Resources for Improving Your Building’s Performance
Now that you’ve benchmarked, here are some resources for how to reduce your energy and water use.
- U.S. Department of Energy Commercial Buildings Resource Database
- Building Re-tuning – A Low-cost Path to Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings
- Optimize Your Building Performance – How to Choose the Right Energy Management System for Your Portfolio
- Recommended Steps to Save Energy and Improve Building Performance
- 7 Steps to an Energy-Efficient Apartment
- Building Technologies Progam – A Guide to Building Commissioning
- BIT Building Tool –BIT Building was created by a group of real estate and facility management professionals seeking to develop a building performance improvement program for existing buildings that would enable all types of property owners and operators to understand and adopt high-performance best practices.
Local Programs
Good Use – Southface’s GoodUse program saves nonprofits money on operations so they can expand their mission. Using technical expertise and consultative assistance, Southface uncovers areas for improvement within the facility to increase resource efficiency and save money on utilities. To make positive changes last, GoodUse helps with project implementation and provides long-term support, ensuring upgrades are delivering results. Next application deadline: May 8th 2020
Power Wise – Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL) Power Wise program is designed to help congregations conserve energy and save money by providing low cost, professional energy audits and matching grant funding for energy efficiency upgrades.
Utility Rebates & Incentives
Did you know that utilities often offer incentives and rebates for energy and water efficiency upgrades? Check them out. Talk to your energy service provider or building operator to make sure you maximize these savings opportunities.
Electricity
Georgia Power Energy Efficiency Programs
Georgia Power offers a variety of rebates to help businesses reduce the initial cost of installing new energy-efficient equipment, resulting in lower energy usage and savings year after year.
Browse through Georgia Power’s Trade Allies. Trade Allies are service providers that have been trained on the Georgia Power Commercial Energy Efficiency Program and are available to help customers implement energy efficiency projects and apply for incentives.
- Georgia Power Prescriptive Program
- Custom Savings Program
- Small Commercial Direct Install Program
- Georgia Power Commercial Rebates and Incentives
- Georgia Power Commercial Energy Efficiency Program
- Georgia Power ENERGY STAR Audit
- Georgia Power ASHRAE Level 2 Energy Audit
Natural Gas
Water
- Diverted Water Program –The Diverted Water Program provides a method by which customers can earn credit for the amount of water used that isn’t returned to the sewer. Water can leave a customer’s business as part of a product, it can be evaporated through a cooling tower, or it can be used for irrigation. The Diverted Water Program helps ensure that customers aren’t billed for a service (sewage treatment) they aren’t using.
- Low-flow WaterSense Toilet Rebates –Eligible multifamily customers may apply for a $50 or $100 rebate on WaterSense certified toilets. WaterSense labeled toilets only use an average of 1.28 gallons of water per flush or less and have passed rigorous testing standards.
Third Party Benchmarking & Auditing Services
Looking for a 3rd party provider to input data, manage your energy portfolio, and send your benchmarking submission for compliance? The EPA provides a (partial) listing of service providers here.
Find a registered professional to perform your energy audit through EPA’s ENERGY STAR search tool here. Use this guide to support compliance with the audit requirement.
Georgia Power Trade Allies are service providers that have been trained on the Georgia Power Commercial Energy Efficiency Program and are available to help customers implement energy efficiency projects and apply for incentives. Browse through Georgia Power’s Trade Allies here.
Better Buildings Financing Navigator
The Navigator is an online tool that helps public and private sector organizations find financing solutions for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
Developed by the US Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Initiative, the Navigator helps users explore a wide array of financing choices and identify relevant financing options for their energy projects. Through the Navigator, users can also connect to the larger Better Buildings Challenge Financial Ally community, which includes banks and lenders that are committed to making bold financial investments in efficiency and renewables and are actively pursuing new opportunities to finance projects. The Navigator is designed for anyone who wants to access financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects or learn more about the marketplace in general, including building owners, facility and energy managers, sustainability directors, executives, contractors, consultants, brokers, researchers, and other decision-makers.
https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/financing-navigator
Atlanta Building Efficiency 