For the last eight months, the DLC has been working hard to update our technical requirements for both the Solid State Lighting (SSL V6.0) and Light Use for Night Applications (LUNA V2.0) programs. This massive effort resulted in a nearly 200-page document that combines multiple policies that were previously separate—and organized the information in a way that is most helpful to the stakeholders who use it like manufacturers, utilities, implementers, specifiers, and more.
The technical requirements describe the minimum performance thresholds for products to be listed on our SSL Qualified Products List (QPL). Listing is required for eligibility for approximately 75% of programs in North America and the QPL is used by an average of 3,500 people each month. Access is free to anyone after signing up with MyDLC. Utilities and efficiency programs can become DLC members to receive additional benefits and exclusive resources.
The Origin of the DLC
The DLC is a consortium, meaning we convene and collaborate with a multitude of industry players. But in many ways, the DLC views the lighting industry through the lens of utilities and energy efficiency programs. In fact, the DLC started off as a Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) initiative, requested by NEEP members, to streamline efforts to establish a single set of requirements that would aid the identification of quality, efficient commercial LED lighting.
Programs needed a resource to select high-quality LED lighting products that save energy. For outdoor lighting, many utilities and municipalities are also interested in mitigating light pollution and preserving dark skies. With billions of dollars of incentives available each year, these programs need a trusted source to vet lighting products that would meet their customers’ needs. The DLC provides that resource via the Qualified Products Lists.
The Stakeholder Review Process
Lighting industry stakeholders and the Consortium (DLC Members, Industry Committees, and partners) have had a voice in the development of this document throughout the process, starting last fall, when we published and requested feedback on various proposed updates. We released Draft 1 in March and received nearly 1,100 comments from 50 organizations, which we reviewed and deliberated for revisions during the development of the second draft. Many of the changes that were identified by this feedback as overly challenging for industry to accommodate were removed from Draft 2, which was released in July for another 6-week public comment period and received over 300 additional comments.
The resulting final technical requirements align with the DLC’s mission—still advancing the lighting industry toward a future with more controlled lighting, integration with building systems, and considerations for wildlife and dark skies. But it’s also practical and reflects real feedback from industry on value versus effort. Some valuable proposals were deemed too difficult to pursue based on industry comments, such as requiring manufacturers to submit product images in their new product applications. Instead, the DLC will have a generic image library available for those who do not want to submit images until the product marketing assets are ready.
Another controversial proposal was to require digital drivers for DLC Premium listing, which would have enhanced products with advanced interoperability and controllability. This proposal was removed because many manufacturers indicated that they would need to switch driver suppliers, and not every installation where Premium could be used needs that technology.
Who Benefits from the QPLs?
Manufacturers whose products are listed on our QPLs benefit from being eligible for billions of dollars of utility rebates. Nearly 700 energy efficiency programs in North America require DLC listing to get a rebate.
The QPLs are also used by facility managers, government agencies, horticulture professionals, and lighting distributors, designers, installers, and specifiers to select energy efficient, high-quality, and rebate-eligible lights for their specific needs.
Distributors can quickly identify which products qualify for rebates using the DLC QPLs—saving time and ensuring their customers receive the maximum incentive. With the growth of networked lighting controls (NLCs) and horticultural LEDs, DLC requirements create niche market opportunities for distributors who carry advanced products.
Local and state governments have sustainability goals and outdoor lighting ordinances that they need to meet. The QPLs help them find products that can meet those goals. Using reliable products with validated performance saves them time, maintenance, and energy. For outdoor lighting, the DLC also provides sample ordinance language. In several cities, from Rhode Island to Utah, LUNA has been adopted as a requirement as part of their outdoor lighting ordinance.
Why create the new LED Technical Requirements?
The new DLC Technical Requirements for LED Lighting were updated with input from a consortium of industry stakeholders to address advancements in technology, a need to manage growing demand for power from AI and data centers, and alarming increases in light pollution. The first update to the DLC’s LED technical requirements since 2020, the combination of SSL V6.0 and LUNA V2.0 will accelerate innovation. By establishing clear, credible performance baselines, it helps the market highlight technologies that reduce energy use, improve spectral quality, and deliver with clarity and transparency, the responsible lighting that customers and communities are asking for.
Why did we revise the technical requirements now? Please see our blog that explains how we designed them to meet this moment.
Why do utilities offer rebates for lighting?
Utilities are tasked by regulators (specifics depend on the utility and the state) to administer energy efficiency programs that save energy. If they do not meet the assigned energy savings goals, the utilities can be penalized financially, or they may not be allowed to build new power plants or raise their rates. There may also be increased regulatory oversight, program redesigns, and/or public hearings to better understand the issue, which can cost time and effort on tight budgets.
Energy efficiency programs, over the years, have prevented the need to build thousands of new power plants. Without these programs, customers (i.e., everyone on the grid) would see their energy bills go up, and our grid infrastructure costs would also increase from upgrades needed to handle the additional load.
Utilities offer incentives to their customers for purchasing and installing products that are energy efficient, and help guide the market toward these choices and speed up their adoption. Programs offer millions of dollars of incentives each year toward various energy efficiency products from lighting to heat pumps, and much more. This article, by lighting industry journalist Craig DiLouie, talks about lighting rebate opportunities in 2025.
What’s new in the DLC Technical Requirements for LED Lighting: SSL V6.0 and LUNA V2.0?
The DLC expects to see growth in the adoption of controlled lighting as the new luminaire control categories (see Section 5.2 in the technical requirements) make it easier for energy efficiency programs to offer incentives specifically for products with integral controls. By aligning with Technical Reference Manual (TRM) levels and simplifying verification, these categories give programs greater confidence in savings from integral controls—helping accelerate the shift toward connected lighting.
Control categories (Section 5, Table 9) are designed to align with energy savings claims associated with specific lighting control strategies. Control Categories will simplify incentive program application and review processes and lower barriers to the adoption of advanced lighting by directly connecting model number variations (controls options codes) of products with integral controls to lighting control strategies and their associated energy savings factor.
The DLC made a major revision to the DLC Premium classification, expanding beyond efficacy and quality to further enable incentives for advanced controls and integrated lighting systems. The Premium classification ensures that products meet the most rigorous standards for efficacy, controllability, and performance, providing both enhanced energy efficiency and long-term reliability. These criteria include improved lumen maintenance, thermal management, and driver durability, all of which contribute to reduced maintenance costs and extended luminaire lifespans.
LUNA V2.0 (Part IV of the technical requirements) covers spectral quality, light distribution, and controllability requirements that ensure outdoor luminaires minimize uplight and blue-rich spectra that drive sky glow and light pollution. See this section for Turtle Lighting considerations and how LUNA qualifications work alongside the standard SSL criteria.
In Part V of the technical requirements, we provide specialized guidance for products that are adjustable or have important new features. If your design involves field-adjustable, color-tunable, amber, solar-powered, DC/PoE, modular, or retrofit systems, you’ll find new tailored product requirements for these products. We also have new considerations for sustainability and flexible installation practices.
The technical requirements have been split into 8 main parts. Read what’s in each section here.
For QPL Users: What will change on the QPL?
First, there have been several new updates to the QPL functionality in 2025 that are outlined in this video. As new products are listed on the QPL in 2026, new information and fields will be available that align with the new technical requirements such as images, spec sheets, controls categories, etc.
December 15, 2026: After this date, the DLC will delist any V5.1 products from the SSL QPL that have not yet qualified as V6.0. The QPL will be fully transitioned to V6.0 products. Please note: V5.1 products will still be viewable on the QPL by searching for products using the filter for a listing status of “delisted”.
This will also apply to LUNA V1.0 products on the SSL/LED QPL. Products must be eligible for V2.0 and go through the application process (see below) to remain on the list.
Once fully implemented, energy efficiency programs may require V6.0 and, in some cases, V2.0 for rebate eligibility, and may offer additional incentives for networked lighting controls (NLC) and luminaire level lighting controls (LLLC) in conjunction with controllable SSL products. In preparation, now is a good time for distributors to evaluate their stock to ensure products will be eligible for rebates for V6.0 compliant lighting and controls when V5.1 products are delisted.
For Submitters: Updating V5.1 listed products to V6.0
October 9, 2026: Deadline to submit applications to update V5.1 listed products to V6.0, or for LUNA V1.0 products to V2.0. Any update applications submitted after October 9 run the risk of being temporarily delisted on December 15, 2026, while the review of the application is completed. Manufacturers are encouraged to submit early to ensure that there is no disruption in listing of their product(s).
December 15, 2026: All products that have not been updated to SSL V6.0 or LUNA V2.0 will be delisted and only viewable on the QPL using the “Delisted” product filter.
Resources related to the V6.0 transition are available here. For questions, please email applications@designlights.org.
We’re eager to hear your feedback as SSL V6.0 and LUNA V2.0 are implemented and we continue to work toward better strategies and resources. Please share your thoughts by emailing info@designlights.org.
