Funding for Efficiency

PROJECT FUNDING SOLUTIONS

Investing upfront in a project can be daunting, but TPI has financing solutions to make energy efficiency affordable and obtainable.

Our pay-as-you-go, leasing, service contracts, and on-bill funding options allow you to upgrade equipment and pay over time from savings—no high upfront costs.

How

Intelligent, efficient investment decisions.

With a network of partners, from utilities to financial institutions, a simple discussion with your TPI consultant will open the world of funding options for your next project.

The bottom line? TPI’s Project Funding Support clears the financial hurdles, empowering you to reap the long-term benefits of sustainability with minimal strain on cash flow today.

$0 Down and Pay-As-You-Go Financing Options at a Glance

These financing options allow organizations to implement energy-saving projects without upfront capital investment, enabling companies to pay for the projects over time.

The flexibility of a pay-as-you-go program allows you to cancel any further project work without any long-term commitment.

Equipment Leases

Our Equipment Leases offer a hassle-free way for organizations to access energy-efficient equipment as an op-ex expense.

With the cost spread over the lease term, it’s a flexible and convenient option that empowers you to make sustainable choices without a significant upfront purchase.

On-Bill Funding

On-bill financing programs allow organizations to finance energy efficiency projects through utility bills with repayments based on the projected energy savings.

As A Service Funding

This program allows a finance company to own the equipment while your organization pays for it out of monthly savings. Thus, you can make money immediately instead of incurring expenses!

Funding Options

How We're enabling businesses to implement energy & efficiency projects with minimal upfront costs

- Equipment Leases: TPI offers equipment leases, allowing businesses to access energy-efficient equipment with payments treated as operational expenses. Costs are spread out over the lease term, removing the barrier of large upfront purchases and allowing for immediate upgrades to sustainable technologies.
- Grants: Non-repayable funds from government programs or foundations, often used for specific upgrades or community-focused projects.
- Rebates: Partial refunds on qualified purchases—typically provided by utilities or manufacturers—to reduce initial expenses for adopting energy-efficient technologies.
- Tax Credits: Direct incentives that reduce tax liability when businesses invest in eligible energy efficiency projects.
- Loans: Capital borrowed (sometimes with favorable interest rates) that is paid back over time, making larger projects more accessible without significant initial investment.
- Leasing Models: Both capital and operating leases, which either transfer or do not transfer equipment ownership after the lease period, depending on the business’s needs.
- PACE Financing: Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) funding attaches loan payments to property tax bills, allowing for long-term financing that is repaid via property assessments—ideal for energy or water efficiency and renewable projects.
- Energy Performance Contracts (EPC/ESPC): Businesses pay for upgrades out of the actual energy savings generated from the project, with performance risk assumed by an Energy Service Company (ESCo).
- Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs): For renewable energy installations, the business pays for the power produced on-site by a third party that owns and maintains the equipment.
- Energy Savings Agreements: Providers fund and install efficiency measures, and the business pays a service fee based on realized ongoing savings.

Efficiency as a Service (EaaS) Funding:

What is Efficiency as a Service (EaaS)?

Efficiency as a Service (EaaS) is a financing model that allows businesses to implement energy-saving upgrades without requiring upfront capital investment. Instead of purchasing equipment outright, customers pay for efficiency improvements through a portion of the energy savings generated by the project.

How It Works

Assessment & Project Design: Our team evaluates your facility to identify energy-saving opportunities using technologies like LED lighting, air compressors, solar, CHP, power quality solutions, SmartValve, and other conservation measures.
Project Implementation: We fully fund and install the upgrades with no upfront cost to you.
Performance-Based Payments: You pay a fixed fee based on achieved energy savings, ensuring positive cash flow from day one.
Ongoing Maintenance & Support: We monitor and maintain the systems to ensure maximum efficiency and sustained savings over time.
Shared Savings Model: At the end of the agreement, you may have the option to extend the service, purchase the equipment, or transition to another efficiency project.

Who Can Benefit?

Mid-sized industrial and commercial businesses looking to reduce energy costs and improve operational efficiency without impacting their capital budgets.

Let us help you achieve energy efficiency and financial savings without the burden of upfront costs. Contact us today to explore how Efficiency as a Service can work for you.

Key Benefits of EaaS

Zero Capital Expenditure: Preserve your cash for core business operations without upfront investment.
Immediate Savings: Lower utility costs from day one with no financial risk.
Off-Balance Sheet Financing: Payments are treated as operating expenses rather than capital expenditures.
Expert Maintenance & Support: We handle all maintenance, ensuring continued efficiency and reliability.

Every dollar saved on energy boosts your profit margin.

TPI Efficiency’s Energy Savings Calculator shows exactly where your business can reduce costs—without disrupting operations or requiring upfront investment.

Get your custom benchmark report and see how optimization could improve your ROI immediately.

Calculate your opportunity today and uncover your hidden savings potential.

Common Financial Terms for Funding Energy Efficiency & Projects

When financing Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) or broader energy efficiency projects, several key financial terms and mechanisms are frequently used. Understanding these improves communication with stakeholders, helps assess funding options, and facilitates decision-making.

Core Financial Terms & Mechanisms

Grant: Non-repayable funds, often provided by government agencies or foundations, are used to support specific types of ECM upgrades (such as retrofits for low-income housing or community projects).
Rebate: Partial refunds are offered after purchasing energy-efficient products, typically by utilities or manufacturers, to reduce upfront costs and encourage investment in efficient equipment.
Tax Credit: Directly minimizes the tax liability for individuals or businesses investing in eligible energy efficiency projects, providing a financial incentive to undertake upgrades.
Loan: Borrowed capital (sometimes at low or special interest rates) to finance ECMs, with repayment spread over time. These loans may be supported or guaranteed by governments or utilities to make projects more accessible.
Lease: Allows use of energy-saving equipment without complete upfront purchase—options include capital leases (which eventually transfer ownership) and operating leases (without transfer of ownership).
PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy): Financing tied to property tax bills, enabling long-term funding for energy or water efficiency and renewable projects; repaid as an assessment on the property.
Energy Performance Contract (EPC or ESPC): A financing approach where payment for upgrades is tied to actual energy savings. Upgrades are implemented by an Energy Service Company (ESCo), which assumes performance risk. Cost savings from reduced energy bills are used to pay project costs over time.
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): Particularly relevant for renewable energy integration, a PPA allows a third party to own and operate equipment (such as solar panels). At the same time, the building purchases the power produced, often at a fixed rate.
Energy Savings Agreement: An arrangement where a provider funds and installs ECMs, and the customer pays a portion of the ongoing savings as a service fee.

Additional Financial Concepts

Simple Payback Period: The time required for the cost savings from ECMs to equal the initial investment is a standard metric for evaluating the viability of a project.
Return on Investment (ROI): The percentage return earned on the invested capital over time, factoring in savings from reduced energy costs.

Trusted Partners

With access to over 150 suppliers and decades of experience, we help organizations reduce operating costs, improve efficiency, and achieve environmental goals through tailored strategies and objective advice. TUG’s longstanding presence in Cincinnati and Dayton, paired with TPI’s established operations in Cleveland, means we now offer our clients an even broader geographic reach and enhanced resources.