Home-Based Business Owners
Empower your home-based business with energy-saving upgrades
As a dedicated business owner, you can transform your home workspace into a more energy-efficient and comfortable environment. By installing energy-saving upgrades, you can lower maintenance costs for older, failing equipment and increase the comfort of your home. Partner with a qualified Energy Trust trade ally contractor on eligible projects and receive residential incentives as a discount on your invoice, or as a reimbursement self-installation after the project is complete.
If you are running commercial equipment from your home, there may be additional incentives available on equipment upgrades and retrofits.
The following steps are for Oregon single-family and manufactured homes, and Washington single-family homes, manufactured homes, side-by-side, duplex, triplex and fourplex properties. For Oregon side-by-side, duplex, triplex, fourplex and other multifamily (5+ units) properties, see existing multifamily cash incentives for the full list of incentives, eligibility and application details.
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Check your eligibility.
Read More >If you live in Oregon, you must be a customer of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas or Avista and own or rent a single-family or manufactured home.
If you live in Washington, you must be a customer of NW Natural and own or rent a single-family home, manufactured home, side-by-side property, duplex, triplex or fourplex property.
Please see Details tab for additional requirements.
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Complete a free home energy assessment and receive tailored solutions.
Online home energy assessment: Receive personalized recommendations by completing an online assessment. Review what you need to prepare for the assessment.
In-home energy assessment: You may be eligible to receive personalized recommendations by having a knowledgeable staff person from an Energy Trust community partner complete an in-person walkthrough.
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Review eligible home energy upgrades and programs.
Contractor installed incentives: Home energy upgrade incentives available through installation with our Trade Ally Network or self-installation. See the Details tab for available incentives and program coverage.
Solar: Save on energy bills with solar and add battery storage for backup power through installation with our Trade Ally Network. Increased incentives available for income-qualified homes.
Multifamily: For information on incentives available to home-based businesses conducted out of multifamily properties, see existing Multifamily cash incentives.
*Product discounts: Discounts for products that can be self-installed and is available through local retailers and our marketplace. Products include air purifiers, LED grow lights, washers and dryers, gas tank and heat pump water heaters, and smart thermostats.
*Product discounts do not require Step 4.
See the Resources tab for how to pick the right upgrade for you.
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Contact an Energy Trust trade ally contractor or self-install and submit forms.
Energy Trust trade ally installations and solar: To receive an Energy Trust cash incentive, contact a qualified Energy Trust trade ally contractor. These incentives can be directly paid to you or paid to the contractors and discounted on the final invoice so there is a lower out-of-pocket cost for you. These incentive applications are filled out and submitted on your behalf by the trade ally.
Self-install: Sign and submit your application within 60 days of installation. Please allow six to eight weeks for incentive processing and payment.
Download Incentive Application
Send by Mail
Energy Trust of Oregon
Residential
818 SW 3rd Ave #215
Portland, OR 97204Send by Email
residentialforms@energytrust.orgSend by Fax
1.866.516.7592
Contractor installed incentives:
In some cases, we offer increased incentive programs beyond our standard incentives. To determine eligibility please review below.
- Community Partner Funding: For individuals working with participating community-based organizations.
- Savings Within Reach: For low and moderate income-qualified households.
- Rentals: For Oregon single-family and manufactured home rentals, and Washington single-family, manufactured home, side-by-side, duplex, triplex and fourplex rentals.
Click on each upgrade type in the table below to see eligibility and application details.** These must be installed by Energy Trust trade ally contractors. Some of the incentives are available for self-installation. Call our general call center line at 1.866.368.7878 to receive pre-approval on self-installation and review our installation requirements.
**For Oregon side-by-side, duplex, triplex, fourplex and other multifamily (5+ units) properties, see existing multifamily cash incentives for the full list of incentives, eligibility and application details.
| Type | Upgrade | Oregon | Washington Single-Family, Manufactured, Side-by-side, Duplex, Triple and Fourplex Properties | |||
| Single-Family and Manufactured | **Side-by-side, Duplex, Triplex and Fourplex Properties | |||||
| Community Partner Funding | Savings Within Reach | Standard | ||||
| Cooling & Heating Solutions | Ducted Heat Pump | *X | X | X | X | |
| Ductless Heat Pump | X | X | X | X | ||
| Extended Capacity Heat Pump | X | X | X | X | ||
| Extended Capacity Heat Pump (replacing electric furnace) | X | X | X | X | ||
| Heat Pump Controls | X | X | X | |||
| Central Air Conditioner | X | X | ||||
| Gas Furnace | X | X | X | X | ||
| Fireplaces | Gas Fireplace | X | X | X | ||
| Insulation | Attic Insulation | X | X | X | X | X |
| Floor Insulation | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Wall Insulation | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Water Heater | Gas Tank Water Heater | X | X | |||
| Heat Pump Water Heater | *X | X | ||||
| Tankless Water Heater | X | X | X | |||
| Window | Windows | X | X | X | X | |
* = no-cost option may be available
- Contractor selection tips: See tips for selecting a contractor
- DIY tips + resources: Information on low-cost ways to save energy
- Cooling solutions: Choosing the right home cooling solution
- Fireplace: Everything you need to know about gas fireplaces
- Heating solutions: Choosing the right home heating solution
- Heat pumps: An introduction to heat pumps
- Insulation: Get to know your insulation options
- Smart thermostat: Find the right smart thermostat for your home
- Water heater: What to consider when buying a new water heater
- Window: Signs your windows may need to be replaced
Community resources:
- Additional promotions: Special promotions offered by our trade allies
- Income-qualified resources: Energy and weatherization programs available through local community action agencies and other community service providers
Energy Trust Call Center:
General: 1.866.368.7878
Spanish: 1.877.408.9624
Tax credits: You may be able to combine your Energy Trust cash incentives with federal tax credits to help you save even more. Visit the tax credits page or view the IRS’s fact sheet for more information on eligible upgrades.
Home-based businesses are businesses that primarily operate out of a residence. This page describes home-based businesses conducted out of detached single-family and manufactured homes. For information on incentives available to home-based businesses conducted out of multifamily property types, see existing multifamily cash incentives.
For all non-standard incentives (i.e. Savings Within Reach, Community Partner Funding), Energy Trust requires working with a contractor from our network of licensed and insured independent trade allies, because they are trained on these specialized incentives’ qualification rules and restrictions.
For all standard incentives, Energy Trust recommends working with our trade allies, because they are up-to-date on the latest Energy Trust standards, quality control requirements and incentives. They may also help you complete your cash incentive applications. Overall, trade allies receive additional training and support that Energy Trust does not provide to nonaffiliated contractors. However, you can work with nonaffiliated contractors to receive most of our standard incentives.
Energy Trust recommends getting at least three bids, so you can compare your options and ensure you get the expertise and quality you need, but it is not a requirement to participate.
No, the following can be self-installed without pre-approval.
- Air purifiers
- LED grow lights
- Washers and dryers
- Gas tank water heaters
- Smart thermostats
The following can be self-installed with pre-approval from Energy Trust by calling our general call center line at 1.866.368.7878:
- Insulation
- Heat pump water heaters
A contractor must conduct all other installations to receive the Energy Trust incentive.
No, each improvement is eligible for only one incentive. For example, if you install wall insulation, you must choose either the Savings Within Reach incentive or the standard Energy Trust incentive.
Pre-approval is required for insulation and heat pump water heaters. Call our general call center line at 1.866.368.7878 to receive pre-approval on your self-installation and review our installation requirements.
The following can be self-installed without pre-approval.
- Air purifiers
- LED grow lights
- Washers and dryers
- Gas tank water heaters
- Smart thermostats
Yes, you can find additional information on our renters page. Most upgrades require landlord approval.