WATTS NEW
NEWSLETTER OF LED ENERGY SOLUTIONS Q4 | 2025
Message from our CEO
STEVE HOTZ
As 2025 draws to a close, I can’t help but feel proud and inspired by all we’ve accomplished together this year. It hasn’t always been easy- we faced challenges that tested our resilience- but each time, our team rose to the occasion with creativity, focus, and determination. Those moments of perseverance have made our successes this year all the more meaningful.
We celebrated milestones that reflect not only growth in our business, but also in the way we collaborate, innovate, and deliver value to our clients and partners. Each project completed, each relationship strengthened, and each challenge overcome has brought us one step closer to the company we are striving to become.
What inspires me most is the passion and commitment of our people. It’s your hard work and belief in our mission that fuel our progress and give us the confidence to aim higher. Together, we are proving that with vision, teamwork, and persistence, we can achieve remarkable things.
Looking ahead to 2026, I see even greater opportunities on the horizon. With the foundation we’ve built in 2025, we are ready to expand our impact, embrace innovation, and set new standards for what we can accomplish. I’m excited for the journey ahead- and grateful to share it with such an extraordinary team and community.
Here’s to finishing the year strong and stepping boldly into 2026.
With gratitude and optimism,
Steve
Energy Savings Tips for Winter
Think of smart lighting as your personal energy-saving assistant. Motion sensors in hallways or storage areas make sure lights aren’t burning away when no one’s around. Timers and smart schedules can handle the shorter winter days for you—lights come on when you need them and switch off when you don’t. Dimmers let you fine-tune the brightness depending on how much daylight is sneaking in, keeping things cozy without wasting power. In bigger spaces, daylight sensors can even adjust the lighting automatically, like magic (but cheaper on your energy bill).
Industry news + trends
Many utilities and state programs have announced that LED lighting rebates will end on December 31, 2025, as the technology has become the standard and incentive programs are being phased out.
However, the end of rebates doesn’t mean the end of savings. Upgrading to high-efficiency LED systems still delivers significant energy cost reductions and lower ongoing maintenance expenses. LEDs last much longer than traditional lighting, reducing the need for frequent replacements, labor costs, and disruptions. Over time, these operational savings can outpace the value of the initial rebate, making LED upgrades a smart investment well beyond 2025.
Starting Jan 1, 2026, NYSEG and RG&E are overhauling their non-residential rebate programs: standard lighting, gas, and new construction incentives will end, and the focus will shift to electrification and whole building upgrades. Custom and prescriptive incentives will continue for HVAC, controls, and other energy-efficiency upgrades in existing buildings (including envelope, refrigeration, and process equipment), with added emphasis on bundled, whole-building projects.
Similarly, National Grid’s Upstate NY Electric Heating & Cooling program is encouraging customers to install high-efficiency heat pumps (including heat pump water heaters) that provide year-round comfort, reduce energy use, and lower emissions. Incentives are based on system capacity and are capped at 50% of total project cost, with additional bonus rebates of up to $5,000 available in Priority Electrification Areas and designated NYS clean-energy investment communities. Customers must work with a NYS Clean Heat participating contractor, who will design the system, estimate incentives, and handle the application process, with options including central, mini-split, ground-source, and air-to-water heat pumps, plus heat pump water heaters.
educational INFORMATION
Floating solar power- installing photovoltaic panels on lakes, reservoirs, and other calm bodies of water- is becoming one of the fastest-growing segments in the renewables sector. It solves two key issues: land scarcity and efficiency losses from heat. Panels installed over water stay cooler, often leading to higher energy yields than traditional land-based systems.
In late 2025, Indonesia broke ground on a 92 MW floating solar plant, signaling how developing countries with abundant inland water surfaces can leapfrog into large-scale clean generation without displacing farmland or forests.
Similar projects are ramping up in parts of Europe, China, and the United States, where utilities are exploring installations on water treatment ponds and hydro reservoirs to reduce evaporation and boost grid flexibility.
Forecasts suggest floating solar could account for 10–15% of all new solar capacity in Asia by 2030, with significant growth expected in Africa and Latin America as financing models mature. Developers are also experimenting with hybrid systems that combine floating solar with hydropower reservoirs, using existing grid connections and providing complementary generation profiles.
our Yearly Environmental Impact
Beyond the energy and cost savings our LED lighting projects deliver, LEDES is proud to give back to the communities we serve. This year, we donated more than 100 LED lighting fixtures to Habitat for Humanity, helping support the construction of safe, affordable homes for hardworking families in need across the Buffalo area.
These high-efficiency fixtures will light kitchens, living rooms, hallways, and workspaces—creating brighter, safer homes while also helping homeowners keep long-term utility costs down. It’s a meaningful way to extend the impact of our work: not just saving energy, but helping build stronger communities, one home at a time.
- 1,454,393 kWh hours saved
- $273,405 in cost savings
- $348,342 found in National Grid and NYSEG rebates
Events our Team Attended
Looking Ahead to 2026
Deliver Excellence in Energy Efficiency Projects
We will continue executing best-in-class LED retrofits and efficiency upgrades across public and private sectors, pairing rigorous design with disciplined project management. Every project will include clear savings verification, durable equipment choices, and a focus on minimal disruption to operations.
Expand Next-Generation Solutions
We’ll advance development and pilots in hydrogen and battery storage, integrating these solutions where they make practical, economic sense. Our aim is to de-risk adoption for clients through real-world demonstrations, data-driven outcomes, and seamless integration with existing infrastructure.
Strengthen Partnerships & Customer Impact
We will deepen relationships with municipalities, businesses, and institutions by co-creating integrated roadmaps that reduce costs and carbon. From early feasibility through funding support and implementation, we’ll serve as a trusted partner focused on long-term resilience and measurable results.
Invest in Our Team and Innovation
We’re expanding training and development so our people stay at the forefront of emerging energy technologies, codes, and standards. Expect role-based learning paths, expert mentorship, and knowledge-sharing that translate directly into better design, safer installs, and smoother commissioning.
Lead Toward Zero-Net-Energy Communities
We will align projects and initiatives to accelerate the transition to zero-net-energy, connecting building-level upgrades with community and grid needs. By combining efficiency, advanced controls, storage, and clean fuels, we’ll help shape a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
Commitment to our Customers and Team
At LED Energy Solutions, our commitment remains unwavering: to deliver impactful energy efficiency projects today while preparing for the energy systems of tomorrow. As we look to 2026, we are focused on strengthening partnerships, investing in our team, and advancing innovative solutions such as hydrogen and battery storage. Together with our customers and partners, we will continue driving progress toward a zero net energy future.
Happy Holidays from the LED Energy Solutions Team!