Weatherize your business

Our weatherization program can help you make energy efficiency improvements to your existing facility.

• Eligible customers
• Eligible measures
• Financial Incentives
• Step-by-step work flow
• Download Program Information (PDF file)
  

Eligible customers

This program is available to commercial customers who receive electric service from Columbia River PUD. Eligible facilities include office or retail spaces that are less than 5,000 square feet in size and are heated by permanently installed electric heat (electrif furnace, wall heaters, heat pump, baseboard heat, etc.).

Eligible measures

All measures must result in at least a 20% improvement in thermal efficiency.

Replacement windows

• Energy Star Qualified - U-value of 0.35 or less

Air sealing measures

• Plumbing and wiring penetrations - ceiling, walls and floors
• Around window and door frames

Financial incentives

Rebates

Rebates are available for a variety of measures. Rebate amounts cannot exceed 70% of the total project cost and may be combined with a 6% loan, as described below.

The rebate amout for insulation upgrades in walls, floors, attics and ceilings is as follows:

• Walls - 75¢ per sq ft
• Attics - $1.45 per sq ft
• Floors - 90¢ per sq ft

A rebate of $3.50 per square foot of window area being replaced is available for ENERGY STAR® windows.

No rebate is available for slab edge insulation, HVAC duct insulation or HVAC duct sealing, but these costs may be included in the low-interest loan described below.

Low-interest loans

Projects with a “net” cost (total cost minus all rebate amounts” of more than $500 and less than $50,000 may qualify for a low-interest loan. Loans for “Do-It-Yourself” projects cover the cost of materials only. Loans for projects that are completed by a licensed and bonded contractor cover labor and materials.

Loans are processed through St. Helens Community Federal Credit Union; approval typically takes two to three business days.

• 6% interest
• $500 minimum loan amount
• 12 to 80 month term
• Maximum loan amount based on credit history

Step-by-step work flow

1. You request a free energy analysis from Columbia River PUD. This analysis must be completed by the PUD before any measures are installed.
2. The PUD will schedule an appointment for the energy analysis, inspect your facility and identify energy-saving opportunities. You must be present for this analysis. Please allow 60-90 minutes for a thorough inspection.
3. The PUD will provide a list of weatherization improvements that could be made to your facility and the estimated financial incentives that could result. The PUD will also provide names of participating weatherization installers. If this will be a “Do-It-Yourself” project, you should now assemble costs for materials. Otherwise, you will need to request bids from weatherization installers for the recommended improvements. We advise that you obtain two or three bids, if possible.
4. If you plan to finance your project with a loan, you should request loan approval from the credit union. This step normally takes less than two working days. The credit union will not process your loan application without prior approval from the PUD.
5. Authorize the weatherization installers to do the job, or purchase the materials and complete the work yourself.
6. Notify the PUD when the work has been completed. Provide a copy of your statement/invoice identifying the completed work, or receipts showing the materials costs if it is a “Do-It-Yourself” job.
7. The PUD will perform a final quality assurance inspection.
8. Upon completion of a satisfactory final inspection, we will provide rebate funds to you. If loan funds are due to the installer, they will be paid via a two-party check from the credit union, otherwise the funds will be provided to you. Rebates under $100 will be applied to your electric account. For rebates of $100 or greater, you may choose to either apply the amount to your electric account or receive a check for it.

* If work is completed by an unlicensed contractor, the job will be considered “Do-It-Yourself” and loans or rebates from the PUD will apply to materials costs only.

For more information

For more information, contact our Energy Experts at (503) 366-5470 or experts@crpud.org, or visit our office in Deer Island.