DesignLights Consortium® Energy Efficiency Requirements

The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) is a nonprofit organization that works with utilities, manufacturers, and energy-efficiency stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of high-performance, energy-efficient lighting solutions across North America.

It is best known for the DLC Qualified Products Lists (QPLs), which identify commercial and industrial lighting products—especially LED lighting, controls, and smart lighting systems—that meet strict performance, efficiency, and quality criteria. Utilities and rebate programs rely on these listings to determine which products are eligible for financial incentives and energy-efficiency rebates.

The DesignLights Consortium (DLC) Energy Efficiency Requirements are the performance and technical criteria that lighting products must meet to be listed as “DLC Qualified”. These requirements are designed to ensure that commercial and industrial lighting is highly energy-efficient, reliable, and cost-effective for users.

Key aspects of DLC Energy Efficiency Requirements include:

1. Minimum Luminous Efficacy (lm/W)
   • Products must produce a high level of light output per watt of energy consumed.
   • Efficiency thresholds vary by product type (e.g., linear LEDs, downlights, high-bay fixtures).
2. System Power and Input Limits
   • Restrictions on maximum wattage for certain applications to ensure energy savings.
   • Consideration of fixture and control integration for real-world efficiency.
3. Lifetime and Maintenance Metrics
   • Minimum rated lifetimes, typically in tens of thousands of hours, to reduce replacement frequency.
   • Requirements for lumen maintenance (how well light output holds over time).
4. Color Quality & Lighting Performance
   • Standards for correlated color temperature (CCT) and color rendering index (CRI) to ensure quality lighting.
   • Limits on flicker or dimming performance for user comfort and system reliability.
5. Controls & Smart Lighting Integration
   • Products may need compatibility with occupancy sensors, daylight dimming, or networked lighting controls.
   • Emphasis on system-level energy reduction, not just fixture efficiency.
6. Testing and Verification
   • All products must be independently tested in certified labs according to DLC test procedures.
   • Ongoing audits ensure products continue to meet requirements over time. 

In short, the DLC Energy Efficiency Requirements act as a trusted benchmark for utilities, designers, and building owners to identify lighting solutions that save energy, lower operating costs, and provide long-term reliability.

Testing to DesignLights Consortium (DLC) requirements offers a range of benefits for manufacturers, utilities, building owners, and end users. These benefits go beyond simply “passing a test” — they create measurable value in energy savings, reliability, and market acceptance.

Intertek offers a full range of solutions for DesignLights Consortium® (DLC) testing and certification, helping manufacturers verify performance, ensure compliance, and access rebate programs efficiently. Their services include performance testing to measure lumen output, efficacy, color rendering (CRI), color temperature (CCT), and lifetime/lumen maintenance. Electrical and safety testing ensures products meet North American standards, including power quality and harmonics. Intertek also provides photometric and optical testing to evaluate light distribution, beam angle, and uniformity for commercial and industrial fixtures.

For advanced systems, Intertek conducts controls and smart lighting evaluation, verifying occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting, dimming, and networked lighting controls. They support manufacturers through DLC certification, guiding them in QPL submissions, documentation, and audit requirements to help achieve listing more quickly. Consulting and pre-testing services identify potential issues before formal submission, while Intertek’s global testing network provides access to accredited laboratories across North America, supporting both domestic and international product launches.

Using Intertek for DLC testing ensures reliable, independent verification, faster time to market, expert guidance on interpreting requirements, and a one-stop solution from testing to certification, giving manufacturers confidence that their lighting products perform efficiently and reliably in real-world applications.

Benefits of using Intertek for DLC Testing:

• Faster time to market through streamlined testing and submission processes
• Reliable, independent verification trusted by utilities and rebate programs
• Expert guidance on interpreting DLC requirements and standards
• One-stop solution from testing to certification to listing

Intertek’s services ensure that lighting products not only meet DLC technical requirements but also perform reliably in real-world commercial and industrial settings.

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