Energy efficiency is all about creating a cleaner planet, saving money and using less in the way of energy resources.
As a result, governments have encouraged individuals, business owners and contractors to switch to energy efficient lighting.
In fact, many people can even take advantage of special rebates and tax incentives being offered by the federal government and state governments for using energy efficient lighting products, such as compact fluorescent bulbs and LED lighting fixtures.
For example, in North Carolina, energy supplier Duke Energy offers government rebates for business owners who use fluorescent lighting and reduced wattage fixtures to the tune of up to $50 per fixture. In addition, business owners who change to high bay fluorescent lighting can receive rebates of up to $120 per fixture from the state.
Among other states, Texas offers rebates of up to five dollars per CFL bulb installed in multi-family residences.
For more information on state government rebate programs for efficient lighting, you can visit the United States Department of Energy’s Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency at dsireusa.org.
As mentioned, the federal government also offers incentives for using energy efficient lighting, and this is done in the form of tax credits.
Tax credits are different from tax deductions, as tax credits actually reduce your tax liability, while deductions reduce the amount of taxable income. Although the federal government does not directly offer rebates for energy efficient lighting, the tax credits it offers can be thought of as rebates, as they are essentially a cash back option when it comes time to file your taxes.
Tax credits from the federal government are available mostly to contractors, business owners and manufacturers, but some credits are available to home owners.
For instance, some home owners can receive a credit of up to $.60 per square foot of home space when they have made energy efficient changes to their homes, including changing their lighting to energy efficient standards. Additionally, some contractors may be eligible for thousands of dollars in tax credits when they have built or improved upon a home using energy efficient standards, including lighting.
For more information, you can visit the Department of Energy’s website at energy.gov.
Remember, using energy efficient lighting is about much more than just rebates and tax credits. The energy that is shared in your community should be used responsibly, and everyone needs to do their part to ensure that it is not wasted.
Whether you’re eligible for a rebate or not, it’s still important to ensure that your lighting is as energy efficient as possible, as it will save you and each member of your community money and resources. In many cases, CFL light bulbs and LED lighting systems can be purchased at hardware stores and department stores, and most are affordable on virtually any budget.
Once you have made the switch, don’t forget to check with your state government to find out what rebate or tax credit programs apply to your specific situation.
