Energy Trust boosts business incentives for efficiency upgrades

Energy Trust of Oregon announced Thursday that the organization will increase cash incentives for businesses to invest in energy-efficiency improvements.

Starting April 1, energy-efficiency incentives for custom non-lighting projects, such as heating and cooling systems, will increase from $0.20 to $0.25 per annual kilowatt hour saved, up to 50 percent of the incremental cost of the project. Incentives for the installation of direct digital controls for heating, cooling and ventilation system retrofits will be increased to $0.30 per annual kilowatt hour saved and $1 per therm of natural gas, up to 50 percent of eligible project cost.

The enhanced incentives are available for custom projects that are approved by October 31 and completed by the end of 2010. Energy Trust’s standard incentives for new construction, major building retrofits and other building efficiency investments remain the same.

Lighting upgrades, which Energy Trust officials say provide the quickest returns in the form of energy savings, will remain at the current incentive rate of $0.17 per kilowatt hour, up to 35 percent of installed cost. This percentage project cap for lighting projects is consistent with the Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit guidelines.

"Improving energy efficiency can help businesses lower their operating expenses, allowing them to invest more in their core business,” said Oliver Kesting, business sector lead at Energy Trust, in a statement.

Energy Trust of Oregon is a nonprofit that helps utility customers improve their energy efficiency and tap renewable sources.