Small Business

Small businesses in Maine come in many shapes and sizes but most have energy saving opportunities. Many could benefit from upgrading to high-efficiency lights or updating their heating and cooling system. 

Opportunities

Enhanced Incentives for Small Businesses

• Businesses that have an electric account labeled “Small General Service” (SGS), “General Service” (GS), or “Medium General Service” (MGS) with an average monthly electrical demand under 50kW may be eligible for enhanced incentives on lighting and heat pump retrofit installations. Not sure if you’re eligible for these enhanced incentives? Click here for bill examples or click here to check your eligibility with our team. 
• Click here for eligible utility rate classifications 
• Click here for more information on lighting incentives
• Click here for more information on heat pump incentives

Solutions

Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)

• Businesses can save money and increase equipment reliability by making energy-efficient choices when installing or replacing heating, cooling or ventilation (HVAC) equipment. Efficiency Maine offers incentives for:

  HVAC Solutions

  • Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Systems
  • Heat Pump Rooftop Units (RTUs)
  • Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs)
  • And more

  Click here to learn more. 

Lighting 

• Businesses can save energy and money by upgrading exterior lights (including parking lot and wall-mounted flood lights) and interior lighting (including overhead fixtures and screw-in LEDs). High-efficiency fixtures and lighting controls can enhance aesthetics while decreasing cost. Efficiency Maine offers incentives for interior and exterior high-efficiency lighting solutions including:

  Lighting Solutions

  • LED Retrofit Kits
  • New LED Fixtures
  • Exterior Lighting
  • And more

  Click here to learn more.

Water Heating

• Businesses can reduce water heating costs by upgrading to high-efficiency water heating systems and choosing a system that meets each business’s needs.
  Click here to learn more. 

Other Opportunities:

• Restaurants may benefit from upgrading cooking and commercial refrigeration equipment. Click here to review Efficiency Maine’s guidance for restaurants.
• Auto repair and other businesses may consider upgrading compressed air equipment. Click here to learn more about compressed air incentives.
• Efficiency Maine has sector-specific information that may be useful to your small business. Click on the links below to access more information for:
  • Agriculture
  • Grocery and Convenience
  • Healthcare
  • Hospitality
  • Municipal
  • Offices

Funding for Public EV Charging Stations

Efficiency Maine periodically releases funding opportunities for the installation of EV charging stations at commercial and public properties. Visit our Opportunities page to view current funding opportunities. Federal tax credits may also be available to offset the cost of your EV charging project. Click here to learn more about federal tax credits.

Additional Information

• EnergyStar.gov has energy management guidance for small businesses. Click here to learn more.

Get Started

Ready to upgrade your facility with high-efficiency equipment and appliances? Work with an Efficiency Maine Qualified Partner in order to be eligible for these incentives. See our Qualified Partner video for more information on this process.

Click here to find a Qualified Partner working near you. If you work with a contractor that is not yet a Qualified Partner, urge your contractor to find out more information here. As part of the project approval process, you will accept the C&I Prescriptive Program’s Terms and Conditions. If you’re interested in becoming a Qualified Partner, click here to see our Become A Qualified Partner page.

If you’re interested in getting started with an energy efficiency project in your business but don’t know where to start, you can sign-up for a virtual customer consultation here.