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Competitive Funding Programs

Accelerated Conservation and Efficiency (ACE) Program

A pipe fitter in a workshop welding pipes together for a chilled water pump replacement project.

Program Overview

The Accelerated Conservation and Efficiency (ACE) Program provides funding for energy efficiency, emission reduction, and distributed generation capital projects that are identified, managed, and implemented by partner City agencies. Through the ACE Program, DCAS evaluates project proposals from agencies based on their expected emissions reductions, energy usage savings, energy cost savings, and other benefits for the City. Through the program, DCAS has invested in projects such as boiler retrofits, chiller upgrades, fuel oil conversion projects, and lighting upgrades, process equipment changes and photovoltaic installations.

Outcomes

From Fiscal Year 2014 to 2019, 500 projects have been completed in 400 unique buildings through the ACE Program, representing a total investment of $160M. These completed projects are expected to create 50,000 MT of emissions reductions. This is equivalent to taking 9,800 vehicles off the road, with $23M in annual energy savings and an expected average payback of seven years.

How to Participate

DCAS regularly releases a solicitation for ACE proposals to all eligible City agencies. A City agency can apply for the current round of funding by submitting a program application by the specified deadline.

  • Proposed projects must be eligible for City capital funding, and be done at facilities where the City pays all or part of the annual energy bill.
  • Agencies must have existing contract or in-house staff who can do the work at the time their proposal is submitted.
  • Agencies must be equipped to request their own Certificate to Proceed (CP), manage construction, and make payments directly to their contractors.
  • Agencies must meet DCAS reporting requirements.
  • Agencies are required to conduct pre- and post-implementation measurement and verification (“M&V”) analysis of their projects to validate the emissions and energy usage reductions achieved.

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Expenses for Conservation and Efficiency Leadership (ExCEL) Program

A city worker testing the belt drive system of a facility’s cooling system.

Program Overview

The Expenses for Conservation and Efficiency Leadership (ExCEL) Program provides City agencies with expense funding for energy-saving retrofit projects, operations and maintenance improvements, diagnostic tools, studies, and specialized training for building staff.

Outcomes

From Fiscal Year 2014 to 2018, 680 projects in 540 unique buildings have been completed through the ExCEL Program, representing a total DCAS investment of $24M. These completed projects are expected to create 26,800 MT of emissions reductions, equivalent to the removal of 5,740 vehicles from the road, with $11M in annual energy savings and an expected average payback of 2.3 years.

How to Participate

DCAS regularly releases a solicitation for ExCEL proposals to all eligible City agencies. A City agency can apply for the current round of funding by submitting an ExCEL program application package by the specified deadline for the round.

  • Proposed projects must be done at facilities where the City pays all or part of the annual energy bill.
  • Agencies must have either a small-purchase agreement, existing contract, or in-house staff who can do the work at the time their proposal is submitted.
  • Agencies must meet DCAS reporting requirements.

The Fiscal Year's ExCEL application period is now closed. Eligible city agencies will be notified regarding the release of the next round of funding.

Case Studies

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