Make GA Power Energy Efficiency Incentives Work for You
Before next year’s projects are locked, find out whether available incentives can help your building go further.
It is budget season, which means Buckhead’s property managers are deep in spreadsheets, trying to anticipate next year’s costs, capital needs and the building system most likely to develop an expensive personality.
As you look at the projects already headed into next year’s budget, here is the question we want you to ask:
Is there an incentive available to help pay for this?
Not after the equipment has been ordered. Not after installation. And definitely not when someone remembers the rebate during the celebratory ribbon cutting.
Now—while the project is still being scoped and the numbers can still change.
There may be money for that
Georgia Power’s Commercial Energy Efficiency Program offers rebates for a much broader range of improvements than many property teams may realize, including:
- Lighting
- Heating and cooling
- Building equipment
- Water heating
- Building-envelope improvements
- Custom energy-efficiency upgrades
- Building tune-ups and operational improvements
Existing buildings, major renovations and new construction projects may be eligible.
The Building Tune-Up offering is especially interesting for existing properties. It can support work such as correcting operating schedules, returning equipment to its proper operational state and optimizing chillers and other mechanical systems. Georgia Power currently offers Building Tune-Up rebates of up to $75,000 per building per year, subject to program requirements.
That could make a meaningful difference in the economics of a planned project.
An incentive may shorten the payback period, allow you to expand the scope or help justify choosing the higher-performing option. It may even help move a worthwhile project from the “maybe someday” column into an actual capital budget.
Free money may be too strong a phrase. Money you do not have to spend entirely by yourself is probably more accurate.
Ask before you buy
Timing matters.
Georgia Power recommends having its program team review proposed equipment early to confirm eligibility. Some projects may require preapproval, specific documentation or a participating contractor.
Incentive programs are not retroactive wish machines. If lighting, HVAC, controls, water heating, building-envelope work or other energy-related equipment is already in your proposed budget, check the program requirements before finalizing the scope or issuing a purchase order. Learn more through Georgia Power’s Commercial Energy Efficiency Program.
Why Livable Buckhead cares
We want your building to be as green as possible.
We want Buckhead buildings to use less energy, try smarter technologies and continue raising the bar for what Class A means. We also understand that every improvement has to compete for space in a real budget.
These incentives can help close that gap.
Livable Buckhead is not an engineering firm, and we are staying firmly in our lane. Our lane is encouraging properties to improve their environmental performance, connecting building teams with useful resources and helping Buckhead’s buildings learn from one another.
We also want to tell the story of what you are accomplishing—because sustainability is a market differentiator for Buckhead.
Companies are paying closer attention to the buildings they occupy. Energy performance affects operating costs, supports corporate sustainability goals and can influence decisions about where businesses choose to locate.
Being green is not separate from being Class A. It is increasingly part of the definition.
We have a strong foundation
Buckhead is already much greener than people realize.
101 LEED-registered or certified projects | 33 ENERGY STAR-certified buildings in 2018, with an average score of 85
Livable Buckhead’s last comprehensive sustainability inventory identified 101 Buckhead projects registered or certified under LEED. In 2018 alone, 33 Buckhead buildings earned ENERGY STAR certification, with an average score of 85—meaning they performed better than at least 85% of comparable buildings nationwide.
Earlier analysis also found that nearly half of Buckhead’s office space was ENERGY STAR certified and more than one-fifth was LEED certified.
Those numbers prove sustainability is already part of Buckhead’s commercial building story. Taking advantage of available incentives can help more properties become part of it—and give us even more reason to position sustainability as one of Buckhead’s Class A advantages.
If an incentive helps your building move forward with an efficiency project, let us know. And if you are doing something especially cool, definitely call us. We want to geek out about it and, with your permission, brag about it too.
