Lighting leads the way! Lighting retrofits were the smartest investment made in 2013. When you consider the substantial capital support for LED lighting made available through utility incentive programs, it is no surprise that lighting tops the list―with savings beginning almost immediately!
Other smart investments that topped the list included energy management systems, building controls and solar panels. Whatever your 2014 plans entail, don’t forget to include utility sponsored rebates and incentives to help fund your efficiency investments. A growing list of state mandates enable utilities to offer rebates to help portfolios reduce their energy and water resource consumption, providing portfolios with cash rebates in return for making energy-efficient construction and equipment/facilities decisions.
Even if you haven’t yet applied for 2013 incentives, there may still be opportunities. Typically, utility energy efficiency programs require pre-approval prior to purchase in order to qualify for a rebate or incentive. However, some utility programs now allow you to take advantage of rebate funds for projects completed in the past few years.
Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Arizona, South Carolina, Indiana, Georgia as well as other areas of the country have retroactive utility rebate programs, and many types of projects qualify, including:
- Lighting and fixtures
- Motors and pumps
- Heat Pumps, furnaces, chillers, and A/C units
- Variable frequency drives
- Refrigeration
- ENERGY STAR® appliances
If you aren’t sure if your State or utility company offers energy rebates or how they work, you can find links to energy efficiency programs by State at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency.