Our Frequently Asked Questions section provide brief answers to commonly asked questions about Bright Energy Solutions
® programs, cash incentives and other program details. Subject matter is in alphabetical order, and you can click on a question below to review the answer. Should you have further questions, please
contact us.
Business Heating and Cooling (G,E)
A: Yes. The equipment does need to be a primary source of heating and cooling in the facility in order to qualify for Bright Energy Solutions incentives. Back-up or redundant systems do not qualify for incentives.
A: Yes. For split systems the indoor coil and outdoor condenser do need to be a matched set in order to qualify for Bright Energy Solutions incentives. Qualifying matched sets can be found at
www.ahridirectory.org.
A:
You will find the efficiency ratings required for all equipment under the "Equipment Requirements and Incentives" section of the Heating and Cooling for Businesses application form.
A: The AHRI reference number and efficiency levels can be found on the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute's (AHRI) website at
www.ahridirectory.org.
Custom Incentive for Businesses (E)
A: All Custom Incentive projects need written pre-approval by the local utility before the customer takes any steps to purchase new equipment or systems. To qualify for incentives under this program, the customer must receive written pre-approval from the local utility prior to the dates of any purchase orders, invoices, bills of lading or other purchase or shipping documents for any equipment, materials, or services relating to the project.
A: $300 per average peak kW removed during specific operating hours and months (June, July, August and September) is offered. For projects other than lighting, an additional one cent per annual kWh predicted to be saved is offered.
Food Service for Businesses (E)
A: Used or rebuilt equipment is not eligible for Food Service Bright Energy Solutions incentives. Existing equipment must be removed and properly disposed of.
A: All ENERGY STAR qualified equipment meets the requirements for Food Service Bright Energy Solutions® incentives. ENERGY STAR qualifications are not yet widely in place for griddles and ovens. Griddles and convection ovens must have a Cooking Energy Efficiency of 0.70 and combination ovens must have a minimum Cooking Energy Efficiency of 0.60.
General
A: Bright Energy Solutions is a portfolio of energy efficiency programs offered by your participating utility and its supplemental power supplier, Missouri River Energy Services. The programs help residential and business customers reduce their energy costs and offer rebates when they purchase and install energy efficiency equipment.
A: Any business or resident of a participating local municipal utility who is interested in learning more about the Bright Energy Solutions programs should contact their local municipal utility. Or you can download incentive applications from this website.
A: Customers of participating utilities are eligible to receive the benefits of the programs. To learn if your utility is participating, visit
www.brightenergysolutions.com and click on your state.
Each program has criteria that must be met. Please see the terms and conditions for the individual program or call your local utility to learn more.
A: Your participating local municipal utility is offering incentives on a large variety of electrical equipment for residential and business customers. To see the programs offered by your municipal utility, click on your state, then For Your Home or For Your Business, then click on the name of your local utility.
Lighting New Construction for Businesses
A:
A High Performance System uses lamps and ballasts qualified by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). High Performance T8 lighting is especially well suited for new construction and major renovations – situations where designers can work to maximize their effect. These systems provide more lumens, therefore requiring fewer fixtures and delivering more energy efficiency than reduced wattage systems. The lamps and ballasts used must be on the CEE Approved List of Qualifying Products in order to qualify for special Bright Energy Solutions® High Performance System incentives.
A: Indoor lighting systems must operate during daytime hours a minimum of 1,800 hours per year in order to qualify for Bright Energy Solutions® incentives.
A:
All fluorescent fixtures must utilize electronic ballasts that have a power factor greater than 90 percent and a total harmonic distortion not exceeding 20 percent for 4-foot systems and 30 percent for 8-foot systems. There are no other specific requirements for lamps and fixtures used except for specific approved lists for Reduced Wattage System and High Performance System incentives.
Lighting Retrofit for Businesses
A:
All fluorescent fixtures must utilize electronic ballasts that have a power factor greater than 90 percent and a total harmonic distortion not exceeding 20 percent for 4-foot systems and 30 percent for 8-foot systems. There are no other specific requirements for lamps and fixtures used except for specific approved lists for Reduced Wattage System and High Performance System incentives.
A:
A High Performance System uses lamps and ballasts qualified by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). High Performance T8 lighting is especially well suited for new construction and major renovations – situations where designers can work to maximize their effect. These systems provide more lumens, therefore requiring fewer fixtures and delivering more energy efficiency than reduced wattage systems. The lamps and ballasts used must be on the CEE Approved List of Qualifying Products in order to qualify for special Bright Energy Solutions® High Performance System incentives.
A:
A Reduced Wattage System uses lamps and ballasts qualified by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). Reduced Wattage T8 lighting is especially well suited for replacing existing T12 lamps and ballasts in retrofit applications. Because these lamps use krypton gas technology, they require less wattage to deliver light. In addition, they can be used easily without altering fixture arrangements. The lamps and ballasts used must be on the CEE Approved List of Qualifying Products in order to qualify for special Bright Energy Solutions® Reduced Wattage System incentives.
A:
Indoor lighting systems must operate during daytime hours a minimum of 1,800 hours per year in order to qualify for Bright Energy Solutions® incentives.
Pump and VFDs for Businesses
A: Incentives are not offered for replacement variable frequency drives. Incentives are paid for the first-time installation of VFDs on existing air handling and pumping systems.
A: Any business or resident of a participating local municipal utility who is interested in learning more about the Bright Energy Solutions programs should contact their local municipal utility. Or you can download incentive applications from this website.
A: Customers of participating utilities are eligible to receive the benefits of the programs. To learn if your utility is participating, visit
www.brightenergysolutions.com and click on your state.
Each program has criteria that must be met. Please see the terms and conditions for the individual program or call your local utility to learn more.
A: Your participating local municipal utility is offering incentives on a large variety of electrical equipment for residential and business customers. To see the programs offered by your municipal utility, click on your state, then For Your Home or For Your Business, then click on the name of your local utility.
A: Variable frequency drives (VFDs) must be used in pumping and air handling applications up to 400 horsepower in size. VFDs in new construction projects do not qualify over 50 horsepower. VFDs that are provided on new packaged HVAC equipment do not qualify. VFDs larger than 400 horsepower or used on equipment for tasks other than air handling and pumping might qualify for incentives under the Custom Incentive Program.
A: Pumps and variable frequency drives have to operate a minimum of 1,500 hours per year to qualify for Bright Energy Solutions incentives.
Residential Heating and Cooling (E)
A: For central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps the indoor evaporator coil and the outdoor condenser do need to be replaced as a matched set in order to qualify for Bright Energy Solutions® incentives.
A:
The AHRI reference number and efficiency levels can be found at the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute’s (AHRI) website at
www.ahridirectory.org.
Residential Lighting
A: CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) are light bulbs that produce light much more efficiently than traditional incandescent light bulbs. In fact, CFLs with the ENERGY STAR label use about 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
Specialty Measures for Businesses (E)
A: Anti-sweat heater controls sense the relative humidity of air outside of the display case and reduce or turn off the glass door (if applicable) and frame anti-sweat heaters on refrigerated display cases during periods of low humidity.
A: Vending equipment controls must be installed on vending machines that store non-perishable bottled and canned beverages at a refrigerated temperature. Vending machine controls need to include a passive infrared occupancy sensor to turn off fluorescent lights and set back the temperature (control a compressor) when the surrounding area is unoccupied for a preset length of time.
Controls should maintain temperature through periodic power-ups and provide compressor protection.