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Rooftop Units and Controls

Energy Trust offers incentives for the installation of new rooftop units with manufacturer-installed advanced controls in multifamily buildings. These packaged units have all the components for heating and cooling in one place, making them easier to install and service. Plus, their placement on the roof maximizes indoor square footage for tenants.

Advanced Rooftop Controls (ARC) reduce fan speed during heating and cooling and can help building owners and operators can save money while making their buildings more comfortable.

Rooftop Units and Controls

To get started on your energy-efficient upgrade follow the steps below or contact a program representative.

  1. Establish your eligibility.

    Read More >
    • Property’s heating must be provided by Portland General Electric or Pacific Power; or by NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas or Avista.
    • Cash incentives are available to all Oregon multifamily attached residential properties with two or more units including: duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes; side-by-side units; and stacked structures with five or more units. For specific incentives based on your building type see the “Details” tab for further eligibility requirements.
    • Energy-saving improvements must meet program requirements.

  2. Find a trade ally contractor or work with your own contractor.

    We can help you get started.

  3. Install equipment that meets the requirements listed on the Details tab.

  4. Complete and submit an incentive application with supporting documentation.

    • Proof of payment (invoice or receipt marked paid) and/or contractor’s invoice
    • A W-9 or Substitute W-9 form is required for investment properties.
    • Energy Trust must receive applications within 90 days from the date of purchase and installation.

    Online using DocuSign

    Download Application (PDF) Download Application (Doc)

    Send by Mail

    Energy Trust of Oregon
    Existing Multifamily Program
    811 SW 6th Ave, Suite 800
    Portland, OR 97204

    Send by Email
    multifamily@energytrust.org

    Send by Fax
    503.243.1154

  5. Get your incentive.

    You should receive a cash incentive check within 6-8 weeks after all information is received.

    Note: A post-installation verification may be required.

Energy Trust limits the total amount of standard electric and gas incentives a customer site may receive per year. The incentive limit varies by utility:

  • Portland General Electric (PGE) sites may receive up to $12,000 per site, per year for all equipment, gas or electric. This includes PGE customers also served by NW Natural.
  • Pacific Power sites may receive up to $6,000 per site, per year for all equipment, gas or electric. This includes Pacific Power customers also served by NW Natural or Avista.
  • NW Natural or Avista sites served by any other electric utility (not PGE or Pacific Power) may receive up to $12,000 per site, per year.
  • Cascade Natural Gas customer sites:
    • Served by Pacific Power and installing electric equipment may receive up to $6,000 per site, per year.
    • Served by Pacific Power and installing gas or gas/electric equipment are not subject to an incentive limit.
    • Served by any other electric utility (not Pacific Power) are not subject to an incentive limit.

     

Equipment Incentive Requirements
New Rooftop Unit with Economizer (Gas or heat pump heating)* $30/ton

Cooling capacity must be less than 54,000 Btu/h
New Rooftop Unit with Demand Control Ventilation (DCV) (Gas or heat pump heating)** $29/ton

Must have economizer
Must serve spaces not required by code to have DCV
Refer to application or contact program for eligible space types
New Rooftop Unit with Variable Speed Supply Fan (Gas or heat pump heating)* $100/ton

Must have both DCV and economizers
Must have cooling capacities less than 65,000 Btu/h
Advanced Rooftop Control (ARC) – Full retrofit $50-$200 per ton

For properties with 500 or more annual operating hours
Existing system must have a nominal cooling capacity of 5 tons or greater
Existing system must have a single speed supply fan or motor
Existing systems equipped with a variable frequency drive (VFD) or a CO2 sensor for DCV are not eligible
Installed equipment must have a controller with digital, integrated economizer with either differential dry-bulb or differential enthalpy with fixed dry-bulb high-limit shutoff
Installed equipment must have a controller with DCV with proportional control based on CO2 sensor reading
Installed equipment controls must be listed on BPA qualifying product list

Property served by a participating electric utility – $200 per ton
Property served by a participating gas utility only – $50 per ton
Advanced Rooftop Control – Lite Retrofit $100 per ton

For properties with 3,500 or more annual operating hours
Existing system must have a nominal cooling capacity of 5 tons or greater
Existing system must have a single speed supply fan or motor
Existing systems equipped with a VFD are not eligible
Installed equipment must be controls listed on BPA qualifying product list
Installed equipment must have a VFD and controller for variable speed fan operation

Property must be served by a participating electric utility

*The property’s electricity must be provided by Portland General Electric or Pacific Power.

**The property’s heating fuel must be provided by Portland General Electric, Pacific Power; or by NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas or Avista.

Incentives are subject to funding availability and may change. Incentives are not intended to influence consumer decisions on fuel sources.

Need Help? Contact Us.

We’re here to explain the process and benefits. Give us a call at 1.877.510.2130 or send us an email at multifamily@energytrust.org.