SPC incentives are based on annual kWh savings and kW reduction achieved beyond Title 24 or minimum industry standards. For the purpose of calculating energy savings, current Title 24 or minimum industry/government standards must be used as the baseline efficiency for all projects. (Existing equipment not covered by a defined standard uses existing equipment as the basecase.) The estimated incentive is the delta between Title 24 and the proposed equipment. For the purpose of calculating demand savings, only peak demand reduction will be eligible for an incentive (refer to the SPC Program Manual for details).
SPC Software
The SPC Software offers calculator tools that provide reasonable savings estimates under most conditions. Title 24 or industry standards are automatically incorporated into the software for the baseline equipment. The following energy-efficiency measures are available:
- Air conditioning economizers
- Air compressors
- Carbon monoxide sensors for parking garages
- Chillers (air-cooled or water-cooled)
- Cold storage rapid close doors
- Demand control ventilation
- Drip tape irrigation (refers to thin-walled hoses ranging from 4 to 20 millimeters)
- Early Retirement for motors and chillers
- Frictionless chiller or compressor
- Injection molding machines
- Lighting upgrades
- Lighting controls
- Motors
- Pulse cooling for injection molders
- Pump off controllers for oil wells
- Refrigerated tank insulation
- Thermal oxidizer upgrades
- Variable speed drives for centrifugal chillers, cooling tower fans, HVAC fans with motors >100hp, process applications and dairy vacuum pumps.
- Wastewater retrocommissioning
The software prompts the user for detailed information about the proposed equipment type and size, building type and location, and hours of operation. Based on the inputs an estimated savings is provided.
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Engineering Calculations
Use engineering calculations if the SPC software does not address the measure you're installing. Submit detailed documentation of your calculations (electronic files or CD) providing visibility to the inputs and assumptions. Some projects may require power measurements or logged data to support the baseline or proposed case.
Supporting Documentation Requirements: Accompany your application with the following:
- A detailed description of the methodology used including assumptions and variables.
- Electronic files of calculations.
- Logged data, measurements or data sources used to validate equipment efficiency or basecase operation.
- Results of your analysis.
Early Retirement
This feature is designed to accelerate the retirement of older, less efficient equipment with new, high efficiency replacements. The incentive is based on existing equipment efficiency rather than Title 24 standards. This results in a larger incentive than would be possible using the traditional calculated SPC approach.
For Early Retirement, applicants are required to use the SPC estimation software.
Eligibility criteria:
- Chillers, electrical motors, and professional wet/dry cleaning with 5 or more years of remaining useful life.
- New equipment must exceed current minimum standards.
Estimated Useful Life Chart
Below is a summary of equipment and dates that qualify for Early Retirement:
Estimated Useful Life Chart
| Equipment |
Year Built
or later |
| Motors |
1997 |
| Chillers-Reciprocating |
1994 |
| Chillers-Centrifugal |
1994 |