Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EIFF) - Prescriptive Pathway Grants

Funder: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC)

The Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EIFF) offers Prescriptive Pathway Grants to non-residential facilities in Delaware to enhance energy efficiency. These grants cover up to 60% of project costs, with a maximum award of $250,000 per location annually. Eligible projects include upgrading lighting, HVAC systems, and appliances to energy-efficient models. Applicants must reserve funding before purchasing equipment, and a pre-approval process is recommended to ensure eligibility. This initiative supports diverse community sectors, including small and minority-owned businesses.

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.
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.
Prescribed measures contain technologies where energy savings can be predicted with reasonable accuracy across all applications. The technologies currently eligible for the program include lighting, HVAC & water heating, and appliances & food services equipment.
The program may modify or expand the list of eligible measures under the prescriptive grant pathway at any time. DNREC will notify applicants of any changes on the website and update any published materials.
Prescriptive Grant Limits
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.
The grant for a prescriptive project will be paid per unit installed at a rate detailed in the corresponding prescriptive grant pathway application, up to 60% of the energy efficiency-related costs, whichever is less. In no event shall DNREC pay a prescriptive rate more than the final unit price detailed on itemized quotes and/or invoices for equipment cost.
Accepted Prescriptive Products and Equipment
The following list details the products and equipment eligible for a grant under the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund Prescriptive pathway. All products must meet the technical requirements described below.
Lighting
All products must be UL-listed and be installed according to local building codes. All products must be installed in such a way that the lighting power allowance complies with the current Delaware building codes.
HVAC and Water Heating Equipment
All equipment must exceed energy code requirements (see 2018 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1 2016) and align with minimum efficiency tiers listed in the prescriptive applications.
Appliances & Food Services
All products must be listed on the Energy Star-qualified product list and be installed according to local building codes.
Prescriptive Funds Reservations
Retrofit project funds for applicants that do pursue pre-approval will be reserved for 120 days on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants may request a one-time extension for 60 days. Final itemized invoices, proof of payment, and supporting documents shall be submitted within the 120 days of the reservation date or funds will be forfeited. DNREC will determine if a reservation extension should be granted.
New construction project funds will be reserved for a time determined by DNREC commensurate with supplied construction timeline.

Eligibility

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.Prescriptive Pathway Grants Accepted Prescriptive Products and EquipmentTo be eligible, products must be listed on the:Energy Star Certified Light Bulbs list Energy Star Certified Light Fixtures list Design Lights Consortium (DLC) list