Don’t Miss Puget Sound Energy Incentives for Your Energy-Efficient Warehouse Upgrades!

The average warehouse spends about 15% of its operating budget on energy costs.

However, a few energy-saving upgrades can dramatically reduce that expense. Moreover, many Washington State utility providers offer grants and rebates for energy-efficient upgrades. So, if you're planning upgrades to your warehouse, loading dock, or other commercial space, you may qualify for significant financial help from Puget Sound Energy (PSE) or your current utility provider.

Don’t think your upgrades will qualify? Think again.

While PSE offers many standard rebates for common energy-efficient equipment, many customers don't realize they can utilize a powerful program for less common upgrades: the Custom Retrofit Grant Program. This program could be the key to slashing your energy bill and protecting the environment while preserving your annual budget.

Read on to learn:

• What a custom retrofit grant is and how it benefits you
• What you need to know to get started on your grant project
• Where to find help with your application and submission

What Is a Custom Retrofit Grant?

PSE's standard rebates cover pre-approved, high-efficiency equipment like LED lighting, commercial heat pumps, and specific appliances. However, your facility may have a unique project that doesn't have a pre-existing rebate, such as installing high-speed doors to better manage temperature and reduce air loss.

That's where the Custom Retrofit Grant Program comes in.

This program offers incentives for energy-efficient upgrades that fall outside the scope of typical PSE commercial rebates, provided the project demonstrates quantifiable energy savings.

Key Benefits of the Custom Grant Program

1. Covers Non-Standard Upgrades: Ideal for projects unique to your facility, such as high-speed fabric doors, industrial process improvements, or customized mechanical systems.
2. Significant Financial Incentive: Incentives can be as high as $0.45 per annual kWh saved and $8 per annual therm saved, up to 70% of the project cost.
3. Engineers to Help: Throughout the process, you have access to PSE's engineers and project managers. They can offer advice at every step, from project qualification to maximizing your grant.

Getting Started With Your Custom Retrofit Grant

Navigating utility paperwork can be complicated.

That's why Mid Columbia Forklift is committed to partnering with you throughout the entire process. When you work with our experts on your facility upgrade, we will help you prepare and submit the necessary documentation to take full advantage of these valuable grants. Our goal is to make the grant process as seamless as possible so you can focus on your business operations.

To that end, here are a few things to keep in mind from the very beginning.

The Most Critical Step: Pre-Approval

You must receive pre-approval before any work is done.

Your commercial rebates and grants, including custom ones, require an application process to get the green light from PSE's engineers. Installing the equipment before you get approval could disqualify your project from receiving the grant.

Don’t miss out on PSE rebates by skipping this crucial step.

What Affects Grant Amounts

The potential grant amount is variable. It's calculated based on three main factors, all focused on the energy-saving performance of your upgrades:

1. New Annual Energy Consumption: How much energy will the new, efficient system use?
2. Previous Energy Consumption: How much energy did the old system use, or what would a standard system use?
3. Total Project Cost: The full cost of installing the energy-efficient system.

The greater the reduction in energy consumption between the old and new system, the higher your potential grant.

What Upgrades Qualify

There are no upgrades automatically approved under custom retrofit grants.

All proposed improvements must go through the full application process. However, some improvements are more frequently approved than others.

• Air Curtains: Air curtains create a temperature barrier at doorways, reducing heat exchange and energy consumption.

• Big Ass Fans: These energy-efficient fans can reduce energy costs by 30%.

• Bug Blocker: These loading dock doors allow natural heating and cooling through recirculating fresh air while keeping pests out.

• Cooling and Warming Shelters: When combined with solar-power, cooling and warming shelters can reduce the energy consumption of temperature-controlled waiting spaces.

• High-Speed Doors: Rapidly opening and closing warehouse doors reduce heat exchange between zones, minimizing the energy needed to maintain consistent temperatures.

• Industrial Curtains: These modular curtains allow you to segment your temperature-controlled warehouse into distinct temperature zones, saving energy by heating or cooling only the space needed.

• Insulated Doors: Insulation slows heat exchange between spaces separated by warehouse doors, reducing energy consumption.

Whatever upgrades you’re considering, remember to receive pre-approval before starting construction.

Ready To Start Saving? (Even if You're Not a PSE Customer)

While PSE is the largest provider in the state, many other outlets and providers offer custom grant funding for energy-saving initiatives.

If another utility provider in Washington services your facility, we encourage you to check their commercial incentives pages. Many providers offer similar, customized programs that cover unique, measurable energy-saving upgrades.

Remember: Don't start the work before approval! Get in touch with our experts to start the ball rolling on your grant application and facility upgrades.

To learn more about the PSE Custom Retrofit Grant and how Mid Columbia Forklift can help, contact us online or visit one of our locations.

Auburn 253-854-5438
Pasco 509-547-7413
Wenatchee 509-663-9009
Yakima 509-457-5137

Further Reading
Industrial Roll Up Doors: Big Selection, Quick Turnaround
Loading Dock & Warehouse Door Solutions
What Is the Washington Clean Fuel Act?