Main Street Energy Initiative
Dan Richardson, John Canfield, Emily Evans, Amy Slaymaker
Trident Energy Services, Inc.
Consultants to the Governor’s
Energy Office
Conor Merrigan
Commercial Buildings Program Manager
Governor’s Energy Office
Angie Fyfe
Local Program Manager
Governor’s Energy Office
Foundational Components to MSEI
1. Program Goals & Outcomes
2. Energy Data Management
3. Outreach, Education & Recognition
4. Facility Assessment
5. ECM Implementation
6. Project Financing
7. Measurement & Verification
Five Program Types
•MSEI in a Box
•EECBG Self Managed Programs
•EECBG GEO Managed Programs
•Competitive Grants
•Small Scale Grants
Statewide Programs
EECBG GEO Managed Program
Competitive Grant Program
EECBG Self Managed Program
Small Scale Grant Program
Denver Metro
Programs
EECBG GEO Managed Program
Competitive Grant Program
EECBG Self Managed Program
Small Scale Grant Program
What’s inside ‘MSEI in a Box’?
• A roadmap to implementing local
‘Main Street Efficiency’ programs
• Resources to guide the program
• Resources to assist local
businesses manage and reduce
energy and costs
• Training for all aspects of energy
management
• Free online energy tracking tool
GreenQuest
•FREE online utility data
tracking tool offered
•GEO’s GreenQuest site is
unique to MSEI
businesses
•Tutorial on RechargeColorado
•Access at:
http://coloradogeo.mygreenquest.com
EECBG GEO Managed Program Summary
GEO Managed: (aka Small Business Efficiency Program)
1. Outreach and application period; 33 participating businesses
2. Energy data management; includes GreenQuest tutorial
3. Facility assessments; energy audits from Xcel
4. ECM implementation; engage local contractors
5. M&V; $5,200 for audits, lighting, RCx, and thermostats, add’l $ for innovative
rebate
6. Recognition
•
Total EECBG budget of $289,300 (incl GEO match)
EECBG GEO Managed Communities
• City of Arvada
• City of Lakewood
• City of Littleton
• City of Pueblo
• City of Westminster
EECBG GEO Managed – Lessons Learned
• Limiting ECM’s to proven measures made sense.
• Re-creating the RCx wheel was tougher than
expected.
• Some municipalities are geared up to conduct
outreach, some aren’t.
• Small businesses are incredibly difficult to
engage.
• Energy Data Management is not appealing.
EECBG Self Managed Program Summary
Funding for new or strengthening existing programs
that assist businesses in achieving the goals of MSEI
• Boulder County
• City of Aurora
• City & County of Denver
• City of Ft. Collins
• City of Grand Junction
• Garfield County
EECBG Self Managed
Who: City and County of Denver
What: Denver Small Business Efficiency Program
How: Energy assessments, technical assistance, rebates, and free lighting retrofits;
aligned Pollution Prevention Partners program
How much: Total program - $1,113,866 / GEO grant - $165,000
When: Active; ends April 2012
Why: Retrofit lighting for at least 500 small ‘marketplace’ businesses
Update: …..
Denver
•TOTAL # REBATES Issued = 89
•TOTAL REBATES Issued = $187,000
•TOTAL EST ANNUAL Energy Savings = 1.7 million kWh
•TOTAL EST ANNUAL Demand Reduction = 0.5 MW (the
average power plant is 400 MW)
•TOTAL PROJECT COST of Contractor Projects = $745,000
(money paid for projects)
•AVERAGE PAYBACK WITHOUT REBATE = 4.5 years
•AVERAGE PAYBACK WITH REBATE = 1.7 years
•AVERAGE REBATE COST ($/annual kwh) = $0.11/kwh
•REBATE AS % OF PROJECT COST = 25%
EECBG Self Managed – Lessons Learned
• One shoe does not fit all.
• Energy coaching is key.
• Program consistency is also key.
• Regional partnerships improve outreach.
• Energy Data Management is not appealing.
Competitive Grant Recipients
• Tri-County Main Street Efficiency Program (CLEER)
• Commercial Energy Implementation Program (Platte River)
• Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Program (EOC)
• Energy Wise Business Program (ORE)
• Denver Small Business Energy Program (Colfax Green
Partnership)
• Mainstreet Makeover II (Woodland Park)
Small Scale Grant Program Summary
•Same program as the GEO-Managed MSEI program, except:
•Communities were awarded $7,500 from GEO to conduct outreach
efforts
•All participating businesses were eligible for rebates from a single
rebate funding pool of $150,000
• Roughly $10k will go unspent.
Small Scale Grant Communities
•City and County of Broomfield
•Steamboat Springs
•City of Lamar
•Sustainable Technology Trust (Clear
•Grand County BEDA
Creek County)
•La Plata Electric Association
•The New Community Coalition (San
•Painted Sky RC&D (Delta and
Miguel County)
Montrose Counties)
•Town of Fairplay
•Sedgwick County
•Town of Frisco
•Southern CO Council of Govts (Las
Animas County)
La Plata Electric
•TOTAL # REBATES Issued = 30
•TOTAL REBATES Issued = $35,731
•TOTAL EST ANNUAL Energy Savings = 396,226 kWh
•TOTAL EST ANNUAL Demand Reduction = 0.11MW (the
average power plant is 400 MW)
•TOTAL PROJECT COST of Contractor Projects = $163,108
(money paid for projects)
•AVERAGE PAYBACK WITHOUT REBATE = 4.1 years
•AVERAGE PAYBACK WITH REBATE = 2.5 years
•AVERAGE REBATE COST ($/annual kwh) = $0.09/kwh
•REBATE AS % OF PROJECT COST = 22%
Small Scale – Lessons Learned
• Each community is different, but the fundamentals
aren’t.
• Managing outreach ain’t no walk in the park.
• Utilities are well suited to manage DSM.
• Re-creating the RCx wheel was tougher than
expected.
• QC of audits and retrofits is needed in rural areas.
• Small businesses are incredibly difficult to engage.
• Energy Data Management is not appealing.
GEO Managed & Small Scale
•TOTAL # REBATES Issued = 32
•TOTAL REBATES Issued = $33,198
•TOTAL EST ANNUAL Energy Savings = 335,860 kWh
•TOTAL EST ANNUAL Demand Reduction = 27 kW*
* Likely higher, but most didn’t track
•TOTAL EST ANNUAL Savings = $55,722
•TOTAL PROJECT COST of Contractor Projects = $167,333
(money paid for projects)
•AVERAGE Annual Savings per business = $1,741
•AVERAGE REBATE COST ($/annual kwh) = $0.10/kwh
•REBATE AS % OF PROJECT COST = 20%
What’s been the impact of MSEI?
• Significantly increased awareness of small businesses around state of
energy and cost reduction opportunity
• Useful tools and resources such as MSEI in a Box, GreenQuest that will
outlive ARRA
• Increased awareness and understanding of the importance of energy data
management
• A stronger network of community outreach efforts
• Increased ‘high performance’ knowledge and level of service provided
by local contractors
What’s been the impact of MSEI?
• Comprehensive energy management training (and training template) for
CEC’s and local businesses
• Enhanced collaboration between GEO, local programs and utilities
• Stronger businesses and stronger local economies
• Over $3.6 million leveraged for a total investment of $8 million in
Colorado’s local new energy economy
Do as I Say…
• Keep it simple paperwork, implementation, communication, etc.
• Focus on proven improvements, rather than all inclusive audits.
• Insist on some level of Utility Bill Assessment.
• Ensure QC for audits and implementation.
• Establish energy data management habits
Not as I do…
• Lots of red tape.
• Insufficient local program support in some areas.
• Avoid Davis Bacon, NHPA, and other federal regulations like the plague.
MSEI Resources
• Updated website page for all MSEI programs:
http://rechargecolorado.com/index.php/programs_overview/main_street_
efficiency_initiative/
• Provides up to date resources for agencies and participating businesses
EECBG GEO Managed
Who: City of Pueblo
How much: Total program - $59,850 / GEO match - $14,850
When: Launched August 2010; outreach ongoing until November 2010
Update: 3 businesses engaged to date.2 businesses have attended EDM
training. Status of buildings: 1 – EDM, 2 – audits.
Note: Local CEC, Greg Severance, has been engaged as of 11/10 to help
increase participation.
Competitive Grant Programs
Who: Platte River Power Authority
Where: Ft. Collins, Estes Park, Loveland & Longmont
What: Commercial Energy Implementation Program
How: Outreach and promotion, energy assessments, energy coaching for project
implementation, leveraging existing rebates
How much: Total program - $316,365 / GEO grant - $100,000 (SEP)
When: Not yet launched; ends 8/11
Why: Save 900,000 kWh, provide at least 60 audits, achieve 75% implementation
rate, drive demand in new areas
Update: Contract not yet signed.
EECBG GEO Managed
Who: City of Littleton
How much: Total program - $39,900 / GEO match - $9,900
When: Launched June 2010; outreach ended October 2010.
Update: 3 businesses engaged. 2 businesses have attended EDM training.
Status of buildings: 1 – EDM, 2 – audits.
EECBG GEO Managed
Who: City of Arvada
How much: Total program - $79,800 / GEO match $19,800
When: Launched June 2010; outreach ended October 2010
Update: 8 businesses engaged. 6 businesses have attended EDM training.
Status of businesses: 2 – EDM, 5 – audits, 1 – M&V.
EECBG GEO Managed
Who: City of Lakewood
How much: Total program - $46,550 / GEO match - $11,550
When: Launched July 2010; outreach ended October 2010.
Update: 5 businesses engaged. 2 businesses have attended EDM training.
Status of businesses: 3 – EDM 2 – audits.
Competitive Grant Programs
Who: Woodland Park
What: Mainstreet Makeover II
How: focuses exclusively on upgrading six diverse commercial properties, with
outreach, EDM, and rebates for ECMs
How much: Total program - $433,659 / GEO grant - $100,000 (EECBG)
When: Not yet launched; ends 8/11
Why: save 6 businesses over $43,000/yr in energy costs; create jobs in the process
Update: Contract not yet signed.
EECBG Self Managed
Who: Boulder County, City of Boulder & City of Longmont
What: Boulder County Commercial Energy Efficiency Pilot
How: Rebates for equipment upgrades that lead to energy reduction, in addition to
Xcel Energy rebates
How much: Total program - $1,200,000 / GEO match - $120,700
When: Not yet launched; ends 8/11
Why: Quickly motivate businesses to implement, engage contractors to promote
program, grow rebate program, leverage Xcel rebates
Update: Contract not yet signed.
EECBG Self Managed
Who: City of Aurora
What: City of Aurora Commercial Rebate Program
How: Matching Xcel Energy rebates for lighting, insulation/sealing and HVAC up to
a maximum of $3,000 per address; assist businesses
How much: Total program - $266,000 / GEO match - $66,000
When: Launched 8/10; ends 8/11
Why: Goal to distribute at least 176 lighting, insulation/sealing, and HVAC rebates.
Update: 7 businesses engaged to date with workshops planned
EECBG Self Managed
Who: City of Ft. Collins
What: Climate Wise Program
How: Provide education, outreach, recognition and advertising for existing
ClimateWise partners; using tiered approach
How much: Total program - $59,850 / GEO match - $14,850
When: Launched 7/10; ends 8/11
Why: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting waste reduction, energy
savings, alternative transportation and water conservation
Update: 2 business audits are scheduled, outreach underway
Competitive Grant Programs
Who: Office for Resource Efficiency
Where: Gunnison, Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte & Lake City
What: Energy Wise Business Program
How: Certification program for EE improvements using education, assessment and
energy conservation implementation support.
How much: Total program - $231,704 / GEO grant - $150,000 (EECBG)
When: Not yet launched; ends 8/11
Why: Participating businesses reduce energy use by 5%
Update: Contract not yet signed.
EECBG Self Managed
Who: City of Grand Junction & Mesa County
What: Greenback$ Program - Checklists, resource lists, workshops & recognition
How: Rebates for energy audits and prescriptive ECMs, leveraged with utility
incentives
How much: Total program - $84,114 / GEO match - $28,314
When: Launched 9/10; ends 8/11
Why: No specific program goals; program is the first energy efficiency public
outreach campaign
Update: 1 business engaged to date
EECBG Self Managed
Who: Garfield County (CLEER)
What: Garfield Clean Energy Challenge for Businesses
How: Comprehensive energy coaching, GreenQuest database, rebates; dovetails with
larger initiative
How much: Total program - $105,000 / GEO match - $34,650
When: Launched in August; ends 8/11
Why: 5% business participation of which 50 achieve 10% savings
Update: 26 business engaged to date, innovative approach to outreach and energy
data management
Competitive Grant Programs
Who: Energy Outreach Colorado
Where: Statewide
What: Non-profit Energy Efficiency Program (NEEP)
How: Comprehensive energy coaching, web-based database, energy audits, project
financing, funding mechanisms (MHCLF) for non-profits serving low0income
Coloradans.
How much: Total program - $1,500,000 / GEO grant - $250,000 (SEP)
When: Not yet launched; ends 8/11
Why: Reduce utility bills, improve capital asset, allow for reinvestment of operating
funds into programs.
Update: Contract not yet signed.
Competitive Grant Programs
Who: Colfax Green Partnership
Where: City of Denver
What: Denver Small Business Efficiency Program
How: Free lighting upgrades and faucet aerators, technical & rebate application
asistance.
How much: Total program - $468,161 / GEO grant - $150,000 (SEP)
When: Not yet launched; ends 8/11
Why: Engage 200 businesses to reduce energy use by 10%
Update: Contract not yet signed.
EECBG GEO Managed
Who: City of Westminster
What: Total program - $63,200 / GEO match - $13,200
When: Launched June 2010; outreach ended October 2010
Update: 14 buildings engaged (9 businesses). 8 businesses have attended
EDM training. Status of buildings:1 – EDM, 9 – audits, 1 – implement, 3
– M&V.
Competitive Grant Programs
Who: Tri-County Main Street Efficiency Program (CLEER)
What: Clean Energy Challenge for Businesses
How: Comprehensive energy coaching, GreenQuest database, rebates; dovetails with
larger initiative
How much: Total program - $649,850 / GEO grant - $250,000 (SEP & EECBG)
When: Not yet launched; ends 8/11
Why: 10% business participation of which 50% implement projects; and create
technical assistance infrastructure, provide resources and financing tools, increase
awareness of economic development
Update: Contract not yet signed.