Energy Efficiency/Sustainability Resources

BAYREN BUSINESS UPGRADES

Bay Area businesses can benefit from incentives available for energy efficient HVAC, refrigeration, LED lighting, water heating, envelope improvements, and more. Reduce energy consumption, enhance air quality, and improve the comfort of your building with BayREN Business.

How to upgrade Business Testimonials FAQ's

BIG SAVINGS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

The soaring costs of electricity has many small businesses looking for ways to immediately cut costs. The BayREN Business program can help you upgrade to efficient HVAC, refrigeration, LED lighting, water heating, and more.

How to Upgrade and Save

Submit an Interest Form

BayREN will reach out within 5 business days to discuss your eligibility and provide an overview of the program.

Schedule a Free Equipment Evaluation

We will assess your existing systems and identify energy-efficient upgrade opportunities.

Receive New Equipment & Service

From start to finish, we’ll handle the project delivery, ensuring smooth installation and operation.

See Energy Savings!

Reduce your day-to-day energy use and save on utility costs with upgraded systems.

Big Savings for Small Businesses

Click Here to Learn More

BayREN Business Testimonial

Hear from Solano County businesses who have benefited from this program.

Barrel 2 Bottle – Vacaville, CA

RECEIVE ENERGY UPGRADES FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS

When new owners take over a business, they often face the challenge of making costly upgrades to attract customers and improve efficiency.

Barrel 2 Bottle, a locally owned wine and spirits shop in Vacaville, CA, was acquired by new owners in 2021. Since then, they’ve been focused on modernizing the store while reducing overhead costs.

Partnering with BayREN Business, store manager Arsh Sidhu upgraded the overhead lighting to high-efficiency LED fixtures—an easy, cost-free improvement that enhanced the store’s look and feel. The team also replaced outdated motors in the refrigeration units with energy-efficient models equipped with advanced controllers.

“These upgrades have made a noticeable difference. The store is brighter, the refrigerators run more efficiently, and we saw savings just a few months after installation!” – Arsh Sidhu

$23,000 BayREN rebates made the upgrade free of charge
$12,950 in annual electricity savings

Frequently Asked Questions:
BayREN Business Program

What is the BayREN Business Program?

BayREN Business (the Program) is a publicly funded, energy efficiency program that offers free energy efficiency assessments, financial incentives, and expert technical support to small and medium businesses in all Bay Area Counties.

Are there any obligations if I get a free energy efficiency assessment?

No, there is no obligation to move forward with your energy efficiency project after you get a free assessment and the proposal from the contractor.

How soon can I get an assessment?

Once you fill out the BayREN Business Interest Form, a program representative will contact you within five (5) business days to determine your eligibility to participate in the program. If you are eligible, the program representative will refer you to at least two program contractors who will contact you to schedule an assessment.

What types of energy efficiency upgrades are eligible for the Program?

The Program promotes a wide range of energy efficiency upgrades including lighting, refrigeration, HVAC, water heating, insulation, and controls-based technologies, as long as energy savings are measurable. Offerings depend on participating contractors’ expertise. In 2024, contractors offered lighting and refrigeration. Already started or completed upgrades are not eligible.

How long does the project installation take?

Installation time will depend on the scope of your project and the contractor’s availability. The contractor will work with you to schedule the installation time that is most convenient for you.

What are some benefits of the program?

Free energy assessment
Potentially little to no out‑of‑pocket costs
New/upgraded equipment requiring less maintenance
Lower energy costs/overhead. For projects completed in 2024, businesses are expected to save an average of 6,400 kWh annually, resulting in an estimated average annual utility bill savings of $2,800.
More comfortable environment for you, your customers, and your employees.

Can I use my own contractor to install the energy efficiency upgrades?

Since incentive payments are paid directly to the contractor, installations must be performed by a contractor who has completed the required agreements with the BayREN Business program. However, we can work with your contractor to become a participating contractor for the Program.

Will solar or battery systems affect eligibility?

Yes. Sites with on‑site generation like solar photovoltaic (PV), solar thermal, or battery storage systems are not eligible. Also, the Participant must agree not to install on‑site generation during the 12‑month performance monitoring period after project completion.

Will an electric vehicle (EV) charger affect eligibility?

Yes. Project sites with EV chargers that are not separately metered cannot participate in the BayREN Business Program. If separately metered, they may be eligible, and their energy usage must be included in the total annual energy usage of the project site when determining the annual energy usage threshold. EV chargers may be installed during the 12-month performance monitoring period if separately metered.

What happens if my business is not eligible to participate?

If your business is not eligible to participate in the BayREN Business Program, we will do our best to refer you to other programs that you may be eligible for.

Who receives the incentives and how?

Contractors receive the incentives directly from BayREN Business. They first receive one payment, which is 40% of the estimated incentive once the project is completed and approved. After that, the contractor could receive a true-up payment after 12 months. The amount of the true-0up payment depends on how much energy is saved during the 12-month period after the project has been completed.

Are there any out-of-pocket costs for me?

The incentive amounts depend on the project size and actual, measured energy savings. These incentives are paid directly to the contractors, who have different ways of sharing them with their customers.

Most contractors choose to use the program incentives to lower the upfront costs for customers. In this model, the contractor takes on the risk that the actual energy savings may not match the estimates. If the savings aren't met, the contractor doesn't receive the full expected incentives. A review of past invoices shows that nearly all projects done by these contractors don't require any out-of-pocket costs from the customers.

Some contractors, however, ask customers to pay part of the upfront project costs. These contractors then pay the customer on a regular basis when they receive performance payments. In this setup, both the contractor and the customer share the risk that the energy savings may not meet the estimates. The customer and contractor will agree on the incentive payment amounts and payment schedule.

On average, the incentive per project is about $15,000, while the average project cost is around $8,100 based on contractor invoices.

Is BayREN a party to the installation proposal for my project?

The BayREN Business Program (the Program) is a separate, third-party offering intended only to provide qualifying financial incentives directly to the Aggregator (contractor) for eligible energy-efficient savings.

The agreement for goods and/or services provided in connection with this project is solely between the Customer and the Aggregator (contractor). All project costs, payments, promised rebates or other financial incentives, responsibilities, and outcomes are the exclusive responsibility of the Customer and Aggregator (contractor).

The Program does not endorse, warrant, or guarantee the quality, performance, or conduct of any Aggregator (contractor), nor does it accept any liability or responsibility for:

Cost overruns
Delays
Workmanship issues
Contract disputes
Breach of contract
Any other damages or grievances arising from the Aggregator-Customer relationship

Customers are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence before entering into any agreement with an Aggregator. This includes reviewing qualifications, checking references, and confirming licensing and insurance.

If I have questions during installation,
or I am not happy with my installation contractor,
who can I contact?

Please email your concern or issue to env-bayrenbpa@sfgov.org . We will respond to your inquiry within one (1) business day. We are also committed to helping you arrive at a satisfactory resolution.

Want more information about BayREN?

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