The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) State Energy Office announces Program Guidelines for Electric and Gas energy efficiency incentives made available through its Illinois Energy Now program. The Illinois Energy Now program offers a portfolio of electric and natural gas efficiency measures designed to achieve targeted annual energy savings goals.
These incentives are available to local governments, public schools, community colleges, public universities and State and Federal government facilities in the Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Nicor, Peoples and North Shore utility service areas. As a registered DCEO Trade Ally, Connexion is qualified to administer the DCEO's energy incentive program and help ensure your upgrade project earns the maximum amount of available incentives.
The Illinois Energy Now incentive Program Year 4 (PY4) started on June 1, 2011, and all projects must be completed by May 31, 2012.
The Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) is now accepting applications for DCEO's Program Year 5 (2012-2013) Public Sector Retro-Commissioning (RCx) Program. For more details, click here or read below.
SEDAC manages Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO)'s Public Sector Retro-Commissioning Program. The program's purpose is to help public sector clients identify low-cost to no-cost energy saving improvements that will have an estimated total payback of 18 months or less. The program offers retro-commissioning guidance by identifying measures to improve the control, scheduling, and operation of a building so it can meet peak performance. The end result: significant energy and demand savings that, in many cases, also improve occupant comfort and productivity. RCx analysis by SEDAC is fully funded by Illinois DCEO. Each participant must only cover costs associated with implementing the measures recommended by the RCx analysis, attend meetings, and assist RCx service providers in acquiring facility information.
Eligibility
Eligibility for PY5 (2012-2013) is limited to public sector entities that have electric service delivered by Ameren Illinois or ComEd utilities. Local or state governments, K-12 school districts, community colleges, and public universities are eligible to apply. Note: Entities receiving natural gas from Ameren Illinois, Nicor, North Shore, or Peoples Gas may also be eligible for inclusion of natural gas savings measures.
Applicant eligibility is limited to existing buildings that:
are more than 5 years old*
exceed 150,000 square feet*
have a functioning building automation system with a minimum of guest access for the RCx provider
have an energy use index showing a potential to produce significant electrical and natural gas savings through RCx
* Preferably, the facility should be at least 5 years old and exceed 150,000 ft2. However, newer and smaller buildings with a high energy savings potential may be considered.
To be considered for the program, applicants must:
submit an application for RCx
provide energy bills for 1 to 2 years
present up-to-date as-built drawings
Successful applicants must express agreement to:
commit funding (minimum $10,000) to participate in the process
begin implementation of measures in the current fiscal year (May 31, 2013)
upon receipt of RCx plan, implement at least $10,000 worth of selected measures within 10 months, or by March 31st, 2014, whichever deadline arrives first
The facility owner is required to commit funding for participating in the process, completing the project plan, and implementing measures. The owner must be prepared to assume costs and expenses of at least $10,000 for agreed-upon measures that result in an estimated simple payback of 18 months or less based upon electrical and natural gas savings. If at least $10,000 worth of measures recommended are not implemented within 10 months or by March 31, 2014, whichever deadline arrives first from receipt of recommendations, the owner will be responsible for reimbursing the program for the cost of the analysis.
Process
The RCx program is an 18-to-24 month partnership between the RCx provider and the building stakeholders for investigation and optimization of building operations. The RCx provider conducts a facility assessment to diagnose problems and make recommendations for minor low-cost adjustments that can be made quickly as well as recommendations for more substantial improvements. An assessment of cost, savings, and payback is part of the process. The RCx provider will then work with the customer's implementation team to fully investigate, implement, and verify the recommended measures.
Applying
For a copy of the DCEO Public Sector RCx PY5 application, please click here. Before completing an application, please contact Ashley Collins at 312-267-2864 or Ashley@SEDAC.org to determine your eligibility. Completed applications should be sent to SEDAC via fax at 312-264-2379 OR email at RCx@SEDAC.org.
2011-2012 DCEO Public Sector Energy Efficiency Standard and Custom Incentive Programs This announcement courtesy of SEDAC
PLEASE NOTE: DCEO funding is for Public Sector entities only and is separate from funding provided through similar programs with utility companies for businesses, 501c3s and private schools. If you are not a public sector organization, please check with your utility provider to see what energy efficiency programs may be available for you.
Important Dates and Information to Know:
April 15, 2012: the last day DCEO will accept new 2011-2012 Standard and Custom Incentive Program applications.
All final applications and supporting documentation for the 2011-2012 Standard and Custom Incentive Program projects must be submitted by May 15, 2012.
Final Applications must include:
Completed Section 2, Building/Facility Information (for each Building), Page A-4
Signed Section 3, Applicant Certification, Page A-5
Manufacturer spec sheets, unless submitted with Pre-Approval or if equipment updated
Updated Standard Incentive Worksheet(s) - Appendix B, or Custom Incentive Worksheets(s) - Appendix C for each building
Invoices and receipts
For lighting projects, submit a final light survey for each building (sample form available for your use at http://www.illinoisenergy.org under "Energy Efficiency." Retrofit lamps and ballasts shall be listed at: http://www.cee1.org/com/com-lt/com-lt-main.php3).
Notice will be sent when the new 2012-2013 DCEO ILLINOIS ENERGY NOW Public Sector Energy Efficiency Standard & Custom Incentive Guidelines and Applications Forms are posted. 2012-2013 funds will be available for those projects that are completed from June 1, 2012 thru May 15, 2013.
Additional DCEO programs for public schools and universities, community colleges, local, state and federal government include:
Assistance for Lighting Upgrades Still Available through State’s Illinois Energy Now Program Public facilities around the state are eligible for financial incentives through the state’s Illinois Energy Now program to upgrade to more energy efficient lighting prior to a phase out for certain type of fluorescent lamps next year. The program is administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) State Energy Office.
“By offering incentives to make lighting upgrades more affordable, we are helping to ensure our public facilities can spend more resources on direct service instead of keeping the lights on,” said DCEO Director Warren Ribley...
New 2011-2012 Illinois Energy Now Public Sector Energy Efficiency program updates:
One set of 2011-2012 Guidelines for all public sectors:
Local Government (county, township, municipal, public safety, water and park districts)
Public K-12 Schools
Community Colleges
State and Federal Government
Public Universities
New natural gas efficiency incentives are integrated with exisiting electric efficiency incentives. Natural gas incentives are available to those public sector entities in Ameren Illinois, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas or North Shore Gas natural gas service areas. Electric incentives are available to those public sector entities in Ameren Illinois and ComEd electric service areas.
Energy efficiency projects include but are not limited to, lighting retrofits, de-lamping and permanent fluorescent lamp removal, as well as new lighting fixtures, HVAC, natural gas water heaters, kitchen equipment, occupancy sensors, computerized energy control systems, and other projects designed to reduce electric and/or natural gas consumption.
DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and federal incentives and policies that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. Established in 1995 and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, DSIRE is an ongoing project of the N.C. Solar Center and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
About Energy Impact Illinois Energy Impact Illinois is an alliance for all of us. You. Me. Your neighbor. Your local business owner. It’s about individual actions that can generate both cost savings and provide big, collective results. That’s our goal. To demonstrate that each of us has the power to reduce our energy consumption to make our homes, neighborhoods, our city and the world a better place—immediately.
The Energy Impact Illinois (EI2) program is led by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), in partnership with the City of Chicago, City of Rockford, ComEd, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois Science & Technology Coalition, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas, Peoples Gas and The Northern Illinois Energy Project.
Enter your zip code below to find out if there are any special offers or rebates currently available on ENERGY STAR qualified products in your area.
PACENow’s mission is to promote the use of Property Assessed Clean Energy finance as a powerful tool to drive energy retrofits of our nation’s homes and commercial buildings. PACE emerged in 2008 with a pilot program in California and quickly caught the attention of communities around the country. In just two years, enabling legislation was passed in 23 and is being considered in nearly 20 more.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) State Energy Office announces Program Guidelines for Electric and Gas energy efficiency incentives made available through its Illinois Energy Now program. The Illinois Energy Now program offers a portfolio of electric and natural gas efficiency measures designed to achieve targeted annual energy savings goals. 
Download the press release
Download the Presentation Slides
Download the Presentation Slides
