Innovative Energy Solutions
Overview:
Columbia Gas of Ohio’s Innovative Energy Solutions program is a grant program designed to provide Columbia and its commercial gas customers with opportunities to support natural gas conservation research and demonstration projects and to showcase leading-edge natural gas conservation approaches and technologies within its 61-county service territory. Grant awards vary by project type with a maximum of $100,000 toward one large-scale demonstration/research project. Up to $480,000 in funding is available through 11/30/2012 or until funding is exhausted, whichever occurs first.
Eligibility:
Columbia Gas of Ohio commercial accounts, including for-profit and not-for-profit businesses and organizations with annual natural gas usage greater than 3000 Ccf (300 Mcf). Faith-based organizations are eligible to apply.
Eligible activities include:
Energy Audit Projects
- Up to 100% of fees to conduct a professional Facility/Building Energy Audit to determine the potential for natural gas savings. Matching funds for energy audits are highly encouraged.
- Requires submittal of final energy audit report for payment.
Natural Gas Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) Rebates. ECMs must have a benefit/cost ratio of 2 or greater to qualify for rebates.
Up to 50% toward the installation of long-life, cost-effective natural gas savings energy conservation measures using available products and technologies, including:
- Air and duct leakage sealing
- Insulation of attics/ceilings, walls, foundation areas, ducts, steam and water pipes
- Mechanical systems, such as natural gas high efficiency heating systems and high efficiency water heaters, modular boilers, HVAC equipment controls, Infrared heating systems, gas-fired steam absorption chillers
- Water heating system improvements
- Energy Star-qualified products that use natural gas, including natural-gas fired commercial kitchen appliances, such as infrared fryers and hot water saving devices, steamers, pre-rinse spray valves
- Large vat fryers
- Process improvements
- Other natural gas saving ECMs recommended by an energy audit.
Requires submittal of energy audit showing measure cost-effectiveness for payment.
Research and Demonstration Projects; Experimental Technologies; Evaluation, Measurement and Verification Projects.
Up to 50% of costs to conduct Research and Demonstration projects. These projects must have a benefit/cost ratio of 1.5 or greater.
Up to 100% of costs for Experimental Technologies to reduce the use of natural gas, including, but not limited to:
- Solar pre-heaters for gas water heaters
Up to 50% of costs for Evaluation, Measurement and Verification projects and processes, including, but not limited to:
- Technologies to meter/measure natural gas usage and savings that provide feedback to building owners/managers.
Projects that can deliver replicable results are encouraged.
Requires final summary report for payment.
Building Commissioning Projects
- Up to 50% of costs for Building Commissioning or Re-commissioning Services. Projects must have a benefit cost ratio of 2 or greater.
- Requires submission of pre-commissioning cost-effectiveness analysis and final summary report for payment.
Funding recipients must agree to allow COH and/or its subcontractors to perform on-site verification of installations, follow-up energy impact evaluations and financial audits of completed projects.
Determination of Funding:
Preference will be given to projects that have the most potential to deliver significant, measurable natural gas savings and those that provide matching sources of funding.
Use of Funds:
Funds may be used to pay for services identified under the eligibility section. Funds may not be used to cover proposal development costs of the applicant organizations or businesses. Funds may not be used for administrative costs except for Research and Development projects.
Federal tax incentives for some projects may also be available.
Other Considerations:
Other factors that may help the applicant’s chances of receiving funding include:
- Availability of tax credits for key technologies
- Cooperative education and training with trade associations
- Vendor participation/donation of technologies
- Aligning demonstrations/projects with national efforts to promote key technologies
- The applicant may wish to address these factors in the narrative section of their application.
Application Process:
Applicants must review the IES Application Process and if interested in applying, fill out the Application Form and submit it to the contact person listed below by November 30, 2011. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Customer/professional auditor downloads program application listed below. Applications for energy audits must occur prior to the energy audit being conducted, otherwise, the energy audit is not eligible for rebate. Qualified energy audit software must be used. Applications for natural gas saving energy conservation measures must be separate from and occur after the energy audit is conducted.
- Customer completes application (including required attachments) and professional audit estimate; sends to pracher@nisource.com
- Columbia DSM ensures completion of application criteria.
- IES Review Team receives application and rating sheets to review for approval.
- Rating sheets are returned to Paul Racher; if grant approved, customer and auditor are notified to proceed.
- Customer is set up in Columbia Gas vendor system to allow future disbursement of funds (W-9 tax form required).
- Professional audit conducted at the facility; audit and invoice sent to Paul Racher.
- Customer obtains quotes for equipment, insulation, air sealing, etc. from audit recommendation.
- Customer downloads rebate application listed below; completes and sends to Paul Racher.
- Columbia review team examines rebate request and notifies customer.
- Customer installs energy upgrades and Columbia DSM personnel inspect the job site for verification.
- Customer sends energy efficient upgrade invoice to Paul Racher.
IES Program Information & Requirements
IES Project Funding Application Form
IES Project Funding Rebate Request Form
Contact Information:
Paul Racher
Manager, Existing Buildings Programs
Columbia Gas of Ohio
200 Civic Center Drive
Columbus, OH 43215
pracher@nisource.com
phone: 614-460-4630