Financing Energy Efficiency: Options And Issues to Consider
Yvonne Hunter is co-director of the Sustainability Program at the Institute for Local Government (ILG) and can be reached at yhunter@ca-ilg.org. For more about ILG, visit www.ca-ilg.org.
Like any investment, efforts to finance energy-efficiency projects benefit from thinking ahead about the pros and cons of different options. For example, what is the best way to pay for the project — through the agency’s General Fund or by working with an energy services company? What are the payback period and return on investment for the different financing approaches? Are financial incentives available that reduce the project’s cost? Is it worth spending more up front for greater energy efficiency to save more money over the long term?
The financing options discussed here reflect a starting point for considering individual projects. Involving the agency’s financial, legal and public works staff is always a best practice.
Energy-efficiency retrofits cover a wide range of projects, from upgrading water pumps and motors to heating and air conditioning systems to interior and exterior lighting to refrigeration. Identifying the estimated energy and dollar savings per year and over the lifetime of the project, the cost of the project, possible rebates or other financial incentives, and the payback period can help decide which approach is appropriate for the agency. Factoring in avoided maintenance costs is critical too. For example, installing high-efficiency light-emitting diode (LED) lamps and fixtures can reduce maintenance costs and produce energy savings because LEDs last longer, require less frequent maintenance and use less energy than other types of lighting.
Consider these options and issues related to financing energy efficiency.
General Fund. Using the agency’s General Fund can be the simplest way to pay for energy-efficiency retrofits if the funds are available. The financial benefits accrue more quickly and go directly to the agency.
Bonds. Some agencies use general obligation bonds to finance major energy-efficiency improvements. Because the bonds are repaid from project energy savings, consider requiring performance guarantees as part of the installation contract.
Energy Service Companies. Energy service companies (ESCOs) are private companies that provide assessment and installation of energy-efficiency retrofits. The customer pays for the project with the expected savings from reduced energy usage. Typically, when the project cost has been repaid the agency owns the equipment. Important things to consider when evaluating an ESCO approach include whether the equipment’s lifetime will exceed the payback period, who maintains the equipment during the ESCO contract, and a performance guarantee to protect the agency if the equipment does not perform as promised.
Utility Financing and Incentives. California’s investor-owned utilities (IOUs) offer public agencies a variety of different financing incentives to help reduce the cost of energy-efficiency retrofits. These include rebates for energy retrofits of lighting, refrigeration, pumps, motors, and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. The rebates help lower the initial cost and shorten the payback period.
The IOU energy-efficiency retrofit loan program known as On-Bill Financing (OBF) offers zero-interest loans. Eligible projects must use utility-approved products or technology and be enrolled in a utility rebate or incentive program. The utility may wish to inspect the project before and after the upgrade or retrofit is installed. Agencies pay back the financed amount with the energy savings that result from the project, which are reflected on their monthly utility bill. Payments are usually less than the estimated monthly dollar savings. Information about OBF is available from each utility.
While not strictly an energy-efficiency financing option, the utilities also offer voluntary programs that pay customers to reduce or curtail energy use during peak demand periods. Some utilities also offer free retro-commissioning on larger buildings. Retro-commissioning evaluates existing equipment to make sure it performs as originally designed and thus works efficiently with newer equipment.
Revolving Loan Funds. Revolving loan funds, where the net savings from a project are used to fund future projects, provide an ongoing funding stream for subsequent energy-efficiency retrofit projects. Some agencies direct 100 percent of net savings to the revolving fund, while others split the net savings between the revolving fund and other uses, such as the agency’s General Fund.
State and Federal Sources. The State of California and the federal government frequently offer grants and free- or low-interest loans to finance energy-efficiency projects. The online search tool, CoolCalifornia Funding Wizard (www.coolcalifornia.org/funding-wizard-home), helps identify grants, rebates, tax credits and other financial assistance from state, federal, utility and other sources.
Other Approaches. Local officials may want to examine other approaches to financing energy efficiency. For example, one city department provides energy assessment and financing services for other departments, charging a 3 percent surcharge per project. After the cost of the retrofit and surcharge is repaid from the energy savings, the host department receives 100 percent of future savings. Bond pooling programs, such as the one offered by the California Statewide Communities Development Authority (see “A New Approach to Financing Energy Efficiency”), provide another way to finance energy efficiency.
Conclusion
In today’s difficult economic times, spending taxpayers’ money wisely is critically important. Investing in energy efficiency to save money and resources offers local officials opportunities to do just that.
Key Tips
When evaluating energy efficiency options for a project, consider maintenance costs and lost opportunities to spend the energy-efficiency money on a different project. Be sure to compare the financial benefits of the different options being considered.
Consult with your energy utility about financial incentives or rebates that can help lower the project’s cost. Consult early to make certain the project meets the eligibility criteria.
Resources to Learn More
Financing
Sustainability Resource Center – Institute for Local
Government
Provides links to a variety of funding resources for energy
efficiency and other sustainability projects.
Utility Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs
Investor-owned and municipal utilities offer various financing
and incentive programs to support energy efficiency retrofit
projects. For investor-owned utility On Bill Financing
programs, local agencies may contact the individual utilities for
details.
Pacific Gas
and Electric Company
San Diego Gas & Electric Company
Southern California Edison or www.sce.com/business/energy-solutions/energy-efficiency-partnerships.htm
Southern California Gas Company
Municipal Utilities (California
Municipal Utility Association)
Sustainable
Energy Bond Program
Offered by California Communities (California Statewide
Communities Development Authority) and the Foundation for
Renewable Energy and Environment, this bond financing program
enables local agencies to finance sustainable energy related
infrastructure at tax exempt rates.
CoolCalifornia
Funding Wizard
A searchable, web-based tool to identify grants, loans and other
financing resources available from state, federal, utility and
other sources.
This article appears in the November 2012 issue of Western
City
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