Multifamily FAQs

Multifamily Business Energy Solutions offers property investors with five units or more the opportunity to reduce the costs of a typical weatherization project by up to 50 percent. We offer application assistance for cash incentives from Energy Trust. We help simplify the application process by handling all paperwork for the applicant and by offering practical, technical and financial advice – all at no cost to the participant or to you.

Any Oregon multifamily property with five units or more served by Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural or Cascade Natural Gas is eligible for either tax credits, cash incentives or both. Please call if you have a question about a property's eligibility.

Multifamily is defined as a complex of five units and larger, including condominium properties. (For example, a complex of five adjoining duplex structures will be considered a multifamily property of ten units.) Single, duplex, triplex and fourplex properties are served separately under Home Energy Solutions. If your client has a single-family or small-multifamily property, please contact Energy Trust at 1.866.368.7878 to get started.

Multifamily features no-cost energy assessments, technical advice and cash incentives from Energy Trust. Examples of available incentives include insulation, replacement windows, HVAC, exterior doors, water heaters, common area lighting and washing machines (See Section 3 for a full listing of cash incentives). The program also installs free compact fluorescent light bulbs, showerheads, faucet aerators.

Energy Trust of Oregon, Inc. is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to energy efficiency and renewable energy development. Its mission is to change how Oregonians produce and use energy by investing in efficient technologies and renewable resources that develop new sources of clean energy, help Oregonians lower their energy bills, stimulate the economy, and protect the environment. Energy Trust is the primary funding source for cash incentives and program administration costs.

Multifamily is administered by Lockheed Martin.

Energy Trust of Oregon receives a portion of the public purpose funds collected from the customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas.

Contractors may view eligibility and requirements information, or may call Dan Wilkinson at 503.243.7687.

Benefits include referrals, co-op marketing opportunities, training and technical assistance, among others. Please contact Dan Wilkinson at 503.243.7687 for more information.

Yes. If the customer is prepared to accept the contractor's full package bid, it may be submitted to the Multifamily program to begin the process.

A customer should contact Energy Trust of Oregon at 1.866.368.7878 to get started, or submit Form 320M directly to a Multifamily project manager. A completed Form 320M is needed to reserve an incentive.

Incentive funds will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Though it is not required that Form 320M be submitted prior to beginning a project, we encourage contractors to contact the Multifamily program as early as possible so that we can help you identify and prioritize available incentives.

The contractor or customer submits a completed copy of Form 320M to a project manager. Multifamily program staff will review the incentive application, request any missing information and notify the property owner of application receipt and approval by phone or email. Form 320M is generally be processed within two business days after all required information has been submitted by the applicant. Incentive funds are reserved after Form 320 M has been approved by a project manager.

With the exception of appliances, all Multifamily projects are inspected by a field advisor to ensure compliance with Energy Trust’s Weatherization Specifications Manual. When the project has passed inspection, a final invoice from the contractor is needed to complete the incentive process and issue the Completion Certificate (Form 340M). Incentive checks are normally mailed within four weeks after Form 340M has been signed by the participant and returned to the project manager.

To qualify for an incentive, replacement windows must have a U-value of 0.30 or less and must be installed according to Energy Trust’s Weatherization Specifications Manual. The project must also pass an inspection by a Multifamily field advisor. Additionally, the building(s) must be properly insulated in the attic and floor; see insulation requirements below. If existing insulation meets the minimum requirement, the owner must complete a common-area lighting upgrade to receive the window incentive.

There are two options for helping the customer. They are listed below in order of preferred use:

• A contractor may measure the existing insulation levels. –or-
• A request may be made to the Multifamily program to schedule an insulation check.

To qualify for windows incentives, Energy Trust requires properties to meet minimum insulation levels. If levels are below requirements—R-11 in the floor and R-19 in the attic—insulation is required. If insulation is not needed, Energy Trust requires common-area lighting be upgraded to high-efficiency fixtures. A windows-only incentive is only permitted if attic and floor insulation are not needed and there is no opportunity to upgrade common-area lighting.

Insulation is very cost effective; therefore, there are no restrictions on the number of measures required to receive an incentive for insulation. Customers may be eligible for incentives and tax credits for ceiling, floor and duct insulation. To qualify for insulation incentives, the following requirements must be met:

Yes, to qualify for a windows incentive, insulation levels in all areas must meet the established minimum requirements.

If insulation is not needed or is not possible (i.e. a slab foundation), the participant is required to complete a common-area lighting upgrade. A windows-only incentive is available if there is no opportunity to install high-efficiency lighting fixtures.

Yes. A minimum of 10 percent of the units of each property will have an on-site inspection. The inspection follows the guidelines and requirements in the most current Energy Trust Weatherization Specifications Manual. Inspection can occur after installation of at least 70 percent of the eligible measures. Insulation must be fully installed prior to the inspection.

Contractors are asked to adhere to the most current Energy Trust Weatherization Specifications Manual.

When you are close to completion, schedule an inspection through your project manager. Most inspections are scheduled when all measures have been installed.

Yes. Green Street Lending is an alliance formed between Umpqua Bank and Energy Trust to offer low-interest loans to eligible participants seeking incentives through Energy Trust using a registered Trade Ally.

Yes. Certain Do-it-Yourself installations by owners are eligible for Multifamily incentives. If a customer is interested in self-install incentives, please contact us at 1.866.368.7878 to assure compliance with program requirements.