The National Lighting Bureau is announcing the Call for Entries for the 6^th Annual Tesla Awards. This program recognizes excellence in lighting projects that, through the creative use of lighting systems and controls, illustrate the value of lighting including but not limited to improved visual performance, promotion of health and wellness, positive environmental impact, enhanced safety and security, and increased overall occupant satisfaction. The program also provides recognition for creative solutions that overcome exceptional challenges or provide outstanding community benefit.

The main intent of the Tesla Awards is to promote best practices for a wide variety of indoor and outdoor lighting applications. The program aims to do more than highlight beautiful architecture by recognizing projects that provide a narrative and “how to” guide for others with similar lighting challenges.  

New for 2025:

Submitted projects will be eligible to receive a Special Citation Award for innovative lighting controls design and implementation, co-sponsored by the Lighting Controls Association.

Anyone may enter a project for the Tesla Awards. Projects should have been completed within the 2022, 2023 and 2024 calendar years. Submissions should be entered via the designated online submittal process by January 20, 2025. The entry fee is $100 per submission. The early bird entry fee is $50 for projects submitted by January 06, 2025. Winners will be announced during LEDucation 2025 in New York City.

Judging criteria include:

-Innovation

-Application effectiveness – adherence to high quality lighting principle

-Energy effectiveness – includes controls strategy

-Universality – how readily the design applies to other applications

-Sustainability – includes ease of maintenance, use of recycled materials in product/packaging or materials that are recyclable, and other environmental measures

Special credit points can be awarded at the discretion of the judges for extra project challenge and project impact – e.g., budget, timing, location challenges/limitations, and social benefit (community impact, pro bono projects, historic preservation, etc.)