Energy Management: Don't overlook utility, government incentives

There are myriad financial incentives from utility companies, the federal government and state and local governments that can help offset the cost of energy efficiency improvements. Some plastics processors have had substantial portions of their energy efficiency investments covered by reimbursements, rebates or credits—some reportedly as paid-in-full. We're talking real money here, so how do you find it?

A website called DSIRE, Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (www.dsireusa.org) is a great place to start. It provides summaries of renewable energy and energy efficiency incentives and policies set by the federal government, state governments and U.S. territories, local governments, and larger electric and gas utilities in the U.S. DSIRE also has summary maps and tables, and a search tool to help determine which incentives and policies apply (or might apply) to a specific project. The search tool lets you search for relevant incentives and policies by state, incentive type, technology type, implementing sector and eligible sector.

We did mention this is real money, so happy hunting.