Rebates & Incentives
Standard Rebates
For projects under 10,000 square feet, standard rebates for qualifying energy-efficient commercial equipment are the simplest approach to obtaining incentives for energy efficiency measures. Technologies include lighting, refrigeration, compressed air, and heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC).
Learn about your options and rebates on the Ways to Save pages for each technology, or obtain all our current forms on the Rebate Forms page.
Custom Incentives
This approach is for owners and design teams who want to integrate design, construction, and operations to achieve a highly energy efficient building.
Projects 10,000 to 50,000 Square Feet: In 2011, Efficiency Vermont streamlined its commercial new construction incentives to provide more information earlier in the design process for projects 10,000 to 50,000 square feet. This up-front approach is intended to help teams evaluate efficiency alternatives sooner and more effectively. A new guide lists incentives for interior lighting (using new rates based on lighting power density), lighting controls, exterior lighting (LED and CFL), HVAC, and commercial refrigeration. An Efficiency Vermont energy consultant is assigned to work with teams to provide an incentive agreement that incorporates the values in the new guide and any additional incentives for measures not listed. Download the Custom Incentives Guide (PDF) for more details.
Projects Greater than 50,000 Square Feet: For projects of this size, Efficiency Vermont assigns an energy consultant who works with teams to develop a custom incentive package that addresses and incorporates the comprehensive measures common to larger scale or more complex projects. The energy consultant will also provide continuing project support through final design, equipment selection, construction, and commissioning. For projects that use energy modeling, Efficiency Vermont can also provide incentive options based on modeled energy savings compared to the code baseline.
Core Performance® Incentives
Owners and design teams who want clear and easy criteria to follow for high-performance buildings will benefit from the nationally recognized Advanced Buildings Core Performance Guide. It provides a path to achieve predictable energy performance up to 30% better than called for in the Vermont Energy Code. An Efficiency Vermont energy consultant will work with your team and provide technical assistance throughout the Core Performance steps. Best option for projects:
- 10,000 to 70,000 square feet and in the preliminary design phase.
- That are typically an office, retail, or school building.
- With teams seeking a simplified checklist to achieve a high-performance building that uses available and affordable technologies.
- Pursuing LEED-NC certification without energy modeling.
- That would benefit from standardized financial incentives calculated by square foot.
The Core Performance program offers standardized incentives that are calculated by the square foot. For more details, download the 2011 Core Performance Incentives overview.
LEED & Energy Modeling
Projects pursuing LEED energy points and following a complete energy modeling process can be enrolled as Core Performance or Custom. Your Efficiency Vermont energy consultant will collaborate with your design team, review the energy model to evaluate the project’s efficiency measures, and offer financial incentives.
Design Incentives
Customized design incentives may also be available to help cover a portion of the added cost that sometimes results from using an integrated design approach to achieve an optimized building design. They are often used to defray costs for added project meetings, advanced lighting and/or HVAC design, or energy modeling.
For all options, contact Efficiency Vermont early in your design process to enroll and optimize the technical and financial assistance available for your project.