Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Programs

Rental (1-4 units)

Cooperative Energy Futures

  • Weatherization Work Parties (renters):  CEF helps interested residents host house or block weatherization work parties for their friends and neighbors. These parties include hands-on training in do-it-yourself air sealing, appliance efficiency, and basic efficiency product use, support neighbors in teaming up to weatherize their homes, and offer basic, low-cost efficiency products at bulk prices. Neighborhoods are welcome to subsidize events (normally $50 per event) or materials, link events to existing block groups or neighborhood activities, and tailor event content to neighborhood goals, renter/owner statuses or language. CEF has delivered training content in English and Spanish, and has more limited experience training trainers who speak Somali.

  • Neighborhood Insulation (landlords): For homeowners and landlords, CEF supports coordinated community contracting from qualified insulation and air sealing contractors to secure discounts from group purchasing and ensure quality control of work performed. This program can help residents take the next step from other home assessment and direct install programs, especially if they are unable to access low-income weatherization. Groups of residents seek bids from pre-qualified contractors, receive CEF support in evaluating work priorities, bids, and financing, and benefit from performance testing that verifies the energy savings and home health impacts of work performed.
  • Solar Leasing (renters w landlord approval): Building off past solar bulk-buying programs, CEF has just launched a solar leasing program that will enable homeowners (or renters with landlord support) with good solar exposure and who receive state rebates to have solar installed at their home at no upfront cost. Solar electric systems will be paid off for 15 years with payments equivalent to 75% of the energy savings generated by the system, after which the system provides free power for 10+ more years. This specific opportunity is time sensitive based on state rebate programs, but future residential solar efforts will be available. The first round closed Feb 28th 2014, but future rounds will open in early 2015.
  • Community Solar (renters): For residents without good solar access, and particularly for renters without landlord support, community solar can enable low-to-moderate level investments by a wide range of community members in cost-effective solar arrays located on large community buildings. CEF supports neighborhoods in evaluating the multiple models available, developing projects on local host sites, and organizing the base of community investors to finance and own these projects.

Center for Energy & Environment

  • Home Energy Squad (renters): The program includes a home energy visit right to your house and more.  Our field staff will install energy-savings products such as a programmable thermostat, door weather stripping, compact fluorescent lights, low flow devices and water heater insulation for no additional cost. They’ll also provide energy information and solutions personalized for your house to help you save money on utility bills and create a safer, healthier, and more comfortable home. ($70 co-pay)

CenterPoint Energy

  • Audits (landlords): CenterPoint offers a Walk-Through Audit that provides a general overview and visual inspection of your home ($25 co-pay) and a Standard Energy Audit which provides a comprehensive in-depth technical analysis of your energy use that addresses problems like inadequate insulation, window condensation or ice dams ($100 co-pay).
  • Boiler/Furnace Tune Up & Replacement (landlords): Rebates are offered for tune-ups on natural gas furnace or boiler that can ensure your heating system is operating at maximum efficiency and reduce costly breakdowns. ($25 rebate offered every other year).   For boiler or furnace replacements, rebates are offered for high efficiency models. Depending on the efficiency rating, rebates range from $150-$500. An additional $25 rebate is offered for a new programmable thermostat installed with any qualifying heating system.
  • Water heaters (landlords): Rebates are available for new high-efficiency natural gas water heaters. Depending on the energy factor, rebates range from $70-$350.
  • Air Sealing & Insulation and Wall Insulation (landlords): CenterPoint is making changes to their insulation programs for air sealing & insulation and wall insulation.  More information will be available later in 2014.
  • Low flow devices (renters): Free low flow showerheads and faucet aerators are available to CenterPoint Energy natural gas heating customers. Customers may receive up to a maximum of three showerheads and three aerators.
  • Free energy efficiency kit (renters): Valued at $35, this absolutely free do-it-yourself starter kit is a great way to help you begin to save energy at home.  It includes a low flow showerhead (1.5 gpm, chrome), a low flow kitchen swivel faucet aerator (1.5 gpm), a low flow bathroom faucet aerator (1.5 gm), rope caulk (gray) – 90 ft., high-performance EDPM weatherstrip (brown), insulating window film (3-pack), outlet/switchplate foam gasket covers (24-pack), water heater temperature gauge card, and energy efficiency educational materials. 

Community Action Minneapolis

  • Low Income Weatherization: the Low-Income Weatherization Program sponsored by CenterPoint Energy provides free wall and attic insulation and air sealing to help improve the energy efficiency of eligible homes.  Some homes may also be eligible for replacement of old, malfunctioning heating equipment with new, high efficiency natural gas furnaces, boilers or water heaters.  Income Eligibility Guidelines are based on 200% of Federal Poverty Income Guidelines ($22,980 for a single-person household or $47,100 for a 4 person household).

Xcel Energy

  • Central A/C rebate (landlords + tenants)*:  Qualifying customers who purchase and install a new, eligible central air conditioner with a quality installation from one of our registered cooling program contractors may receive up to $450 cash back.  *Although landlords would typically be responsible for the cost of replacing an air conditioner, tenants typically pay for electricity and are therefore the accountholder.  Since rebates only go to account holders, if the landlord wants to obtain the rebate, then the landlord would need to require the tenant to fill out the rebate application paperwork and send the rebate amount back to the landlord.
  • Windsource (renters): You can purchase renewable energy through Windsource®, one of the nation’s largest voluntary renewable energy programs for less than $1 per month.
     

Multifamily (5+ units)

Cooperative Energy Futures

  • Weatherization Work Parties (renters):  CEF helps interested residents host house or block weatherization work parties for their friends and neighbors. These parties include hands-on training in do-it-yourself air sealing, appliance efficiency, and basic efficiency product use, support neighbors in teaming up to weatherize their homes, and offer basic, low-cost efficiency products at bulk prices. Neighborhoods are welcome to subsidize events (normally $50 per event) or materials, link events to existing block groups or neighborhood activities, and tailor event content to neighborhood goals, renter/owner statuses or language. CEF has delivered training content in English and Spanish, and has more limited experience training trainers who speak Somali.

  • Community Solar (renters): For residents without good solar access, and particularly for renters without landlord support, community solar can enable low-to-moderate level investments by a wide range of community members in cost-effective solar arrays located on large community buildings. CEF supports neighborhoods in evaluating the multiple models available, developing projects on local host sites, and organizing the base of community investors to finance and own these projects.

CenterPoint Energy

  • Audits (landlords): CenterPoint offers a basic audit with a high-level report for small-volume accounts ($50 co-pay) or a comprehensive audit for mid-volume accounts ($200 co-pay) which provides a comprehensive review with detailed technical report and calculations.
  • Heating – Boilers, Boiler Components, Unit Heaters & Forced-air Furnaces (landlords): Boilers are a central piece of efficiency programs and have the largest impact on natural gas use for many businesses.  Rebates are available for boiler tune-ups (every 5 years), entire boiler system replacement, burner replacement and heating system steam traps.  Rebates are also available for new forced-air furnaces, unit heaters, infrared heaters and carbon monoxide sensors. 
  • Water Heaters (landlords): Rebates are available when you purchase a new water heater.

Xcel Energy

  • One-Stop Efficiency Shop (landlords): The One-Stop Efficiency Shop is geared toward small and midsized businesses although it could be utilized by landlords for common area lighting in very large buildings. It is administered by the Center for Energy and Environment (Contact CEE at 612-244-2427 or ckelly@mncee.org).  
  • Cooling Equipment (landlords): Cooling Equipment: Rebates are available for cooling equipment such as DX units, chillers and other select equipment, which often equals about 60% of the cost for high efficiency equipment over standard equipment.  (Note: Central air conditioning is fairly uncommon for multifamily buildings in the focus area, so this would have limited applicability.)
  • Custom programs (landlords): Custom rebates are available if you upgrade equipment and process improvements not covered under other programs.  Relevant options include elevators and white roofing. 
  • Windsource (renters): You can purchase renewable energy through Windsource®, one of the nation’s largest voluntary renewable energy programs for less than $1 per month.