Get started with a FREE energy walkthrough

As the owner or manager of a small to midsized business, here’s how you can get involved in the Corvallis Energy Challenge:

Sign up for a FREE energy walkthrough.

An expert from the Corvallis Environmental Center’s Resource Efficiency Program will tour your business and identify energy-efficiency opportunities. 

• Benefits of an energy walkthrough
  

  In a FREE energy walkthrough assessment, an expert from the Corvallis Resource Efficiency Program will examine how your business uses energy and pinpoint ways you can save money and energy. You’ll receive:

  • A written summary explaining specific energy-efficiency measures — such as upgrading equipment or installing high-performance lighting — that will help you use less energy, lower energy costs and create a more comfortable working environment.
  • Preliminary assessment of your building’s suitability for a solar installation.
  • Information on Blue Sky renewable power from Pacific Power and Smart Energy carbon offset program from NW Natural.
  
  
• Who is eligible?
  Your business is eligible for a FREE energy walkthrough if your building uses electricity from Pacific Power or gas from NW Natural.
• Sign up online

 Next steps – take action.

After you have the report from your energy walkthrough, you can take steps to save energy and benefit from clean power. The Corvallis Energy Challenge helps connect you with resources to make it easier.

• Qualified contractors
  Finding the right contractor is a crucial step in any energy project. Energy Trust maintains a network of Corvallis area trade ally contractors who supply and install energy-efficiency equipment. The list also includes qualified solar contractors.
  View the full list of trade ally contractors which includes trade allies from outside the Corvallis area.
  (If you're interested in becoming a trade ally, visit the Energy Trust trade ally pages.)
• Project management and post-installation inspections
  Don't have the time or the technical background to adequately evaluate a contractor's proposal? Don’t worry. Your contact at the Corvallis Resource Efficiency Program can review the proposal to make sure that energy-savings estimates and installation costs are reasonable. In some cases, Energy Trust also conducts post-installation inspections and can create a plan to ensure that you and your team understand how to properly use equipment to maximize energy savings.
• Cash back on energy improvements
  To make a real difference for Corvallis sustainability, you are encouraged to install one or more measures identified in your energy walkthrough before March 2009. To help make improvements more affordable, Energy Trust offers cash incentives on qualifying energy-efficient upgrades to your business, including lighting, HVAC equipment, motors, foodservice equipment and more. Custom incentives are also available.
• Cash back on solar projects
  Your walkthrough will include a preliminary assessment of your building’s suitability for a solar installation. If your business is a good candidate, you can learn more and find out about cash incentives for solar projects on the Energy Trust Web site.
• Tax credits
  Some energy-efficiency and solar projects also qualify for Oregon business energy tax credits and/or federal tax credits. See the Oregon Department of Energy Web site and the U.S. Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR^® Web site for details.
• Clean power options from your utility
  Learn how to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from your natural gas use with the NW Natural Smart Energy program, and buy electricity from renewable sources through the Pacific Power Blue Sky program.

Help for industrial, manufacturing and agricultural businesses

Get customized energy-efficiency services and incentives

Industrial, manufacturing and agricultural businesses are encouraged to join the Corvallis Energy Challenge. By challenging your team to find new ways to save energy, you can help control costs, improve your bottom line and create a more comfortable working environment.

If you’re an Oregon industrial customer of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural or Cascade Natural Gas and you’re contributing to the Public Purpose Charge,* Energy Trust can help.

Energy Trust of Oregon funds studies to help you identify energy-saving opportunities at your facility and provides cash incentives to help you implement them. Learn how you can shorten the payback for investments in production efficiency, lighting, motors, HVAC upgrades and more. Find out about Energy Trust support for solar, biomass and other renewable sources of energy.

 

*Check your utility bill or ask your utility representative whether your rate schedule includes Oregon’s Public Purpose Charge.

Help for multifamily property owners

Join the Challenge - earn valuable cash incentives

As a college town, Corvallis naturally includes many rental properties. Owners and managers of multifamily properties are encouraged to participate in the Corvallis Energy Challenge, too. In fact, many renters will be asking their landlords to join the Challenge. 

How to participate

You can get valuable cash incentives and assistance with Oregon Business Energy Tax Credits for energy-savings measures in your multifamily property through Energy Trust of Oregon. Learn how to participate in Energy Trust’s Multifamily program The program makes installation affordable, and can lead to increased tenant retention and profitability for property managers.

Energy Trust also offers incentives for owners of duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes.

Eligibility

• Apartment must have electric heat from Pacific Power or natural gas heat from NW Natural
• Oregon rental property (non-owner occupied)
• Multifamily or condominium dwelling of five or more units on a single site*

*Detached single-family homes are eligible for Energy Trust residential incentives. Special incentives are available for owners of duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes. See the terms and conditions for multifamily condominium assistance.