Cash incentives from Energy Trust of Oregon and any available tax credits may help cover costs and reduce payback periods on many energy-efficiency measures.

Additional assistance may be available through the Oregon Energy Loan Program. These low-interest loans are available to businesses, individuals and entities for projects that save energy, produce energy from renewable resources, use recycled materials to create products or use alternative fuels.

For typical measures and what you can save see below.*

Lighting
Install energy-efficient lighting systems.Lighting consumes up to 30 percent of the total energy used in a commercial building. Lighting upgrades are affordable and have a quick return on investment. Install occupancy sensors in little-used areas. Use ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent lights and LED exit signs to reduce your energy consumption. Learn more about lighting.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
Consider upgrading your cooling system. High-efficiency chillers, air conditioning equipment and package rooftop units use less energy and provide greater comfort for tenants. Equipment is often oversized to ensure that cooling needs are met in extreme conditions, but this results in high energy waste. Newer equipment uses less ozone-depleting refrigerant, reducing potential damage to the ozone layer by 98 to 100 percent. Learn more about heating and cooling.

Shore up your windows and roofs.
Since the early 1990s, local building codes have greatly improved the energy-efficiency of building envelope components. Older construction may warrant modifications to windows, walls and roofs. Installing window films and adding insulation or reflective roof coatings can reduce the heating and cooling loads in older buildings. Learn more about windows and insulation.

Replace old equipment.
When replacing office or commercial food service equipment, look for energy-efficient products with the ENERGY STAR® label. A broad range of premium efficiency equipment is eligible for incentives through Energy Trust of Oregon (project approval is required prior to purchase). For more information, contact Energy Trust of Oregon’s Existing Buildings program.

“Retrocommissioning” is another option for tenant occupied buildings, such as office buildings and hotels. This comprehensive process identifies operational problems and opportunities for energy savings. An independent commissioning agent provides a thorough analysis of your building’s systems and how well they work together. The resulting recommendations can lead to energy savings of up to 20 percent.

*Your actual results will vary based on energy use and energy-efficiency measures.

• Your equipment is near the end of its useful life.
• Your facility has expanded, requiring an upgrade to your existing system.
• Your air conditioning costs are high.
• Your existing system is unreliable, difficult to control or provides unsatisfactory space conditioning.