Lighting

Upgrading a building’s lighting systems is one of the easiest, affordable, and most high-impact ways to save onsite energy. High-efficiency lights (such as LEDs) use less energy, cost less to operate, and can last up to 25 times longer than conventional lighting options (i.e., incandescents, fluorescents, and halogens). Switching to LED products can reduce lighting-related energy costs by as much as 90 percent.

The Maryland Clean Buildings Hub (the Hub), an initiative of the Maryland Energy Administration, empowers Maryland’s building owners to make well-informed energy investments in their properties by connecting them to financial, educational, and technical assistance. Sign-up for the Hub newsletter here. Have questions? Contact [email protected].

Incentives

Building owners and operators can tap into a range of incentives to help defray the costs of building automation and controls. The Maryland Clean Buildings Hub (the Hub) is committed to help building owners or operators understand the range of incentives that they may be eligible to receive.

State:

MEA's Commercial & Industrial Grant Program: This program provides eligible commercial buildings funding for cost-effective energy efficiency and conservation upgrades for existing, major renovation, and new construction projects that are above minimum code and performance standards and claim at least 20% energy savings.

DHCD's BeSMART Energy Efficiency Loan for Homeowners Program: The BeSMART Loan Program provides Maryland homeowners with low-interest financing for energy efficiency and clean projects, including heat pump systems.

DHCD's One-Stop-Shop Application: Helps ensure properties are energy efficient by providing support for insulation, hot water system improvements, furnace repair or replacement, renewable energy systems, and other health and safety enhancements.

Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE): Commercial building owners can leverage C-PACE to finance heat pumps and other energy efficiency and clean energy measures.

Local:

Frederick County Green Homes Appliance Rebate Program: The Green Homes Appliance Rebate program provides rebates for ENERGY STAR appliances for low- to moderate-income households located in Frederick County.

Montgomery County Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE): The Montgomery County Green Bank administers C-PACE financing in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Energy-Efficient Buildings Tax Credit: Montgomery County offers tiered property tax credit incentives for new and existing energy-efficient commercial and multi-family buildings.

Montgomery County Green Bank Small Business Energy Savings Support Program: This program provides small businesses with up to 100% financing for energy efficiency improvements.

Prince George’s County Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE): FSC First administers C-PACE financing in Prince George’s County.

Prince George’s County Green Energy Loan Program: This program provides loans up to $250,000 for commercial building energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy measures.

Utility:

BGE Business Program - Prescriptive Lighting & Controls

Delmarva Power Medium & Large Business Program - Prescriptive Lighting

Delmarva Power Small Business- Program Incentives

Delmarva Power Multifamily Property - Program Incentives

Pepco Medium & Large Business Program - Prescriptive Incentives

Pepco Medium & Large Business Program - Instant Discounts

Potomac Edison Business Program - Prescriptive Lighting

Potomac Edison Business Program - Instant Discounts

SMECO Commercial Program - Prescriptive Incentives

Visit the Financial Resources or EmPOWER Maryland page to review all Maryland utility incentive opportunities.

Resources

The Hub invites you to explore the materials below to help guide your next steps. Use these resources to help move your building decarbonization project forward with greater confidence.

Consumer Guide to Energy-Efficient Lighting: Guidance document developed by the Department of Energy to help homeowners make energy efficient lighting decisions.

Lighting Choices to Save You Money: Resource developed by the Department of Energy that explains how to make lighting replacement decisions.

ENERGY STAR Lighting Technologies - A Guide to Energy-Efficient Illumination: This guide serves as a reference point when choosing between common home lighting technologies.

ENERGY STAR - Upgrade Your Commercial Lighting: This resource from the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR Program covers the benefits of LED lighting and answers frequently asked questions about upgrades.

Suggestions for additional resources can be directed to [email protected].

Lighting

​​​Incentives

Incentives