Helping you keep your community cool
The summers in Oregon are getting warmer, which is a safety hazard for the vulnerable people in our communities who don’t have a place to stay cool. Energy Trust of Oregon is helping multifamily property owners and managers create onsite cooling spaces for their residents. In many cases, the reimbursement covers up to 100% of the cost of cooling equipment.
Who can participate?
This offer is for all property managers and owners of multifamily housing and manufactured home parks in Oregon, particularly those that do not provide in-unit cooling and serve vulnerable populations.
What is a Landlord Provided Cooling Space?
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Equipment capacity requirements
Extreme heat events call for more cooling power, so please use the cooling system capacity guide developed by Energy Trust to identify the correct unit size to meet incentive requirements. Available cooling equipment like portable and non-portable air conditioners require different power needs to maintain an 80-degree Fahrenheit temperature during heat waves. For example,
- In spaces smaller than 400 square feet, landlords can simply purchase a plug-in portable or window air conditioner and receive a rebate up to the full cost.
- In spaces larger than 400 square feet, Energy Trust will provide 1:1 engineering support to help determine the spaces’ cooling capacity to determine the type of cooling equipment needed.
For more details about equipment capacity requirements, see the cooling system capacity guide below.
*Note that the standard cooling capacity and square footage information provided by retailers and manufacturers is intended for a typical temperature range. That’s why we calculated an offering-specific chart to assist in selecting the best equipment to meet the sizing requirements that will adequately cool your common space measurements during extreme heat events.
Need answers or assistance?
We’re here to help. You can contact an energy advisor for technical and cooling system capacity guide assistance, contractor referrals or any other questions you have about the offering.
community.cooling@energytrust.org
1.888.889.0018
How to receive cooling space incentives
Step 1: Check your eligibility
The Landlord Provided Cooling Space offer is available for common areas in multifamily buildings or manufactured home parks anywhere in Oregon.
All multifamily properties are eligible to receive incentives. See incentive details here.
We’re here to help! If you have questions during any step in this process, please contact us at community.cooling@energytrust.org or 1.888.889.0018.
Step 2: Identify your space and equipment options
- Measure the square footage of the room you plan to use as a cooling space.
- Estimate how many people you think will use your cooling space at one time.
- Refer to the cooling system capacity guide or reach out to an energy advisor to figure out what equipment you’ll need. Larger spaces that fit more people will need more cooling.
- If your space is more than 400 square feet or does not fit the guidelines on the chart, contact us before starting your project and we will provide technical assistance to confirm the correct size for the type of equipment you wish to purchase. This is required to make sure your equipment will meet extreme heat requirements.
- If your property does not have a suitable space, it is possible to establish one off-site at a nearby location for your residents. Consider partnering with a local organization to create an off-site location.
Cooling System Capacity Guide
To find the right equipment that meets the legislative requirement of maintaining a community cooling space at a temperature of not higher than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, use the chart below and contact an offering representative if you have questions or for spaces that fall outside of chart.
Buildings built before 1975
| Cooling space size (square feet) |
Number of expected occupants |
Capacity required for extreme heat (BTU/hr) |
You can achieve the required cooling with one of the following options: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity of portable A/C units |
Quantity of window A/C units |
Quantity of ductless heat pump, heat pump or hard wired AC |
|||
| 100 | 5 | 12,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | 15,000 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| 200 | 5 | 20,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 |
| 10 | 22,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 | |
| 20 | 24,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 | |
| 300 | 5 | 27,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 |
| 10 | 28,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 | |
| 20 | 32,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 | |
| 400** | 5 | 33,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 |
| 10 | 35,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 | |
| 20 | 38,000 | 2 | 2* | 1 | |
Buildings built in 1975 or later
| Cooling space size (square feet) |
Number of expected occupants |
Capacity required for extreme heat (BTU/hr) |
You can achieve the required cooling with one of the following options: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity of portable A/C units |
Quantity of window A/C units |
Quantity of ductless heat pump, heat pump or hard wired AC |
|||
| 100 | 5 | 6,000 | 1 | 1 | – |
| 10 | 8,000 | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 200 | 5 | 7,000 | 1 | 1 | – |
| 10 | 9,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 20 | 12,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 300 | 5 | 9,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | 10,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 20 | 13,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 400** | 5 | 9,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | 12,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 20 | 14,000 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
* Requires two separate windows in the same room
** If your space does not fit the chart’s guidelines, it may still be eligible for this offering.
Step 3: Purchase your equipment
Multifamily properties and manufactured home parks in Oregon can get 100% of project costs reimbursed, up to a maximum of:
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- $1,400 for portable or window air conditioners (maximum of $700 per unit)
- $7,000 for ductless heat pumps, heat pumps and hard-wired air conditioners
Please keep in mind equipment needs to meet the offering’s minimum cooling load and system performance guidelines for extreme weather events to be eligible for the incentive. Standard manufacturer and energy-efficiency guidelines will not be sufficient.
Step 4: Install your equipment
For portable and window air conditioners please refer to the manufacturer guidelines for installation. You may self-install window or portable units if the windows open. No more than two portable or window units can be installed in a single room.
If the windows don’t open, install a ductless heat pump, a heat pump, or a hard-wired air conditioner. If you have questions, please contact our team and we can help advise on your project and connect you with an HVAC contractor that is familiar with this offering. If you have on-site facility personnel who can complete the installation, please connect with our team first to ensure proper system sizing and selection.
Step 5: Send in your incentive application
Complete the application and follow submission instructions on the form.
- Incentive Application: Form 2020 (Online using DocuSign)
- Incentive Application: Form 2020 (Download the Fillable PDF)
- Incentive Application: Form 2020 (Word)
Applications must be submitted within 90 days of installation and must include:
- Copies of invoices or receipts for equipment purchased and, if applicable, installation cost
- Photos of the installed equipment
- Photos of equipment packaging or manufacturer spec sheet showing make, model and cooling capacity (BTU/hr)
- Completed W-9 form for the payee receiving the payment
- If the incentive will be paid to your contractor, also complete the Assign Incentive Payment and W9 (Online using DocuSign)
After submitting a complete application, the check will be mailed within 6-8 weeks.
Step 6: Maintain your equipment for best efficiency
Read the user manual for your purchased equipment and follow manufacturer maintenance guidelines. Use the helpful links below for additional resources on how to maintain your cooling equipment.
How can we help you?
Please schedule a call with one of our energy advisors who will answer your questions and walk through available cooling options for your space.
community.cooling@energytrust.org
1.888.889.0018
FAQ
What is a Landlord Provided Cooling Space?
A Landlord Provided Cooling Space is a room where a building’s tenants can go that is cooled to 80°F or lower and can accommodate five (5) or more people. This landlord operated room is available during extreme heat events. The cooling space may be located in an on-site common area or at a nearby, off-site location.
If your property doesn’t have a suitable space, you could collaborate with a neighboring location, such as a church, and apply for funding to install cooling equipment there. Off-site cooling sites must be within ¼ mile of your property or there needs to be a plan to provide transportation to the site. If you are considering this option, contact us at community.cooling@energytrust.org or 1.888.889.0018 for more information.
Do you need to be served by one of Energy Trust’s partner utilities (PGE, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas or Avista) to apply for and receive funding through the Landlord Provided Cooling Spaces initiative?
No, this initiative is available to any multifamily property or manufactured home park in Oregon, with a focus on properties where residents lack in-unit cooling.
Is a landlord provided cooling space different from the emergency cooling center at the school or library in my neighborhood?
Yes, A landlord provided cooling space is only available to the residents at the property – not the general public.
Following the deadly heat wave of 2021, Oregon passed legislation to reduce the risk of more heat-related deaths. This legislation kicked off a statewide effort to support cooling resources at or near multifamily housing properties, especially those without in-unit cooling and that serve vulnerable populations.
The residents in my complex would prefer to stay in their own units. Is there assistance for residents or landlords to install in-unit cooling?
The Landlord Provided Cooling Spaces initiative only provides funding for common-area cooling, not in-unit cooling. Energy Trust of Oregon offers incentives on many in-unit cooling options. There are other organizations that may help with in-unit cooling equipment. We will link resources here as they become available.