The Bureau of Energy and Recycling seeks to demonstrate the economic development benefits, including job creation, of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and recycling through a variety of programs and services. Further, Bureau programs will demonstrate that economic development, sustainable energy, and recycling practices, and environmental protection go hand in hand.
In addition, the Bureau will continue to promote the leadership of the State of Illinois, through its own energy and recycling policies and practices, at state facilities. Individually tailored programs are available to assist Illinois citizens, communities, non-profit organizations, businesses, industry, and other government agencies in an effort to achieve the Bureau's mission. Program areas include the following:
Illinois Energy Efficiency Portfolio
Under Public Act 95-0481, DCEO Bureau of Energy and Recycling, Ameren Illinois and ComEd are required to develop a portfolio of electric efficiency programs to achieve targeted annual energy savings goals. Over $50 million will be utilized for the Portfolio programs during the first year which began June 1, 2008. The portfolio program funding will double during the second year and triple in the third year. DCEO will work with Public Sector entities whereas Ameren Illinois and ComEd programs are focused on residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
For futher information on the legislation, background and history, please click on the green box, titled Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards in the sidebar to the right of this page or go to www.ileeps.org
Incentives for measures to reduce electricity available now!!!
Incentives are available to customers in Ameren Illinois and ComEd’s electric service areas. Programs descriptions follow.
DCEO provides incentives for the Public Sector and ComEd(www.comed.com) and Ameren Illinois (www.ActOnEnergy.net) provide incentives for businesses and residential programs.
DCEO Electric Efficiency Portfolio Fact Sheet
Public Sector Electric Efficiency Programs
These programs include the Standard and Custom Incentive Programs, New Construction Program and Retrocommissioning Program and are offered to the Public Sector: federal, state and local government (county, township, municipal), public schools, community colleges, public universities and colleges, public safety, water and park districts in ComEd and Ameren Illinois electric service territories.
Standard and Custom Incentive Programs
Provides grants and rebates to public sector entities for electric system efficiency improvements including lighting, motors, variable frequency drive controls, HVAC equipment, traffic signals, among others. Guidelines, Application, Worksheets
Standard Incentive Program
Provides set incentive levels for common retrofits for lighting, HVAC, motors and refrigeration. Application and Standard Incentive Forms in Excel format. (Use these spreadsheets to fill in the Application from Appendix A and Standard Incentive Worksheets from Appendix B: Lighting, HVAC, Motors, Refrigeration)
Custom Incentive Program
Provides incentives for electric efficiency improvements not listed in the Standard Incentive Program. Custom Incentive Forms and Worksheets. Use these Worksheets for additional documentation along with the Custom Incentive Program Application in Appendix C.
New Construction Program
Provides grants to public sector entities to encourage applicants to design new or rehabbed buildings to achieve the highest level of energy efficiency.
Guidelines and Application
Sources of Energy Professionals, Vendors, Contractors
For help finding energy professionals and vendors there are 3 sources for you to utilize:
1) SEDAC (Smart Energy Design Assistance Center) Energy Services Providers http://smartenergy.arch.uiuc.edu/html/
search_serviceprovider.html
2) Ameren Illinois Provider Trade Allies
http://www.actonenergy.net/program-allies-business.asp
3) ComEd Trade Allies
http://www.exeloncorp.com/ourcompanies/
comed/comedbiz/energy_savings_products_and_
services/tradeally/participatingallies.htm
Low Income Energy Efficiency Programs
Energy Efficient Affordable Housing Construction Program Guidelines
Market Transformation - Technical Assistance, Education and Training Programs
Building Industry Training and Education Program Guidelines
Illinois Sustainable Education Projects (ISTEP) Guidelines
Smart Energy Design Assistance Center Provides technical assistance services through the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC), staffed with engineers and professionals from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, School of Architecture. SEDAC provides free technical assistance to businesses and public sector facilities who are considering energy efficiency improvements at existing facilities or to enhance baseline design of new facilities.
SEDAC services include:
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design assistance (energy audits, bill analysis, energy cost reduction recommendations, energy modeling, implementation assistance
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education and training
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information on IL building energy codes, tax incentives through the 2005 Energy Policy Act, sources of grants and loans
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toll-free assistance at 800/214-7954
Large-customer Energy Analysis Program (LEAP) Guidelines - Coming soon
Click here for a summary of BEAR (Bureau of Energy and Recycling) programs
Link to Ameren Illinois Act On Energy programs (www.ActOnEnergy.net)
Link to ComEd Smart Ideas Business Energy Solutions programs (www.comed.com)
Link to additional information on Energy Efficiency Standards (www.ileeps.org)
ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS
Energy efficiency investments in Illinois’ economy brings strong and diverse benefits, including protecting consumers and businesses from higher energy prices, improving electric reliability by reducing congestion on the electricity grid, supporting the retention of manufacturing jobs by reducing manufacturing energy costs and supporting the manufacture of new high-efficiency products, hedging risk against fuel price volatility, supporting public health and the environmental quality by reducing energy waste, and helping to keep Illinois’ energy dollars in the local economy.
CLEAN ENERGY
Illinois boasts significant potential for renewable power and heating: wind, solar, and biogas offer both economic and environmental benefits. Wind energy costs have fallen significantly, and modern wind farms provide both stable income for farmers and significant property tax revenues for local governments. Biogas facilities allow livestock owners to transform wastes from pollution into clean energy, and solar thermal technologies offer an increasingly cost-effective alternative to volatile natural gas prices. Illinois strongly supports the development of these resources.
RENEWABLE FUELS
Home-grown fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel reduce Illinois' dependence on foreign oil, keep energy dollars in the local economy, support local corn and soybean prices, and make a cleaner and healthier environment for Illinois. Illinois is the nation's largest ethanol producer, and is working hard to maintain leadership in biofuels technology development and production.
The Illinois Recycling Grants Program helps communities, businesses and not-for-profit organizations collect and process materials for recycling.
The Recycling Expansion and Modernization (REM) Program provides grants to divert materials from the municipal solid waste stream, thereby conserving our natural resources, and improve the performance and “bottom line” of Illinois businesses and organizations (reduced operating costs, increased sales, etc.) while demonstrating public economic benefits.