7 Ways to Finance Commercial Real Estate Energy Retrofits
Here are seven common ways to help finance such a project:
1. PACE Loans
The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program is an ongoing initiative that allows for tax liens to be used in financing. These are especially valuable for larger projects, as they can be repaid over as many as 30 years, and nearly any profitable property can easily work that into its plans. It's worth noting that most retrofits will not take this long to pay off -- between three and five years is a normal payback period for most properties.
2. Financing From Utilities
Most utility departments run incentive programs to help property owners reduce the amount of energy they use. Not every utility company will offer major loans, but at the very least, companies can expect to save significantly on energy-efficient equipment like new lighting fixtures.
3. Tax Credits
These vary by region, but property owners will usually be able to cut some of the cost of the installation from their taxes. If the business actually pays taxes to begin with, this is effectively a direct discount in the price -- albeit one that only comes into effect when taxes would normally be due, rather than paying it off right away.
4. ESCO
The Energy Service Company (ESCO) model is one of the more recent ideas for renovating buildings. In essence, the ESCO company performs the upgrades to the building and often sells the power later on, after which they enter into a profit-sharing agreement where they are paid off over time. This is affordable for nearly any business, as long as the amount of profit shared is less than the costs saved by the retrofit. Keep in mind, however, that ESCO financing may not always be eligible for combining with other forms of financing. It's unlikely, for example, that a property owner can claim tax deductions if they're not the ones paying directly for the retrofit.
5. Leasing Equipment
While this isn't practical for large-scale projects, leasing programs (or, better, lease-to-own agreements) can provide properties with access to energy-efficient equipment at minimal up-front costs.As with ESCO financing, the goal is to ensure that the company is able to save more money through the use of the equipment than it spends for borrowing it. When this is the case, even minimally-profitable properties can afford the retrofit they've been looking for.
6. Bond Financing
This is one of the least-used methods of financing an energy retrofit, but it may become more popular in the future as companies realize its value. Private municipal or corporate bonds offer the ability to fund multiple smaller transactions and scale the costs of the retrofit to what a buyer is able to pay for.
7. Capital Expenditures
This is the most common method of financing an energy retrofit, yet businesses should consider this their final option instead of their first. Simply put, many of the opportunities listed above offer ways to reduce some or all of the costs associated with a retrofit project, and using several of these techniques (such as tax credits, utility financing and lease-to-own agreements, all at the same time) can drastically reduce the amount of capital that needs to be expended for the property. Most retrofits are too expensive to be paid off right away, so businesses planning to pay through this method should consider using loans, leases, or other pay-over-time agreements to finance the retrofit.
As a principal at Avant Capital Partners, Andrew Jubelt can advise you on any CRE energy retrofit projects you may be considering. He can also provide you or your clients with the commercial real estate funding you need. Contact Andrew Jubelt at ajubelt@avant-capital.com or call 212-231-9779.
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