There are many ways to save on energy, but one of the most effective is a retrofit program. A retrofit program is when you upgrade your home or business to be more energy-efficient. It can include installing new insulation, sealing leaks in the roof and walls, replacing outdated appliances with Energy Star models, etc.
Energy efficiency is a sensible and straightforward solution to help your company reach its full potential. You can save money by upgrading to a more energy-efficient system and reinvesting it in your company’s growth. Plus, you’ll be able to boost productivity, staff comfort, and customer satisfaction while staying competitive.
You can get rebates for a range of energy-saving solutions in the Retrofit program, divided into three categories: lighting, HVAC, manufacturing, and other equipment. Your project must be pre-approved with a minimum incentive of $500 to be eligible.
What Is a Retrofit Program?
The Conserve on Energy Retrofit program aims to help businesses in Ontario save energy, cut expenses, and boost production. This province-wide program provides financial incentives for facility modifications that minimize electricity use.
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The program is designed to help businesses across all sectors, including manufacturing, retail, food and beverage processing, transportation, healthcare, etc. To participate in the program, your business must be an electricity customer of an Ontario utility company and have business premises located within the province.
Participants in the retrofit program can expect:
- Three streams: lighting, HVAC, and manufacturing and other equipment
- A more extensive selection of pre-defined energy-efficiency solutions to choose from
- A more straightforward application process with speedier pre-approvals
- Faster payment of incentives
Eligibility
Owners or lessees* of the following vehicles are eligible for retrofit incentives:
- Offices, retail and grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, and warehouses are examples of commercial spaces or buildings.
- The industrial facilities of the food and beverage, automotive, plastics, steel, mining, paper, and chemical industries.
- Hospitals, universities, and municipal facilities are examples of institutional buildings.
- Apartments (including social housing) and condominiums are examples of multi-family structures.
- Dairy, swine, and poultry farms and greenhouses and nurseries are examples of agricultural facilities.
To engage in a lease, you must obtain the owner’s consent or authorization.
What Kinds of Projects Are Eligible for Funding?
Qualified projects for the Retrofit program must deliver long-term, measurable, and verifiable reductions in peak electricity demand and consumption.
Projects that are qualified include:
- Retrofitting the lighting
- Controls for lighting
- Redesigning the HVAC system
- Replacement of the chiller
- Installations of variable-speed drives
To help businesses save money on energy and improve their competitiveness, incentives are provided for several products and technology.
What Types of Upgrades Are Eligible?
Projects that qualify for the Retrofit program measurably save energy. Lighting, HVAC equipment, controls, and variable frequency drives are among the changes. Your project must be valued at a minimum of $500 and must be pre-approved to be eligible.
What Are the Main Advantages?
Energy-saving enhancements benefit your business in various ways, from increasing operational efficiency to making staff and customers more comfortable. Here are some of the advantages of taking part:
- Electricity bills are lower.
- Savings on operations and maintenance right away.
- Equipment and technology that is up to date and efficient.
- Increased staff satisfaction and productivity.
How Does It Work?
The Retrofit Program provides financial incentives for a variety of energy-saving technology. Before you apply, here’s what you should know:
- Apply online by visiting the link given below to determine how much of an incentive you are eligible for.
- Levels of incentives are predetermined. Visit and based on the amount of the website for application support, or contact a Save energy or demand savings on Energy representative. of the new equipment.
What Are the New Measures in the Retrofit Program?
The lighting stream now includes the following new measures:
- LED Grow Light Fixtures for Horticultural Inter-lighting
- LED Grow Lights for Cannabis Greenhouses
- LED Grow Lights for Cannabis Warehouses
- LED Grow Lights for Vegetable Greenhouses
- LED Grow Lights for Vegetable Greenhouses Low-lighting Fixtures
The HVAC stream now includes the following new measures:
- HVAC Chillers -Air-Cooled Chiller
- HVAC Chillers -Water-Cooled Centrifugal
- HVAC Chillers -Water Cooled Positive Displacement
- Demand Control Ventilation – Garage
- Demand Control Ventilation – Interior Space
- Advanced Rooftop Unit Controls
- Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners (PTAC)
- Packaged Terminal Heat Pumps (PTHP)
- Room Air Conditioners – Window and Split Type
- Unitary Air Source Heat Pump – Single Package and Split System
The manufacturing and other equipment streams now include the following new measures:
- Low-Pressure Drop Filter for Compressed Air
- Thermal Mass Refrigerated Dryer or Cycling
- Tank for Primary Air Reception
- Dewpoint Controlled Regenerative Dryer
- Centrifugal Process Chillers with Water Cooling
- Water Cooled Positive Displacement Process Chillers
Is there a Limit to the Amount of Money Saved Through Retrofit Incentives?
Incentives for the 2021 Retrofit program are restricted to $1,000,000 per application, and it is not permitted to divide a more extensive project into smaller initiatives to avoid exceeding the cap. Please contact your Save on Energy agent if you have any queries concerning the incentive cap.
What Aspects of the Retrofit Program have been Eliminated?
The Retrofit program no longer includes the following measures:
- Exterior LED Area Lights
- LED Decorative Bulb with Energy Star (E12 Candelabra)
- LED Omnidirectional A Lamps with Energy Star®
- LED Filament Lamp with Energy Star® Certification
- LED Globe Lamp with Energy Star® Certification
- LED Exit Sign Plug-In CFL (4-Pin) Notched/Cogged V-Belt
- LED Replacement Lamp Creep Heat Controller Network PC Power Management Software
The HVAC stream now includes the following new measures:
- HVAC Chillers -Air-Cooled Chiller
- HVAC Chillers -Water-Cooled Centrifugal
- HVAC Chillers -Water Cooled Positive Displacement
- Demand Control Ventilation – Garage
- Demand Control Ventilation – Interior Space
- Advanced Rooftop Unit Controls
- Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners (PTAC)
- Packaged Terminal Heat Pumps (PTHP)
- Room Air Conditioners – Window and Split Type
- Unitary Air Source Heat Pump – Single Package and Split System
The manufacturing and other equipment streams now include the following new measures:
- Compressed Air Low-Pressure Drop Filter
- Cycling or Thermal Mass Refrigerated Dryer
- Primary Air Receiver Tank
- Regenerative Dryer with Dewpoint Control
- Process Chillers – Water-Cooled Centrifugal
- Process Chillers – Water Cooled Positive Displacement
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