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Sustainability

Demand Response

 
Type
Business
 
Category
  • Gas Water Heating
  • Heating & Cooling
  • New Construction or Major Renovation
  • Process Equipment
  • Sustainability

Get paid to help reduce strain on the grid and keep carbon emissions and energy costs low for everyone.

Additional Details

Demand response helps relieve strain on the electrical grid by telling participating customers to reduce their energy use at times of peak demand. This extends the life of grid infrastructure and reduces the need for replacements and repairs, keeping energy costs low. Times of peak demand are also when carbon emissions are highest because they require additional power generation from dirtier fuels. By participating in demand response, your business can earn incentives for helping reduce carbon emissions and keep energy costs low. 

Step 1

Get started by learning more about ways to participate and incentives offered by your utility:

Eversource ConnectedSolutions

Step 2

Once enrolled, your utility will send out notifications when a peak demand event is expected. All you have to do is reduce your energy use during that period. This can be done manually by doing things like shutting off lights or shifting processes, automatically through a building management system, controlled device, or discharging storage such as a battery, or with the help of a curtailment service provider. Contact Eversource for more information on eligible participation strategies.

Step 3

At the end of the season, in most cases summer or winter, your utility will calculate your incentive, often based on how much you reduced your energy use during events, and sends you a check.

Commercial, industrial or municipal customers of all sizes are eligible to participate.

For more information or other questions contact your utility below:

Eversource

Demand Response

 
Type
Home
 
Category
 
Incentive
Up to $300
  • Gas Water Heating
  • Heating & Cooling
  • New Construction or Major Renovation
  • Process Equipment
  • Sustainability

Smart energy use is not just about how much you use, but when you use it. You could earn rewards for using your smart devices to help lower peak demand, which reduces strain on the grid and keeps carbon emissions and energy costs low for everyone.

Additional Details

Demand response helps relieve strain on the electrical grid by making small adjustments to Wi-Fi connected devices to reduce energy use during times of peak demand. These adjustments have little to no impact on comfort, but by bringing together the power of thousands of devices we can make a big difference.

Lowering demand helps extend the life of grid infrastructure and reduces the need for replacements and repairs, keeping energy costs low. Times of peak demand are also when carbon emissions are highest because they require additional power generation from dirtier fuels. By enrolling your eligible Wi-Fi connected devices, you can earn incentives for helping reduce carbon emissions and keep energy costs low for everyone.

Step 1

Get started by learning more about ways to participate and incentives offered by your utility:

Eversource ConnectedSolutions

Step 2

Once enrolled, your utility will send out notifications when a peak demand event is expected. All you have to do is reduce your energy use during that period. This can be done manually by doing things like shutting off lights or shifting processes, automatically through a building management system, controlled device, or discharging storage such as a battery, or with the help of a curtailment service provider. Contact Eversource for more information on eligible participation strategies.

Step 3

At the end of the season, in most cases summer or winter, your utility will calculate your incentive, often based on how much you reduced your energy use during events, and sends you a check.

Residential electric customers in Connecticut with eligible devices are eligible to participate.

For more information or questions contact your utility:

Eversource

Retro-Commissioning

 
Type
Business
 
Category
 
Incentive
Available
  • Building Controls/Energy Mgmt.
  • Lighting
  • Sustainability

A pre-qualified retro-commissioning engineering firm evaluates how your mechanical equipment, lighting and related controls operate and function together. Suggested improvements are supported with sustainable energy management strategies.

Additional Details

As your building ages and its occupants change, it is important to review your building’s control strategies and operating procedures. Malfunctioning and outdated control logic can cause a building’s management system (BMS) to use more energy and prevent it from operating at peak performance. Retro-commissioning (RCx) allows you to identify energy- savings in existing commercial and industrial buildings by improving the BMS’s operation.

The Retro-Commissioning program helps get this process off to a smooth start and provides financial incentives and technical advice.

What is Retro-Commissioning?

When a new building is initially commissioned, it undergoes an assurance process that is conducted at the end of construction. Commissioning demonstrates that the new building operates as designed, with all systems working together at peak efficiency. Retro-commissioning is a similar systematic process that seeks to improve how the equipment and systems function together in an existing building. Depending on the age of the building, retro-commissioning can often resolve problems that occurred during design or construction or address problems that have developed throughout the building's life. Overall, retro-commissioning improves operations and maintenance procedures to enhance overall building performance.

Retro-commissioning is a cost-effective way to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs and peak demand. Since it focuses primarily on energy-using existing equipment and on low-cost improvements, it is usually more cost-effective than installing new equipment. In addition, given that a full understanding of a building’s energy using systems is essential to a proper retro-commissioning project, it is an ideal time to determine how best to limit peak energy use within a building. Retro-commissioning identifies non-essential loads that can be “shed” in times of peak energy use. As such, retro-commissioning is a cost-effective way to improve energy efficiency in existing buildings, reduce peak demand and provide increased owner satisfaction.

Using O&M tune-up activities and diagnostic testing, the process addresses root causes. Retro-commissioning is not a substitute for major repair work. Repairing major problems is a must before retro-commissioning can be fully completed.

A complete retro-commissioning process includes:

  • A screening activity to identify candidate buildings on your properties
  • A survey that results in a retro-commissioning investigation plan
  • An investigation including diagnostic monitoring
  • A retro-commissioning report that identifies O&M strategies for achieving energy efficiency and demand responsiveness opportunities
  • Implementation of selected retro-commissioning improvements
  • Applying persistence measures to ensure operational performance and savings

Retro-commissioning allows you to improve your building systems so they operate efficiently, effectively and reliably over time.

Call 877-WISE-USE (877-947-3873) for more information. 

Steps to Take Smart Energy Action

Step 1

To get started, contact your utility. Utility energy engineers will collaborate with you and a pre-qualified retro-commissioning engineering firm. The firm will use targeted functional tests and a building management system trend analysis to survey, investigate and provide recommendations for energy-efficient improvements (electric, gas and oil) at your facility.

Click the link to your utility below:

Eversource     UI

Step 2

The program uses a financial incentive strategy for the investigation and implementation phases.  For the investigation, the selected approved engineering firm conducts an in-depth analysis of the building management system and associated HVAC and lighting equipment. They develop a master list of proposed energy-efficiency measures, including projected costs, savings and payback and an implementation report.

Step 3

The implementation report serves as a plan for moving forward with measure implementation. The utility program administrator will prepare an agreement for your signature prior to implementing your retro-commissioning plan. The agreement will detail all energy-efficient measures, estimated savings and estimated incentive amounts. The agreement must be signed by you and your utility prior to installing the identified measures. To see the current implementation incentive structure, visit your utility’s website.

Step 4

Training sessions for building operators and facility managers are also part of the program to facilitate ongoing maintenance and ensure lasting improvements. The retro-commissioning team works with facility operators to establish clear documentation of the new control strategies and helps incorporate them into ongoing maintenance procedures.

Step 5

After the project is completed and training is conducted, the measures are verified and you receive your incentive payment.

Examples of energy efficiency opportunities that arise during retro-commissioning include:

  • Optimizing fresh air economizer operations
  • AHU supply fan static pressure
  • Reheat and variable air volume control sequences
  • Condenser water temperatures
  • Variable frequency drives for pumps and fans
  • Building management system operation sequence - confirmation to meet current scheduling requirements
  • Review of humidity set point ranges for data centers
  • Demand-based ventilation system improvements and validation
  • Chiller discharge temperature – automation of reset
  • Free-cooling control sequence improvements
  • Electric unit heaters –  addition of control schemes
  • Identification and elimination of simultaneous heating and cooling situations

Start saving energy and money using your existing capital equipment.

Call 877-WISE-USE (877-947-3873) for more information. 

Eversource and UI customers on a commercial or industrial rate can participate in electric energy-efficient measures. CNG, SCG or Eversource customers on a firm commercial or industrial rate can participate in natural gas energy-saving measures.

The program is ideal for commercial buildings, municipal offices and schools.

Buildings must be:

  • Pre-screened and submit an application
  • Over 100,000 square feet (may be aggregated)
  • Have building energy management system with trending capability
  • Have a current ENERGY STAR® benchmark

Many types of businesses can benefit:

  • Manufacturing 
  • Retail stores
  • Municipal offices
  • Commercial buildings
  • Office buildings
  • Schools

Starting the process is easy. Just contact the utility energy engineer listed on your utility’s website or call 877-WISE-USE to start the process. Click the link to your utility below:

Eversource       UI  

If you are a Connecticut business and are not served by one of the utilities listed above, please visit your utility’s website to see what energy efficiency programs are available to you. Please click here for information on how to contact your municipal utility.

Call 877-WISE-USE (877-947-3873) for more information. 

Business Sustainability Commitment

 
Type
Business
 
Category
  • Carbon Footprint/Waste Stream Analyses
  • Energy Assessment (Audit)
  • Manufacturing Process Improvements
  • Sustainability
  • Training

Tackle common business issues like utility costs, waste, and employee engagement in the context of sustainability and energy efficiency. Become competitive and resilient by following recommended action steps that are accessible, achievable, and profitable.

Additional Details

Engaging in the Business Sustainability Challenge is an important step towards your organization's transformation to continued efficiency and sustainability. Training and education provide opportunities to improve your strategic energy management practices and investments while meeting your long-term economic, environmental and social sustainability objectives.

As a participating business, you will set conservation goals and receive information and tools to identify opportunities to better manage your energy use, water use, supply chain, waste streams and transportation.

We help you realize sustained benefits through:

  • Training and sustainability education
  • Continuous operational improvement
  • Strategy development
  • Systemic behavioral change

Developing a strategy to address these opportunities helps to reduce energy costs, lower your environmental impact and increase productivity and competitiveness. These benefits improve your organization’s social, environmental and economic performance, leading to greater value for stakeholders, employees and customers.

We offer incentives and education to empower your business, to improve its triple bottom line and to enhance its standing as a good corporate citizen.

Call 877-WISE-USE (877-947-3873) for more information. 

Steps to Take Smart Energy Action

Step 1 -

Getting started is easy. Just contact your utility account executive or call 877-WISE-USE (877-947-3873).

To find your account executive, click the link to your utility below:

Eversource     UI

Step 2

We will work with you to create a plan, develop a timeline and implement your new strategy. Depending on your needs, the program may incorporate other energy efficiency programs, as well as external programs and tools.

The process follows these steps, borrowed from ENERGY STAR®:

  • Make a commitment
  • Assess performance and set goals
  • Create a plan
  • Implement the plan
  • Evaluate the plan’s progress
  • Recognize achievements
  • Reassess the process

Call 877-WISE-USE (877-947-3873) for more information. 

All commercial, industrial and municipal customers of Eversource and UI can participate. For natural gas measures, the company must be a firm customer of CNG, SCG or Eversource.

Starting the process is easy. Just contact your utility account executive or call 877-WISE-USE (877-947-3873).

Click the link to your utility below:

Eversource       UI 

If you are a Connecticut business and are not served by one of the utilities listed above, please visit your utility’s website to see what energy efficiency programs are available to you. Please click here for information on how to contact your municipal utility.

Call 877-WISE-USE (877-947-3873) for more information. 

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