Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EIFF) - Energy Assessment Pathway Grants

Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EIFF) - Energy Assessment Pathway Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)
Amount: Up to US $250,000
Last Updated: January 23, 2026

Summary

The Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EIFF) offers grants for energy assessments and improvements in non-residential facilities in Delaware. With a focus on energy efficiency, the program supports businesses in upgrading to more efficient systems. Grants cover up to 60% of project costs, with limits of $250,000 per year per facility. Eligible projects must exceed minimum energy code requirements, fostering sustainability and reducing operational costs in the community.

Overview

Note: Pre-approval is highly encouraged for all projects to ensure an applicant’s proposed project is eligible for grant funds and to reserve eligible funds. Applicants not gaining EEIF pre-approval before materials are ordered, installed, or services performed assume full risk of project ineligibility and/or exhausted funds. Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EIFF) The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) administers Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF) rebates 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 rebates are available to perform energy assessments, to make general energy improvements, and to implement custom, site-specific improvements for either new or existing buildings. Energy Assessment Pathway Grants For businesses in need of technical assistance to evaluate their facility for cost-effective energy efficient upgrades, grants are available to help with the cost of the audit, feasibility study, and project design. Energy assessment grant payment is structured to encourage identification and installation of identified ECM’s. Energy Assessment Grant Limits and Participation The Fund will not pay more than 60% of the energy efficiency-related project cost for any proposed project as detailed on itemized invoices (see exception for Energy Assessment Pathway in section 5.3). Program funds are limited. Grant awards will not exceed $250,000 per individual address per calendar year. DNREC reserves sole discretion to adjust the program grant caps. Particular consideration will be placed on organizations that support DNREC’s commitment to helping vital, yet vulnerable sectors of the community, including: minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses; small businesses (defined by the Delaware Dept. of Small Business as 100 employees or less); nonprofit organizations; educational institutions; state agencies; and local governments. To ensure availability, funding must be reserved prior to purchasing any equipment or beginning an audit or energy study. An applicant’s contractor may perform a targeted or comprehensive energy assessment (audit), create a facility’s energy assessment report, and submit an Energy Assessment application with all required documentation and supporting calculations discussed on the application within 30 days of audit completion. DNREC will review and coordinate with the applicant on any additional information needed to evaluate the application for approval. If the application is approved, EEIF may award the customer up to the lesser of (1) 50% of the cost of their energy audit or (2) the audit caps of $5,000 for a targeted energy audit or $10,000 for a comprehensive energy audit (see 5.3.2 below for definitions of each audit type). An additional amount, up to $5,000 for targeted audits and up to $10,000 for comprehensive audits, may be available for applicants who implement measures identified through their assessment AND complete a Prescriptive, Custom or CHP EEIF project. To qualify for the additional audit fund reimbursement, the implemented ECM grant award must exceed that of the total energy assessment grant. Initial funds will be awarded upon assessment application final approval. Assessment application final approval and grant award does NOT replace the required application for pre-approval prior to ECM installation to reserve award funds. Additional audit grant funds must be requested in writing along with documents submitted for final approval for the Prescriptive, Custom, or CHP EEIF grant. If submitted ECM’s receive final approval from DNREC, the remaining audit funds will be included with the ECM award payment. DNREC limits the number of energy audits per facility address or contiguous structure to one (1) paid assessment every calendar year unless the facility changes ownership or operational use. DNREC reserves the right to determine qualifying energy conservation measures or timelines for additional grant payments on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible Projects 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.EligibilityThe EEIF Program is available to all non-residential, commercial, industrial, local government, governmental, and non-profit entities in the State of Delaware that pay the PUT.PUT payment will be verified by DNREC via customer utility bill(s) provided during application. Both retrofit and new construction projects are eligible for EEIF grants through all pathways.