Lighting


The Foundation's indoor lighting programs have assisted Illinois communities improve lighting quality and lower utility bills by the simple act of replacing old light fixtures with high efficiency bulbs and ballasts. Over 3,700 buildings have been upgraded, leading to electricity demand savings of over 115 megawatts. An additional 20 megawatts was saved from the Foundation's LED Traffic Signal Upgrade Program. The energy saving investments of Foundation grantees have reduced reliance on purchased power from the grid's electric generating plants.

Lighting Upgrade Program Priorities

In 2013, the Foundation will support lighting upgrade opportunities in the following nonprofit sectors and local governments:


Outdoor Lighting Improvements Related to Building Property Use Eligible for Funding

Beginning with the Foundation's September 12, 2013 Program Application Cycle, improvements to outdoor lighting will be eligible for funding. The incentive for outdoor lighting will be the same as currently provided for indoor improvements: $500 Per Kilowatt of Electricity Demand Reduced. (The EEPS Ineligible program provides incentives at the same incentive level of Ameren and ComEd)

"Building property use" includes outdoor lighting attached to the building, lights for walkways, paths, garages and surface parking lots. (parking lot improvements will be limited to those under 50 vehicle spaces.) Street and Roadway lighting improvements are NOT eligible for funding.

Current program funding caps will be increased as follows:

For the Community Centers and Community Care Providers Programs, Annual Organization Funding Cap Increased to $60,000

  • $40,00 for INDOOR Improvements
  • $20,000 for OUTDOOR Improvements


For the EEPS Ineligible Program, Annual Organization Funding Cap Increased to $25,000

  • $20,00 for INDOOR Improvements
  • $5,000 for OUTDOOR Improvements


For the Government Buildings Program, Annual Organization Funding Cap Increased to $160,000

  • $120,00 for INDOOR Improvements
  • $40,000 for OUTDOOR Improvements

Application Deadlines:Applications are due March 14, or September 12, 2013.   

Review Process:
The Foundation evaluates Full Proposals against program funding criteria. Within two months of the above deadlines, the Foundation's Board of Trustees will award grants to some or all applicants. The Foundation's review process is competitive.

Available Support:Foundation lighting upgrade grants are awarded on a Dollar per Kilowatt of Electricity Demand Reduced. The EEPS Ineligible Program awards grants at the lighting incentive levels provided by Ameren and ComEd.

Grantees can leverage other funding sources including, but not limited to, utility programs from Ameren, ComEd and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

In no case will the Foundation provide funding in excess of the total project cost inclusive of funding from utilities and/or government agencies.

Program Criteria: See Program Criteria under each individual lighting program description.

Innovative Energy Efficient Lighting

Applications due January 15, 2013 or July 16, 2013

The Foundation will also entertain a limited number of funding requests to install Innovative Energy Efficient Lighting systems not yet widely adopted in Illinois to demonstrate those systems' effectiveness in facilities common to Illinois. These systems can be active or passive and generally would not be implemented as part of a "standard" lighting upgrade project under the Foundation's lighting program priorities. For example, passive building systems that capture and defuse natural daylight and eliminate connected electrical loads.

"Standard" upgrade projects typically replace T-12 lamps with lower wattage T-8 or T-5 lamps. Though energy efficient, such bulbs are market accepted and would not be considered innovative. Innovative lighting systems would raise the performance bar significantly.