Best Practice Guide

Food and Beverage Growers and Processors

Funding and Approval

Incentive Programs

California energy markets are in a historic period of change. Two forces have been driving this rapid change - deregulation and the emergence of several new technologies that improve the efficiency of traditional energy resources or that improve the viability of renewable sources of energy. The widespread availability of enhanced automation for building equipment systems, for example, has markedly reduced energy consumption at many properties. Likewise, improvements in the efficiency of photovoltaic cells have helped the solar industry in its rapid expansion; shipments increased nationally by 642 percent between 1992 and 2002.

At the same time, the overall growth of technology in everyday business operations has given rise to new demands for energy resources. Businesses increasingly rely on an assortment of technological equipment - computers, printers, scanners, faxes, servers - ramping up energy demand on a system already running at near capacity. To meet this demand, energy stakeholders have turned to energy efficiency and renewable energy as viable and cost-effective ways to add needed capacity.

These changes have clear benefits for businesses. Never before - and, perhaps, not again - have so many incentive programs offered rebates, grants, tax credits, and expertise to assist with energy efficiency projects. As energy efficiency becomes more commonplace, companies that wait may not enjoy this same level of support, yet will still need to compete with more efficient businesses and be held accountable under California's stringent building codes, like Title 24, the State's Energy Efficiency Standards. It is in every company's self-interest to take full advantage of incentives while government and ratepayer funding is still widely available.

Saving a kilowatt is cheaper than generating one. Incentive programs are a win-win-win situation - good for business, good for the state, and good for California ratepayers. Speak with your local utility before implementing energy upgrades to determine which incentive programs might be right for your project. You can also research incentive programs through the Flex Your Power website.

Business Examples

Mission Foods discovered that not all incentives are about rebates. During an early planning meeting to discuss a new Rancho Cucamonga plant, local utility representatives encouraged Mission to participate in the Savings by Design program, which helps owners improve the energy efficiency of new and renovated non-residential buildings. Savings by Design offers design assistance as well as financial incentives for owners and design teams. Despite initial concerns that extra time spent designing energy-efficient features would delay fast-track construction plans, Mission agreed to enroll in the program.


The design team identified process equipment and refrigeration as the two largest energy loads. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system was also targeted, since production releases large amounts of heat into ambient work space, which must then be mechanically cooled and vented. To improve energy efficiency, the design team chose to reduce space-cooling loads and optimize HVAC operations.


Resources

Flex Your Power online, searchable tool to locate Rebates, Grants, and Loans. Includes programs administered by utilities, water agencies, and public and private organizations across the state.

The Tax Incentives Assistance Project is designed to give consumers and businesses information they need to make use of the federal income tax incentives for energy efficient products and technologies passed by Congress as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Financial Opportunities website lists current and past solicitations from EERE and provides specific funding information for business, industry, and universities, as well as consumers, federal energy managers, inventors, states, and tribes.

Commercial Building Tax Deduction Coalition website offers information on the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Rebates and Programs webpage.

Pacific Gas and Electric Rebate and Incentive Finder.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District Incentives and Financing webpage.

San Diego Gas & Electric Rebates and Incentives webpage.

Southern California Edison Rebates and Savings webpage.

Southern California Gas Company Rebates and Energy Efficiency webpage.