Incentives - Energy & Water Conservation AND Waste Reduction & Recycling
Energy Efficiency Incentives
Business owners know that rising energy costs impact their bottom line and reduce profits. Homeowners also see that rising energy prices force them to reprioritize spending decisions. Cost-saving energy efficiency improvements can keep more money in your own pockets and also make your property more appealing to purchasers and tenants.
Avista has a range of residential energy efficiency incentives and rebate programs that can help with everything from exterior wall insulation for your old house to new construction incentives. Their Energy Star appliance rebates and refrigerator recycling program are worth checking out, too More information is available on their website
Businesses will want to take advantage of Avista’s Site Specific (customized) and Commercial Lighting incentive programs. Restaurants and grocery stores will want to access the Energy Star Program and Food Service Equipment Rebates, too. Learn more about these and other energy efficiency incentives at Avista’s website.
More information about other energy tax incentives for businesses can be found at The Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP) website and the Washington State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency website.
Energy Saving Trees Program
In an effort to increase the urban tree canopy within the city of Spokane, and reduce the cost of cooling homes, the Spokane Conservation District and Avista Utilities have partnered on a project to strategically plant shade trees to reduce residential energy costs. http://www.sccd.org/announce/
Large growing deciduous trees planted on the southwest corner or west side of a home shade the house from the hot summer sun and decrease the cost of cooling a home. To be eligible you must be a homeowner in the City of Spokane, on Avista power, and have room for a large tree. The tree needs to be planted 15 to 30 feet from the southwest corner or the west side of the house The tree will be planted free of charge with the understanding that the homeowner will care for the tree as directed. An initial site visit will determine if there is room for a tree, and the exact location. Follow-up planting will take place in the fall or the spring.
If you are interested, contact: Garth Davis at the Spokane Conservation District, garth-davis@sccd.org, 509-535-7274.
Incentives For Multifamily Developers:
Incentives are available to multifamily developers who install natural gas space and water heating measures rather than electric. An incentive of $2,000 per unit is available for installation of natural gas space heat and natural gas water heat. Multifamily is defined as 4 or more units per building for this incentive. Incentives are available for new construction only. Supplemental electric heat is allowable in the units as long as 75% of the unit is heated with natural gas. Qualifying water heating applications can either be individual natural gas hot water heaters in each unit or a central natural gas hot water system.
Please contact Sue Baldwin at Avista for additional information.
Free Business Waste Reduction Assessments
Are you a business owner who is looking at your bottom line? Then find ways to create less waste… Fees for garbage collection and disposal continue to increase across the country. But much of the general waste businesses are throwing away as garbage could easily be hauled away as recyclable material at much lower cost.
Business waste assessments are offered to Spokane County businesses free of charge. Interested businesses can contact Jim Haynes at 625-6536, jhaynes@spokanecity.org for further information or to schedule a consultation. A full description of this program can be found on the Spokane Regional Solid Waste System web site.
Recycling and Reuse Opportunities
Construction, Demolition & Land Clearing Debris: Many construction and demolition materials can be recycled or reused, such as:
- Asphalt
- Building Materials
- Clean Fill Dirt and Rocks
- Concrete
- Scrap Metal
- Sheet Rock
- Wood Waste (including pallets)
Information on where to recycle specific materials, as well as reuse opportunities and salvage services can be found here.
Getting Rid of It .... A to Z: Go to http://www.spokanesolidwaste.org/sub8710.asp?id=5341 for a comprehensive list of how to recycle, clean up or throw out anything and everything.
Water Conservation Incentives
Looking to trade your grass for cash? Check out the City’s new Outdoor Rebate Program. The City of Spokane is now offering retail water utility customers $100 to remove 1,000 square feet of lawn and replace it with non-irrigated, drought tolerant landscape. More information is available at http://www.greenspokane.org/stewardship/index.html.
The more water you save, the more money you save! The City’s water rate increases based on the amount of water consumed. Water is measured in units of 100 cubic feet (1 unit = 100 cubic feet = 748 gallons). Those who use fewer units of water are billed at a lower rate per unit than those who use more. More information on Spokane's water rates is available here.
