Green Energy - Business Programs
Solar Daylighting
TEP is offering nonresidential customers rebates to encourage the installation of Solar Daylighting Systems. Daylighting is the use of natural light to illuminate interiors of buildings while reducing heat or energy produced from traditional lighting sources.
How does Daylighting work and what products qualify for the program?
In essence, Daylighting captures and redirects the visible portion of the solar light beam while controlling the infrared portion. Daylighting includes strategically placed windows, transparent materials and other reflective surfaces work in harmony to provide effective illumination of interior spaces. Energy savings are realized by reduced electric loads during daylight hours and from the passive use of solar heating or cooling in a controlled environment.
Qualifying Daylighting systems include Skylights with controls.
Skylights are roof coverings used to admit natural light. High-performance skylights incorporate reflectors or prismatic lenses to help offset heat gain during peak daylight hours. Another option is light pipes or tubes which transport natural light into work spaces offering more flexibility for use in inner rooms and in deep-roof construction.
Daylighting Controls &mdash (must be included if artificial lighting remains a part of installation) This form of daylighting consists of lighting and occupancy sensors used to control the electric lighting system at your place of business.
- Light sensors have a photoelectric eye that measures the amount of light in the work space and adjusts the lights accordingly.
- Occupancy sensors use infrared or ultrasonic light to turn lighting on or off when someone enters or leaves a room. They work well in low use areas where foot traffic is light, such as storage rooms and restrooms.
Other examples of Daylighting (rebates not available; click for more information)
What are the benefits of Daylighting?
- Produces no emissions and is replenished naturally
- Reduces greenhouse gases
- Saves the release of 2 lbs. of carbon dioxide (CO2) for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity consumption annually reduced by your Daylighting system
- Saves one-half gallon of water for each kWh of electricity consumption annually reduced by your Daylighting system
- Saves the release of other emissions that result from the burning of fossil fuels such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide or mercury
- Daylighting can be a very cost effective solution for your business. It can in some cases pay for itself in less than two years. Again, consult with a daylighting professional for the benefits that can be realized in your specific application.
- Provides customers with options to reduce their electric bills. For every kWh of electricity consumption annually reduced by your Daylighting system, you will avoid about 10 cents (including taxes) on your electric bill.
- Improves energy security
Is Daylighting right for me?
Because of the specialized nature of Daylighting you should consult with a Daylighting industry specialist to determine the options available and benefits for your specific application. In many cases Daylighting can provide reductions of over 50 percent of energy consumption on an annual basis. However, in other cases, such as nighttime-occupancy buildings, little if any benefits are possible.
What rebates are available to TEP customers?
2008 and 2009 Rebate Schedule
| Up Front Incentive | |
| 20-Year REC Agreement | |
| DAYLIGHTING (Non-Residential) |
$0.20/kWh Rate applies to measured first five years of energy savings only. Payments are made over a five year period. |
Up Front Incentive (UFI) provides customers a one-time payment based on their system size, which is in watts per AC (alternating current). In turn the customer would a sign a credit purchase agreement assigning TEP the Renewable Energy Credits (REC) for 20 years.
Customers may qualify for federal and state tax benefits to further reduce the cost of the system. Talk with a tax professional about current incentives available to you for renewable energy systems. You can also view federal and state incentives at dsireusa.org.
Note: TEP incentives in combination with all federal and state incentives can be no more than 85% of the total project costs. A customer must cover at least 15% of total project costs.
How do I get started?
- Contact a commercial daylighting system contractor for an estimate. Look in your phone book or on the Internet under "Solar or Daylighting Installers in Arizona."
- Fill out and submit the appropriate application for your system (click on one of the links below.)
- A TEP representative will review your application to ensure it conforms to program requirements.
- Following review of your application, TEP will notify you of the status of your reservation request.
Who is eligible for the rebates?
- You must be a Tucson Electric Power customer.
- The Daylighting system must be installed at a Tucson Electric Power service address.
- You must purchase and install a qualifying Daylighting system for this rebate.
- Check with your tax professional to see if you qualify for state or federal tax rebates.
- You must provide at least 15% of the commercial Daylighting system’s project cost after TEP’s incentives and tax rebates.
Please review Tucson Electric Power’s technical requirements and qualifications in full detail. Click here.
Application
Renewable Energy Credit Purchase Agreement
Supplemental Program Information
Some helpful websites
- Department of Energy (DOE) – general information
- Daylighting in Commercial Buildings Source Book
- The National Renewable Energy Laboratory
