color rendering and uniform light distribution.
- Reduced glare, which prevents fatigue and enhances productivity.
- Extended product lifespan.
- Accurate and smooth dimming capabilities.
For those aiming for even higher benchmarks in energy efficiency and performance, opting for DLC Premium listed products is the optimal route. These top-tier lighting alternatives not only deliver exceptional quality but also offer greater potential for savings compared with standard DLC listings and non-DLC options.
Investing in DLC Premium-listed products empowers individuals to create a remarkable ambiance without compromising their energy conservation or sustainability objectives.
Should You Avoid Non-DLC Listed LED Grow Lights?
Although a DLC certification does provide a level of assurance regarding performance, the absence of the DLC endorsement does not necessarily imply inferiority in a lighting solution. Often, it could signify that the product is new and hasn’t undergone the complete DLC testing procedure yet.
While it’s generally wise to opt for DLC-listed products, the absence of such a listing should not automatically be a decisive factor in the decision-making process.
When Should You Definitely Choose DLC Listed LED Grow Lights?
Simply put: rebates.
Frequently, a DLC listing is a prerequisite to secure rebates offered by utility companies. In certain instances, a Premium listing is obligatory.
In reality, approximately 70% to 85% of rebates mandate the use of DLC-listed products for eligibility. Therefore, if you want to optimize utility bill savings, actively pursuing a DLC listed LED grow light is highly advisable.
About MokoLight
MokoLight takes pride in announcing the inclusion of our LEDs on the DLC’s Qualified Products List (QPL). With 17 years of experience in the LED industry, our dedicated engineers crafted these energy-efficient LED grow lights with a focus on commercial cultivation. Using our DLC listed LED grow lights can promote your overall yields while generating substantial savings through rebates.
Furthermore, as technology progresses and fresh energy-efficient lighting alternatives emerge, DLC certifications will continuously evolve their qualification criteria. This suggests that when you opt for a product with a current DLC listing, you are investing in a lighting solution that stay relevant and aligned with industry benchmarks.
For further information on incorporating MokoLight LED grow lights, particularly those with a DLC listing, into your commercial grow room, please feel free to speak with one of our experts.
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