As various electrification and energy benchmarking policies come online, existing federal facilities have an opportunity to save money on utility costs while reaching compliance. Federal agencies that upgrade their building operations equipment to more energy-efficient alternatives can tap into SD EnergyLink rebates and incentives to lower the final cost of those projects.
Complying with federal electrification and energy benchmarking policies
The SD EnergyLink team is monitoring federal and naval orders concerning building system and technology upgrades. The program is ready to help facilities comply with recent mandates, such as:
- Department of the Navy Building Electrification Implementation Policy: Naval facilities must maximize the usage of electric technology in standard building operations. This policy is applicable to both new construction projects and existing facilities which must adopt all-electric alternatives during renovations or when replacing equipment.
- Federal Building Performance Standard: All federal agencies must prioritize electrifying equipment and appliances to reduce energy usage. By 2030, 30% of building space owned by the Federal government must not produce any greenhouse gas emissions.
- Clean Energy for New Federal Buildings and Major Renovations of Federal Buildings Rule: Federal agencies must immediately begin phasing out fossil fuel usage and adopt energy-efficient all-electric equipment that generates utility cost savings.
By providing funding for energy-efficient technology, SD EnergyLink can help military facilities reach compliance with federal and state electrification mandates at a lower upfront cost.
SD EnergyLink simplifies energy-efficient facility upgrades
Leveraging a utility energy program takes the trouble out of identifying energy-saving opportunities. SD EnergyLink exclusively incentivizes highly efficient equipment and appliances that are proven to save energy. Federal facility managers can rely on the SD EnergyLink team for expert knowledge to get a head start.
As detailed in the orders and mandates mentioned above, all federal agencies need to start planning large-scale energy upgrades to facilities. Here are a few ideas to start achieving energy-performance requirements:
Heat pump water heaters dependably provide hot water more efficiently
Replacing inefficient or outdated gas-powered water heaters with all-electric heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) is an inevitable step in federal building electrification. HPWHs require less energy to operate and transfer ambient or residual heat around the unit into the tank rather than generating heat directly. By drawing heat from the air, HPWHs can also make indoor spaces more comfortable in warm climates and reduce stress on HVAC systems.
SD EnergyLink offers rebates for a variety of HPWHs, with increased rebate amounts for customers switching from gas water heaters. Applying rebates can help free up budget for other electrification projects and capital improvement needs.
Insulation helps hot water heaters preserve heat and save energy
Insulating newer gas or electric tank water heaters that are still within their lifespan can improve their efficiency. Hot water tank insulation helps water heaters retain heat and better maintain a consistent temperature. By reducing the amount of energy needed to produce hot water, tank insulation can lower facility utility costs.
In as little as 30 minutes, a contractor can install hot water tank insulation by wrapping the tank in an insulation “jacket” tailored to fit water heaters, with cutouts for pipes, controls, and thermostats. This is an easy upgrade that produces immediate utility savings and helps federal facilities get closer to achieving mandated energy use reduction goals. In most cases, SD EnergyLink rebates cover the complete cost of eligible hot water tank insulation projects.
Work with SD EnergyLink and complete energy-saving upgrades for less
SD EnergyLink rebates and incentives, as well as funding from other sources, lower the cost of necessary building improvements that result in reduced energy consumption. The sooner you start with these projects, the sooner your facility will comply with federal building performance standards.
Get in touch to learn how SD EnergyLink can assist with your facility’s electrification and energy-efficiency projects.
