Helping you keep your community cool
The summers in Oregon are warmer, which is a safety hazard for the vulnerable people in our communities who don’t have a place to stay cool. Energy Trust of Oregon is offering to help multifamily property owners and managers create onsite cooling spaces for their residents. In many cases, the reimbursement covers the full cost of portable or non-portable equipment.
Who can participate?
This offer is for all property managers and owners of multifamily housing and manufactured home parks in Oregon, particularly those that do not provide in-unit cooling and serve vulnerable populations. Priority properties include:
- Tribal housing
- Affordable multifamily housing
- Nonprofit-managed multifamily housing
- Senior housing
- Agricultural workforce housing
- Manufactured home parks
What is a Landlord Provided Cooling Space?
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Energy Trust incentives can cover up to 100% of the cost of portable or non-portable air conditioning equipment that owners or managers purchase and install in a common-area cooling space on site. Funding can also be used to create a cooling space at a location within ¼ mile of the property. Qualifying equipment options may include window or portable air-conditioning units, heat pumps (including ductless), or hard-wired air-conditioning units.
This program is for common-area cooling spaces only. Other organizations are offering financial support to property managers to install in-unit cooling.
Equipment capacity requirements
Extreme heat events call for more cooling power, so please use the cooling equipment chart developed by Energy Trust to identify the correct unit size to meet incentive requirements. Note that the standard cooling capacity and square footage information provided by retailers and manufacturers is intended for a typical temperature range. That’s why we calculated a program-specific chart to assist in selecting the best equipment to meet the sizing requirements that will adequately cool your common space measurements during extreme heat events.
Need answers or assistance?
We’re here to help. You can contact program staff for technical assistance, contractor referrals or any other questions you have about the program.
community.cooling@energytrust.org
1.888.889.0018
Also, keep scrolling—there are more details and helpful resource links below.
How to receive cooling space incentives
Step 1: Check your eligibility
The Landlord Provided Cooling Spaces program is available for common areas in multifamily buildings or manufactured home parks anywhere in Oregon.
Priority properties are eligible for higher incentives, but all multifamily properties are eligible to receive incentives. See incentive details here.
Step 2: Identify your space and equipment options
- Measure the square footage of the room you plan to use as a cooling space.
- Estimate how many people you think will use your cooling space at one time.
- Refer to the cooling system capacity guide to figure out what equipment you’ll need. Larger spaces that fit more people will need more cooling.
- Ask for help if your space is more than 400 square feet or does not fit the guidelines on the chart. This is required to make sure your equipment will meet extreme heat requirements. Before starting your project, contact us at community.cooling@energytrust.org or 1.888.889.0018, and we will provide technical assistance to confirm the correct size for the type of equipment you wish to purchase.
- Consider an off-site location. If you don’t have a suitable space on your property, you can work with a nearby location to set up a cooling space for your tenants. This space must either be within ¼ mile of your property or include a plan to provide transportation to the site. If you are considering this option, contact us at community.cooling@energytrust.org or 1.888.889.0018 for more information.
Cooling System Capacity Guide
To find the right equipment that meets the legislative requirement of maintaining a community cooling space at a temperature of not higher than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, use the chart below and contact a program representative, community.cooling@energytrust.org or 1.888.889.0018, if you have questions or for spaces that fall outside of chart.
Buildings built before 1975
| Cooling space size (square feet) |
Number of expected occupants |
Capacity required for extreme heat (BTU/hr) |
You can achieve the required cooling with: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity of portable A/C units |
Quantity of window A/C units |
Quantity of ductless heat pump, heat pump or hard wired AC |
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| 100 | 5 | 12,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | 15,000 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| 200 | 5 | 20,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 |
| 10 | 22,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 | |
| 20 | 24,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 | |
| 300 | 5 | 27,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 |
| 10 | 28,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 | |
| 20 | 32,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 | |
| 400** | 5 | 33,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 |
| 10 | 35,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 | |
| 20 | 38,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 | |
Buildings built in 1975 or later
| Cooling space size (square feet) |
Number of expected occupants |
Capacity required for extreme heat (BTU/hr) |
You can achieve the required cooling with: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity of portable A/C units |
Quantity of window A/C units |
Quantity of ductless heat pump, heat pump or hard wired AC |
|||
| 100 | 5 | 6,000 | 1 | 1 | – |
| 10 | 8,000 | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 200 | 5 | 7,000 | 1 | 1 | – |
| 10 | 9,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 20 | 12,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 300 | 5 | 9,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | 10,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 20 | 13,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 400** | 5 | 9,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | 12,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 20 | 14,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
* Requires two separate windows in the same room
** If your space does not fit the chart’s guidelines, it may still be eligible for this program. Contact us at community.cooling@energytrust.org or 1.888.889.0018 and a representative from our team can discuss your space and review the cooling requirements with you.
| EXAMPLE: |
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| If your property was built before 1975, and you have a 200 square foot room with two windows, you could maintain a temperature of 80 degrees, or lower, with two portable or window air conditioning units and accommodate 5 to 20 people. |
Step 3: Purchase your equipment
The Landlord Provided Cooling Spaces initiative has tiered incentives.
For priority properties, defined as Tribal housing, affordable multifamily housing, nonprofit-managed multifamily housing, senior housing, agricultural workforce housing, and manufactured home parks:
100% of project costs reimbursed, up to a maximum of
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- $1,400 for portable or window air conditioners (maximum of $700 per unit)
- $7,000 for ductless heat pumps, heat pumps and hard-wired air conditioners
For all other properties:
60% of project costs reimbursed, up to a maximum of
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- $800 for portable or window air conditioners (maximum of $400 per unit)
- $4,000 for ductless heat pumps, heat pumps and hard-wired air conditioners
If your space and cooling needs require a ductless heat pump, heat pump or hard-wired air conditioner, you will need to purchase one from an HVAC contractor who can also do the installation.
We can provide free technical assistance to scope out your project and help you connect with a contractor. Contact us at community.cooling@energytrust.org or 1.888.889.0018.
Step 4: Install your equipment
For portable and window air conditioners please refer to the manufacturer guidelines for installation. You may self-install window or portable units if the windows open. No more than two portable or window units can be installed in a single room.
If the windows don’t open, install a ductless heat pump, a heat pump, or a hard-wired air conditioner. If you have questions please contact our team and we can help advise on your project and connect you with an HVAC contractor that is familiar with this program. If you have on-site facility personnel who can complete the installation, please connect with our team first to ensure proper system sizing and selection.
Please keep in mind equipment needs to meet the program’s minimum cooling load and system performance guidelines for extreme weather events to be eligible for the incentive. Standard manufacturer and energy-efficiency guidelines will not be sufficient.
Step 5: Send in your incentive application
Complete the following steps to receive an incentive. If you purchased and installed eligible portable or window air conditioners, ductless heat pumps, heat pumps, or hard- wired air conditioners for your cooling space after June 1, 2022, you are eligible to receive reimbursement for the equipment.
Complete the application and follow submission instructions on the form.
- Incentive Application: Form 2020 (Online using DocuSign)
- Incentive Application: Form 2020 (Download the Fillable PDF)
- Incentive Application: Form 2020 (Word)
Applications must be submitted within 90 days of installation and must include:
- Copies of invoices or receipts for equipment purchased and, if applicable, installation cost
- Photos of the installed equipment
- Photos of equipment packaging or manufacturer spec sheet showing make, model and cooling capacity (BTU/hr)
- Completed W-9 form for the payee receiving the payment
- If the incentive will be paid to your contractor, also complete the Assign Incentive Payment and W9 (Online using DocuSign)
After submitting a complete application the check will be mailed within 6-8 weeks.
Step 6: Maintain your equipment for best efficiency
Read the user manual for your purchased equipment and follow manufacturer maintenance guidelines. Use the helpful links below for additional resources on how to maintain your cooling equipment.
How can we help you?
Please schedule a call with one of our experts who will answer your questions and walk through available cooling options for your space.
community.cooling@energytrust.org
1.888.889.0018
FAQ
What’s a Landlord Provided Cooling Space?
A Landlord Provided Cooling Space is a room where a building’s tenants can go that is cooled to 80°F or lower and can accommodate five (5) or more people. The landlord makes the room available during extreme heat events. The cooling space may be located in an on-site common area or at a nearby, off-site location.
If your property doesn’t have a suitable space, you could collaborate with a neighboring location, such as a church, and apply for funding to install cooling equipment there. Off-site cooling sites must be within ¼ mile of your property or there needs to be a plan to provide transportation to the site. If you are considering this option, contact us at community.cooling@energytrust.org or 1.888.889.0018 for more information.
Do you need to be served by one of Energy Trust’s partner utilities (PGE, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas or Avista) to apply for and receive funding through the Landlord Provided Cooling Spaces initiative?
No, this initiative is available to any multifamily property or manufactured home park in Oregon, with a focus on properties where residents lack in-unit cooling.
Is a landlord provided cooling space different from the emergency cooling center at the school or library in my neighborhood?
Your county may set up a public emergency cooling center that is open to anyone to come during a heat event. A landlord provided cooling space is only available to the residents at the property – not the general public.
Following the deadly heat wave of 2021, Oregon passed legislation to reduce the risk of more heat-related deaths. This legislation kicked off a statewide effort to support cooling resources at or near multifamily housing properties, especially those without in-unit cooling and that serve vulnerable populations.
The residents in my complex would prefer to stay in their own units. Is there assistance for residents or landlords to install in-unit cooling?
The Landlord Provided Cooling Spaces initiative only provides funding for common-area cooling, not in-unit cooling. Energy Trust of Oregon offers incentives on many in-unit cooling options. There are other organizations that may help with in-unit cooling equipment. We will link resources here as they become available.
Portland Clean Energy Fund (City of Portland only)
Is this funding available for property managers of multifamily units that are not serving low-income or vulnerable populations?
The Landlord Provided Cooling Spaces initiative can serve any multifamily property, but the primary goal is to create common-area cooling spaces in buildings where residents do not have in-unit cooling. The program prioritizes properties with low-income residents living in Tribal housing, affordable multifamily housing, nonprofit-managed multifamily housing, senior housing, agricultural workforce housing and manufactured home parks.
If I set up a cooling space at a nearby location, like a church or open commercial space, can I use this funding to pay for transportation for my tenants?
No, this funding may only be used to purchase and install cooling equipment. Other costs, such as staffing, security, transportation, furnishings and other amenities are not eligible for funds from the Landlord Provided Cooling Spaces program.
Resources
Setting up a cooling center:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooling_center
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/cooling-center.html
https://www.multco.us/help-when-its-hot/thinking-opening-cooling-space
Landlord Provided Cooling Space fact sheet
Other resources:
Call 211 Cooling Centers Database – find available cooling centers
Preventing Heat-related Illnesses (OHA)
Stay Cool and Hydrated (OHA)
Extreme Heat (CDC)
Warning Signs and Symptoms of Heat-related Illness (CDC)
Landlord Provided Cooling Space fact sheet
Cooling Tips for residents
Tips for Summer Energy Saving
Tips to Keep Your Renters Cool This Summer
Five Tips to Keep Cool During Last Days of Summer
Summer Tips for Renters