Contractors

C-PACE provides periodic training workshops for contractors free of charge. Visit the Events page for the schedule of upcoming workshops or email info@DelawareCPACE.org. You can also work with a property owner to submit a project application for consideration.

C-PACE involves multiple steps that include:

• Building selection and prequalification
• Project application
• Preliminary project scoping
• Proposal preparation and owner review
• Project scenario development and optimization
• Project technical review
• Financing
• Construction
• Commissioning

Timeframes are project-specific and depend on the number of parties involved. In a C-PACE project, the contractor, mortgage holder, and capital provider establish their own schedules with the property owner. Once a project has been approved for financing, it typically takes an average of 60 days to close.

Yes.

After a project has been reviewed by the program administrator and approved by the property owner and mortgage holder (if any), participating capital providers are offered the opportunity to finance the project. The capital provider (selected by the owner) will review the project documentation (provided by the program administrator and the property owner), prepare a financing agreement, and schedule a closing. Funds to initiate construction will be disbursed as provided in the financing agreement funds disbursement schedule.

The SIR tells all stakeholders whether a project will be cash-flow positive. Under the Delaware Energy Act of 2018, there is no requirement that C-PACE projects generate positive cash flow. Nevertheless, the program administrator (DESEU)  strongly recommends projects have an SIR>1 because: 

• Capital providers look favorably on projects that show positive cash flow over their lifetime,
• Mortgage holders are more likely to consent to the imposition of a voluntary benefit assessment for the projects that show positive cash flow, and
• In general, the higher the SIR, the greater the demonstrated environmental benefits, e.g., emissions reductions, of the project, which helps to support the goals of C-PACE.

The program administrator recommends that all projects conduct an energy audit to identify all possible measures that can be combined with a solar project in order to achieve a SIR>1. If solar PV is the only improvement of interest, a solar PV feasibility study is strongly encouraged. For multi-energy conservation measure (ECM) projects, the contractor providing the non-solar ECMs should refer to the Audit Recommendations section of the Program Guide.

Three years of utility data is preferred with a minimum of one year, during which time no major renovations should have taken place.  For more information, contact us.

Yes, if the work is related to the installation of eligible improvements. For example, if roof repair is required in order to install a solar PV system.

Yes. Since the energy savings are projected and future weather conditions are unknown, energy savings are projected using average conditions. These projections create baselines for the status quo (which assumes ECMs have not been installed) and for the projected case (which assumes the recommended ECMs have been installed).

All roof-mounted systems require an assessment and sign-off by a roofing contractor and a structural engineer. Refer to the Program Guide or contact us.

While the default electricity/fuel-cost escalation factors, which are based on industry best practice, should be used, the program administrator will consider higher factors if the contractor submits the rationale for, and the calculations used, to arrive at a different cost escalation factor.

Yes, but these savings must be directly related to the projected solar energy production.

Yes, although the default system performance degradation factor, which is based on industry best practice, should be used. To use a lower factor, the contractor must submit a rationale for, and the calculations used, to arrive at a different performance degradation factor.

Yes.

Yes, but there may be hurdles. First, the property owner would have to agree to a proposal that is not cash-flow positive. Next, the mortgage holder will have to consent to a project that will not improve the property owner’s ability to repay the mortgage. This approach should be discussed early in the process to minimize the chance that a project will fail after it has been developed.

The value of the MACRS is provided by the prospective property owner or his/her accountant.

No.

The cost of the inverter (extended) warranty should be included in the cost of the project.

Yes, the program administrator can and will assist in the preparation of an application, if needed.

Yes. For more information, refer to the Program Guide or contact us.

Yes.

0.5 percent.  A proposed de-rate factor that is less than 0.5 percent must be supported by data from the system’s manufacturer. In consultation with the solar contractor, any such proposal will be reviewed and either approved, modified, or rejected by the program administrator.

The system commissioning plan is intended to confirm that the proposed ECMs have been installed according to the manufacturers’ guidelines and that the system will perform as expected. Contractors are encouraged to prepare a commissioning report and submit it to the property owner and the program administrator. It should include as-built drawings, O&M manuals for each ECM, and a narrative appropriate for the size and complexity of the project.

Yes.

Yes.

There are many factors that can be adjusted, including cost, anticipated energy production, the potential use of tax credits, MACRS depreciation, and utility incentives. In addition, a property owner can directly invest in a project to reduce the financed amount and thereby increase the SIR. The program administrator  may be able to model different scenarios to find one that will appeal to the property owner and the mortgage holder. 

The program administrator  relies on cut-sheet data, which is combined with other project data included in the solar feasibility study, to confirm a project’s eligibility. 

C-PACE provides periodic training workshops for contractors free of charge. Visit the Events page for the schedule of upcoming workshops or email info@DelawareCPACE.org. You can also work with a property owner to submit a project application for consideration.

C-PACE involves multiple steps that include:

• Building selection and prequalification
• Project application
• Preliminary project scoping
• Proposal preparation and owner review
• Project scenario development and optimization
• Project technical review
• Financing
• Construction
• Commissioning

Timeframes are project-specific and depend on the number of parties involved. In a C-PACE project, the contractor, mortgage holder, and capital provider establish their own schedules with the property owner. Once a project has been approved for financing, it typically takes an average of 60 days to close.

Yes.

After a project has been reviewed by the program administrator and approved by the property owner and mortgage holder (if any), participating capital providers are offered the opportunity to finance the project. The capital provider (selected by the owner) will review the project documentation (provided by the program administrator and the property owner), prepare a financing agreement, and schedule a closing. Funds to initiate construction will be disbursed as provided in the financing agreement funds disbursement schedule.

The SIR tells all stakeholders whether a project will be cash-flow positive. Under the Delaware Energy Act of 2018, there is no requirement that C-PACE projects generate positive cash flow. Nevertheless, the program administrator (DESEU)  strongly recommends projects have an SIR>1 because: 

• Capital providers look favorably on projects that show positive cash flow over their lifetime,
• Mortgage holders are more likely to consent to the imposition of a voluntary benefit assessment for the projects that show positive cash flow, and
• In general, the higher the SIR, the greater the demonstrated environmental benefits, e.g., emissions reductions, of the project, which helps to support the goals of C-PACE.

The methodology for the savings projections is determined during the project development stage. In most cases, an ASHRAE Level I or II Audit will suffice. For single ECMs, such as a boiler replacement, the required documentation can be less comprehensive; however, it should facilitate an SIR calculation. For more information, refer to the C-PACE Program Guide.

Improvements that are eligible for C-PACE financing must be permanently affixed to the commercial or industrial property. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Automated building controls (such as BMS and EMS)
• Boilers, chillers, and furnaces
• Building envelope (such as insulation, glazing, windows)
• Combined heat and power (CHP) systems
• Fuel cells
• Geothermal systems
• High-efficiency lighting
• Hot water systems
• HVAC upgrades
• Hydroelectric systems
• Irrigation systems that improve water efficiency
• Roof replacement that improves energy efficiency (such as reflective/cool roof, enhanced insulation)
• Small wind systems
• Solar PV (roof upgrade/replacement for rooftop systems is also eligible)
• Solar thermal
• Waste heat recovery technologies
• Water efficient fixtures (such as low-flow faucets and toilets)

In addition, the cost of improvements that are directly related to the installation of eligible improvements may be included in the financing, e.g. roof upgrades to support a roof-mounted solar PV installation.

This list is not all-inclusive and is expected to change over time. If a proposed improvement or expense is not on this list, contact the program administrator with a description of the improvement or expense for consideration.

This scenario requires modeling. For specifics contact us.

Three years of utility data is preferred with a minimum of one year, during which time no major renovations should have taken place.  For more information, contact us.

Yes, provided it is related to the eligible improvement allowed under C-PACE. For instance, a roof or structural repair that is needed to support a solar system is eligible. The costs for such work will be added to the costs of the solar installation. These additional costs will reduce the SIR.

The program administrator recommends DOE’s eQuest or EnergyPro, although other models such as Trane’s Trace 700 and Carrier’s HAP model are also acceptable.

Yes. Since the energy savings are projected and future weather conditions are unknown, energy savings are projected using average conditions. These projections create baselines for the status quo (which assumes ECMs have not been installed) and for the projected case (which assumes the recommended ECMs have been installed).

Energy savings are calculated over the expected useful life of a specific ECM. In projects that incorporate multiple ECMs, the weighted useful life of the multiple ECMs is calculated and used to determine the maximum allowable finance term. 

While the default electricity/fuel-cost escalation factors, which are based on industry best practice, should be used, the program administrator will consider higher factors if the contractor submits the rationale for, and the calculations used, to arrive at a different cost escalation factor.

Yes, although the default system performance degradation factor, which is based on industry best practice, should be used. To use a lower factor, the contractor must submit a rationale for, and the calculations used, to arrive at a different performance degradation factor.

Yes, but there may be hurdles. First, the property owner would have to agree to a proposal that is not cash-flow positive. Next, the mortgage holder will have to consent to a project that will not improve the property owner’s ability to repay the mortgage. This approach should be discussed early in the process to minimize the chance that a project will fail after it has been developed.

There are many pieces to the puzzle, especially in projects with multiple ECMs. Some ECMs with a low SIR might be eliminated and/or owners can agree to directly invest in the project. 

Cut sheets provide a wealth of data from the manufacturer of the ECM. This data, when combined with other project data, is used by the program administrator to confirm project eligibility.

Yes, the program administrator can and will assist in the preparation of an application, if needed.

Yes.

The system commissioning plan is intended to confirm that the proposed ECMs have been installed according to the manufacturers’ guidelines and that the system will perform as expected. Contractors are encouraged to prepare a commissioning report and submit it to the property owner and the program administrator. It should include as-built drawings, O&M manuals for each ECM, and a narrative appropriate for the size and complexity of the project.