Energy efficiency and renewable energy
Learn how to plan and implement a PCEF Community Responsive Grant project that includes energy efficiency and renewable energy installations.
Eligible Measures
These are minimum requirements for eligible energy efficiency and renewable energy measures and how funding can be applied to other improvements. Please note we have made changes to the eligible measures list.
Quality Assurance
All PCEF-funded clean energy implementation projects are required to participate in a quality assurance process which is specific to the type of project.
Residential energy efficiency. Single-family and multifamily residential projects that include energy efficiency measures will be assigned a PCEF quality assurance (QA) provider. The QA provider will review and approve scopes of work and equipment specifications before work can begin. This is an important step that helps QA providers communicate PCEF standards to grantees and contractors in advance, ensuring that projects are on the right track from the beginning. When a project is complete, QA providers perform inspection and verification.
Commercial energy efficiency. Commercial projects that include energy efficiency are required to obtain third-party verification. Grantees should include the cost of third-party energy saving analysis and equipment commissioning in their project budget.
Solar. When solar is included in a project that also has energy efficiency work, the QA provider will work with the grantee to ensure delivery of required documents. If the project is only a solar project, the grantee will provide required documents directly to the PCEF program.
- Solar required documents include:
- Final city inspection.
- Permission to Operate (PTO) from the utility.
- Community solar required documents include:
- Interconnection study through solar installer with property utility.
- Pre-certification through an Oregon Community Solar-approved project manager who registers the project with the Public Utility Commission (PUC).
- Commissioning through property utility.
Contractor guidance
Installation checklists. The PCEF installation checklists provide critical information regarding the steps required to properly install clean energy measures. These checklists are designed to be used by contractors performing work on PCEF projects. They contain technical- and construction-specific language and information. Contractors on PCEF grants are required to submit relevant checklists to the program’s quality assurance (QA) provider after each installation. Due to the number of documents, these checklists are included at the bottom of this webpage. Spanish versions of the checklists are also included. More will be added once they are available.
Heat pump installation checklists. It is essential that installed heat pumps are properly sizedto ensure utility cost savings. All heat pumps with back-up heat that are installed in single-family homes require a balance point sizing calculation to determine the lock-out temperature; this minimizes use of back-up heat and maximizes use of the heat pump. The system capacity must match the heat load calculation requirements as close as possible. PCEF recommends using the Better Buildings Northwest HVAC sizing tool, or other approved sizing tool.
PCEF has two new ductless and ducted heat pump installation checklists for replacing existing heating with a new heat pump.
Asbestos. Contractors and grantees are required to follow the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) rules and procedures as referenced in Updated Asbestos Rules and Asbestos Survey Requirements.
If asbestos is disturbed without following EPA and DEQ rules and procedures, the following will occur:
- PCEF will report the incident to the DEQ.
- An indoor air quality test will be required to be performed by a certified DEQ Accredited Asbestos Inspector.
- The contractor will be notified, and PCEF’s response will be tailored to the circumstances. This may include not allowing the contractor to work on PCEF-funded projects.
Installation checklists (see section above):