The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) administers Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF) grants to support non-residential facilities in replacing aging and inefficient equipment and systems with energy efficient alternatives.
Improving the energy efficiency of a business helps to decrease operating costs, reduce energy consumption and improve environmental performance.
Energy Efficiency Investment Fund grants are available to perform energy assessments, to make general energy improvements and to implement custom, site-specific improvements for either new or existing buildings.
Program participants must be non-residential facilities located in the State of Delaware. Projects that merely bring a building up to minimum energy code requirements will not be accepted.
Complete program details can be found in the Program Guidelines.
Energy Assessment Grants support both targeted and comprehensive energy audits designed to help facilities receive technical evaluations for appropriate, cost-effective energy efficiency improvements, specific to each building’s needs.
Prescriptive Improvement Grants cover three types of projects: lighting, food service appliances and heating, which includes natural gas heating and water heating equipment.
Custom Improvements Grants apply to more complex or one-of-a-kind measures that go beyond the equipment funded by Prescriptive Improvement Grants. Custom incentives mitigate a significant portion of the project costs for high efficiency equipment. The projects qualifying under this program are generally more complex and include aggressive measures that permanently raise the efficiency levels of standard equipment.
Combined Heat and Power Grants include five types of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems: microturbines, reciprocating engines, gas turbines, steam turbines and fuel cells. Systems must meet the minimum 60% annual system efficiency requirement, and produce 1.0 MMbtu/hour of useful thermal output. The CHP pathway is ideal for facilities with high annual hours of operation and a high thermal load.
To ensure your grant is submitted accurately and to avoid unnecessary delay, please be sure to review the Program Guidelines, the Questions and Answers and the Application Checklist for more information.
Step 1
Register in the online application portal.
Step 2
Submit for pre-approval prior to construction.
Note: Energy Assessments and Prescriptive project applicants may choose to forego pre-approval and apply for grant funds within 30 days of the invoice date. Applicants who do not secure pre-approval assume the full risk of project ineligibility or lack of funds.
Step 3
Register as a “supplier” with the state of Delaware using the Division of Accounting eSupplier Portal. (Find more information in the New Supplier Registration Guide or view this instructional video)
Note: If you have previously registered as a Supplier, you do not need to complete this step.
Step 4
Submit for final approval upon construction completion.
Step 5
Wait 8 to12 weeks to receive your rebate.
DNREC maintains a list of participating contractors to make it easier for customers to find professionals to develop and complete their projects. The list is always evolving to ensure you receive the best help at the best time.
Participating contractors receive regular program newsletters and can participate in periodic training sessions to learn more about the program and stay up to date with the latest program guidelines and opportunities.
To be considered as an EEIF Participating Contractor, firms must complete, sign, and submit an application form with information about their area(s) of expertise and required attachments to document Delaware and professional licensing and insurance. Applications must be submitted to eeif.grants@NV5.com for approval.
DNREC offers multiple rebate programs and low-rate loans to non-residential facilities in a state-wide effort to increase energy efficiency.
The Revolving Loan Fund is a low-interest loan that can be used to supplement an EEIF grant project.
The Cool Switch Low Impact Refrigerant Program is a rebate program for installing refrigerant systems with low GWP that may be used in conjunction with an EEIF grant project.
The Green Energy Program is a rebate program for installing renewable energy systems.
Note: To receive support from both the EEIF and the Green Energy Program, applicants must first go through EEIF in order to be eligible for both rebates.