Free Assessments

Here are some easy (and free!) ways to explore your business’s opportunities for efficiency.

One-Stop Efficiency Shop

The One-Stop Efficiency Shop^® is a full-service program available to Xcel Energy's Minnesota small business customers (those with a monthly electric demand of 400 kilowatts or less). One-Stop representatives can offer suggestions to improve lighting and HVAC systems, and they will walk with you through all the steps to savings — from the initial audit to submitting rebate paperwork.

Commercial Refrigeration Efficiency

Refrigeration systems can be a significant source of energy use in grocery, liquor, and convenience stores. Xcel Energy’s free, on-site refrigeration assessments offer a convenient way to determine how your business can reduce energy use and costs. Plus, you'll receive complimentary, energy-saving products that will be installed on the spot. Xcel Energy electric customers with a peak monthly demand of 400 kilowatts or less are eligible.

Minnesota Energy Smart

An Energy Smart staff member will walk through your facility, look at energy-consuming equipment, and identify strategies to reduce energy usage.

You receive a summary indicating top energy-saving opportunities, next steps, and a list of the financial incentives that may available. Energy conservation improvement options will be broken down by level of opportunity to provide a great sense of which opportunities are most promising. 

Whole Building Energy Audits and Assessments

When your business needs more information to make the right decisions and get the most from an energy efficiency project, there are resources to help. Larger businesses and those with specific needs can especially benefit from the assessments and studies listed below.

If you have an Xcel Energy account manager, you can always reach out to them with any questions about how to save energy.

Turn Key Services

With Turn Key Services, an energy advisor will conduct an ASHRAE Level 1 assessment at your facility to identify what types of equipment upgrades would have the biggest impact on reducing your energy costs. Plus, if your building is less than 250,000 square feet, you'll also receive a recommissioning or tune-up analysis to identify low- and no-cost adjustments that can be made to existing equipment to reduce energy use.

Energy Assessments & System Studies

When you need smart insights and great advice, Xcel Energy offers other energy assessments and system studies to keep you and your organization in the lead. Visit Xcel Energy’s website to see which of these may be a good fit for your company or organization.

Rebates

There are valuable rebates available for a wide variety energy efficiency projects. You can learn about program specifics, including updates and new offerings, by calling 855-839-8862.

HVAC and Refrigeration

Save energy and money by taking steps to boost the efficiency of your HVAC and refrigeration systems. Or, if it’s time for a replacement, upgrade to a high-efficiency system. You can earn rebates on a wide range of energy efficient equipment. 

Food service equipment

A great option for restaurants: Xcel Energy offers rebates for efficient foodservice equipment to help offset the initial cost of installation. With new, efficient equipment, you’ll enjoy energy savings and lower operating costs year after year.

Lighting

Save your business money with lighting efficiency improvements. With Xcel Energy’s lighting rebates, you can lower your upfront costs and speed up payback on a wide range of lighting efficiency improvement projects, including LED upgrades.

Custom Efficiency

If you want to install energy-saving equipment for your business that doesn’t fit under an existing rebate category, there’s still a great option to receive an incentive for those savings! This program is designed for projects and equipment that save energy but do not meet the requirements for standard rebate offerings. You must get pre-approval before purchasing equipment or making improvements in order to qualify.

Financing

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)

PACE is a new way to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades for commercial property owners. Project financing is repaid as a separate item on the owner’s property tax assessment for a set period. PACE eliminates the burden of upfront costs by providing low-cost, long-term financing.

Trillion BTU Financing

Trillion BTU Financing can cover up to 100% of the costs for energy projects and is offered through a partnership between The Saint Paul Port Authority, Xcel Energy, the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), the Minnesota Legislature and the U.S. Department of Energy, with Xcel Energy covering most of the program’s operating expenses.

Commercial Energy Efficiency Loan Program

The Commercial Energy Efficiency Loan Program provides up to $100,000 in financing to businesses making cost-effective energy efficiency improvements.

Business Loan Programs

Nonprofit organizations interested in making energy upgrades can apply for loans of up to $25,000 through the Energy Savings Fund for Nonprofits.

Nonprofit Loan Program