Trade Ally Newsletter - Q2 2024
Residential Program Updates
Introducing the Smart Neighborhood Builder Program
The Residential New Construction offering has changed! New construction home builders in northern Illinois can receive incentives up to $825 per home through the Nicor Gas Smart Builder program. The program offers incentives to builders that leverage energy-efficient building practices and smart energy products.
Builders can select from four participation tiers to access a variety of financial incentives. Nicor Gas values its relationships with builders of all levels and supports them on their path to sustainable building.
Check out our past newsletters for anything you missed!
Help your customers save even more with IRA tax credits
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers federal tax credits for eligible energy efficiency improvements in residential and commercial buildings. Applicants can receive up to $1,200 per year. These credits are eligible for equipment costs only; labor doesn’t qualify. This additional benefit could help drive more energy efficient equipment upgrades by providing another savings option in addition to our rebates and incentives!
Commercial Program Updates
Industrial Assessment Center Grant Program can benefit commercial customers
Have your customer get a FREE energy assessment from the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program to save even more money when they complete recommended energy saving work!
Recently, DOE funding became available as part of the Bi-partisan infrastructure law, which may help to support certain commercial efficiency projects. Grant awards are up to $300,000 per customer (covering one or multiple projects), at a 50% cost share.
Funding is available to small and medium manufacturers, including wastewater plants, and agriculture-controlled environments that meet the following criteria:
- Under 500 employees at site
- Gross annual sales less than $100,000,000
- Annual utility bill between $100,000 and $3.5M
Eligible projects must have been identified by an assessment performed by a third party approved assessor, such as the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program, after January 1, 2021. Projects cannot start prior to applying for the grant. This grant program will operate on a rolling basis: applications may be submitted at any time throughout the year as funds are available and will be reviewed quarterly. The next review will occur for applications submitted by October 1, 2024.
DOE Grants can be
Changes to Custom offering provide more opportunity
The start of 2024 brought some critical new changes to the Custom incentive offering, which may open more opportunities for commercial projects. We have eliminated the minimum therm saving threshold, making it easier for businesses of all sizes to complete projects that may not qualify under our other programs. It also opens more doors for different types of improvements to be completed.
In addition, we’ve added an incentive for gas heat pumps under the Custom offering at $4/therm saved. GHP technology has been around a long time but has become popular again because it is highly energy efficient for commercial, industrial, and multi-family buildings. We’ve added a GHP section to the Trade Ally webpage so you can find fact sheets and webinars about GHPs to help you learn more and stay up-to-date on this technology.
Trade Ally Updates
Do you serve Central or Western IL? Join our Air Sealing and Insulation (ASI) or Duct Sealing (DS) offering!
Program approved contractors can offer our Air Sealing and Insulation (ASI) and Duct Sealing (DS) rebates. These programs require special certifications such as Building Performance Institute (BPI) certifications for ASI contractors and a variety of certification for DS such as DET or Aeroseal, to name a few. We are looking for more contractors that do work in Central or Western Illinois to join our market-rate and income eligible offerings.
If you’re interested in learning more about becoming an approved contractor, please contact Pete Kane at 224.735.8280 or pkane@resource-innovations.com.
Have a rebate question? Our team can help!
Do you have a question about a rebate? The fastest way to get an answer or resolution is to contact the Energy Efficiency Program Marketing and Outreach Center (MOC) by calling 877.886.4239 or emailing eeinfo@nicorgas.com. We have a dedicated team available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to help address any rebate issues and questions.
All other inquiries should be directed to Kristine Dwyer at 224.760.0946 or krdwyer@southernco.com. You can also find all program information on our trade ally webpage.
