Building Electrification Showcase Grant for Implementation - Thermal Energy Network Implementation Funding

Building Electrification Showcase Grant for Implementation - Thermal Energy Network Implementation Funding is sponsored by City and County of Denver. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Building Electrification Showcase Grant for Implementation - City and County of Denver opens in new tab or window Building Electrification Showcase Grant for Implementation These links change page section content below Scoring Criteria (100 points total) Kick gas and go all electric!

Our Building Electrification Showcase Grant for Implementation provides funding for buildings to implement larger, more complex, holistic building electrification projects. The primary focus of this program is to showcase projects that use current technology in innovative ways or new technologies that demonstrate market leadership in cutting carbon pollution in Denver buildings.

Many building upgrades, like residential-style heat pumps and dual-fuel heat pump rooftop units, are already supported by existing incentives from partner organizations like: The Building Electrification Showcase Grant for Implementation funds building upgrades that go above and beyond what existing incentives cover. Pre-approval is required. We will accept applications through September 1, 2026 , subject to available funds.

We will review applications on a first-come, first-served basis using a scoring rubric. Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR) makes final decisions on which projects are accepted. Award amounts are not guaranteed and will depend on the scope of your project.

Funding is open to both existing buildings and new construction. To be eligible, your project must be for a commercial building, multifamily building, campus, or a new development or redevelopment for single family homes planning to use a thermal energy network. The project must be located in the City and County of Denver.

We encourage building owners to work with their selected licensed contractor , architect, or engineering firm when completing the application and Scope of Work. However, the building or property owner must submit the application and receive the incentive payment directly. Building Electrification Implementation Funding Supports single-building electrification projects that switch gas-fired space heating and/or water heating to electric.

Dual-fuel or partial electrification projects in existing buildings may not be considered, solely at Denver's discretion. New construction projects must be all-electric. Covers up to 75% of total project costs, up to $1,000,000 per project.

Equity Priority Buildings may receive up to 100% of project costs. Thermal Energy Network Implementation Funding Supports projects that connect multiple buildings or homes in development or redevelopment via a shared thermal loop for heating and cooling (e.g., geothermal or waste-heat systems). Covers up to 50% of the first $5 million in project costs, with a maximum award of up to $2.

5 million. Additional Electrification and Associated Measures Supports additional upgrades or associated building repairs related to the space heating electrification project, such as: EV charging infrastructure Electric cooking for multifamily residential or commercial kitchens Covers up to 75% of total project costs, up to $250,000. Equity Priority Buildings may receive up to 100% of costs.

This funding is additive to the Building Electrification or Thermal Energy Network Implementation funding listed above. The city reserves the right to fund projects outside of the posted funding ranges to advance catalytic project opportunities. Catalytic projects are large-scale, high-impact initiatives designed to accelerate innovation or trigger broader development.

These projects often attract further investment.

Example Projects the Program is Focused on Funding: Gas Boiler replacement with heat pump systems or thermal energy networks Fully electric buildings (new construction, existing buildings, or major retrofits) Multifamily affordable housing replacing a central gas boiler with air-to-water heat pumps Office buildings replacing a central gas boiler with VRF systems Healthcare buildings replacing gas equipment with Water Source Heat Pumps or Ground Source Heat Pumps Projects that incorporate current technologies in innovative ways Projects that use new technology and/or a custom approach to solve the hardest electrification problems buildings face Installation of 5.

4 ton or larger Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems (not rebated by Xcel Energy) Central system electrification projects (single or multiple building complexes) Buildings on the steam loop converting to use district chilled water or other geothermal Projects previously supported through CASR pilots or rebate programs that were not completed by the installation deadline Funding can be stacked with Xcel Energy EDA , Xcel Energy EEB , Power Ahead Innovation Grants , and other rebates from Denver's Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency.

See the Scope of Work Template (DOCX, 95KB) Example Projects the Program is Not Focused on Funding: Projects primarily covered by other rebate programs, such as: Replacing gas rooftop units (RTUs) with dual-fuel heat pump RTUs (covered by Xcel Energy rebates) Adding ducted/ductless split/mini-split ASHP systems Replacing gas hot water heaters with heat pump water heaters (covered by Power Ahead Colorado and Xcel Energy Rebates) Single pieces of HVAC equipment without broader electrification Single-family homes and duplexes are not eligible, except for the development of thermal energy networks for new or redeveloped homes.

Explore available options Scoring Criteria (100 points total) Market Leadership (35 points): The applicant clearly demonstrates how the proposed project will address holistic building decarbonization (10 points) The applicant clearly demonstrates how the project demonstrates a case study for buildings looking to electrify building systems (10 points) The applicant clearly demonstrates how the project focuses on space heating for buildings that would see significant cost barriers in full electrification (10 points) The applicant clearly demonstrates how the project incorporates current technology in innovative ways (5 points).

This includes, but is not limited to: Load management or virtual power plant capability Energy generation and storage Decarbonization Impact (25 points): The applicant clearly demonstrates significant reductions or elimination of fossil-fuel equipment and/or gas service to the building/campus (10 points) Dual fuel or partial electrification projects will receive a lower score The applicant clearly demonstrates how the proposal will achieve significant energy use reductions or progress towards their Energize Denver energy efficiency target (10 points) The project adds cooling to the building (5 points) Project Readiness (20 points): The project will start and finish within three years (no points, this is a minimum requirement for the project to proceed) The applicant's project team has the required qualifications and expertise.

The team demonstrates prior experience with projects of similar scope and complexity, and is able to address all aspects of the proposed project (10 points) The applicant provides a proposed total project budget broken out by task and deliverable (5 points) The applicant provides a project schedule (Gantt chart is preferred), estimating the start and end dates for each task. The timeline is organized by week, month, and year.

If applicable, the applicant identifies when work will trigger Davis Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) reporting requirements (5 points) Equity Priority Status (20 points): The building is designated as an Equity Priority Building or regulated affordable housing (15 points, see application).

The applicant provides documentations that the project adds cooling for residents or at-risk populations (5 points) Funding for this program is limited, and we do not expect to fund all applications. Denver will review all applications submitted before the deadline for eligibility and score them based on the rubric. Please allow up to four weeks from your submission date for city staff to review the application.

Staff may reach out to clarify or request information not submitted throughout the review process. Documents received will be reviewed by a third-party engineering firm to assist in scoring for technical feasibility and project impacts. Selected projects will work with assigned city staff to finalize the project agreement, including scope, schedule, and budget.

Once the scope, schedule, and budget are finalized, the building owner will receive a Pre-Approval letter indicating their incentive amount and next steps, including additional documents to submit: Certificate of Good Standing from the Colorado Secretary of State Building Owner's Form W-9 A current copy of the company/organization's Certificate of Insurance Utility Consent form and the current first page of the utility bill showing the service address and customer account number Regular check-ins will be scheduled with city staff based on project needs and ability to gather case study data, lessons learned, and continuing to progress towards project completion.

Upon project completion, you or your contractor will submit documents for review: The invoice(s) for the equipment installed.

Invoice should include a break down by the following line items: Contractor Business Name, Address, and Phone Number Customer Name and Address Equipment cost: price per piece of equipment, including full model numbers For split units, this needs to include model numbers for both the condenser and coil/indoor/outdoor units Electric infrastructure cost, which must include details about: Costs for wiring upgrades per piece of equipment Sub-panel upgrades within the building Service capacity upgrade for whole building (upgrade to the main panel) Cost of transformer, etc. Other costs: Any costs that do not fit within the categories above must include details Final permit inspection document Equipment nameplate photos confirming the pre-approved equipment model was installed The required commissioning/quality install verification See Terms and Conditions (PDF, 246KB)