Reduce your energy costs, improve air quality for our community, and help create clean energy jobs in our region.
Washoe County is proud to partner with City of Reno and the Nevada Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) as recipients of the Municipal Investment Fund grant (MIF) offered by ICLEI USA (Local Governments for Sustainability).
MIF funding supports a comprehensive energy audit (ASHRAE Level 1) for commercial, nonprofit, and government buildings. The full cost of each energy audit is usually $3,000, of which building owners will be asked to pay $500. This investment pays for itself quickly in energy bill savings from recommended upgrades.
Available for the first 25 buildings, first-come, first-served until January 15, 2026.
Participants will receive a virtual energy audit of their building(s) using SRS’s advanced Energy Performance Improvement Calculator (EPIC)™ platform, as well as the following:
- Four one-on-one meetings with the SRS team including:
- Program kickoff: Review of your building’s current energy systems, challenges, and goals.
- Preliminary analysis: Early findings and potential efficiency improvements.
- Cost-benefit and financing review: ROI projections, cash flow impacts, rebates/incentives, and financing options, including Commercial-Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing.
- Next steps: Final EPIC report, contractor engagement, and support in moving toward implementation.
Technologies evaluated
- HVAC systems (including high-efficiency and electrification options)
- Lighting upgrades (LED retrofits)
- Insulation and building envelope improvements
- Solar PV sizing and integration with efficiency upgrades
Learn more and sign up here: Commercial Energy Audit Program – Nevada Clean Energy Fund
Municipal Fleet Electrification
Additionally, MIF funding will allow Reno and Washoe County to contract experts to develop a Zero-Emissions Transportation plan for municipal fleets, including for the fleets of Washoe County, City of Reno, and any other municipalities within Washoe County that opt to participate.
The planning will include opportunities to advance Net Zero Transportation projects for municipalities such as:
• Technical and economic analyses of how municipalities can reduce fleet operations and maintenance costs,
• Assessments of infrastructure needs for installing new electric vehicle chargers, and
• Identification of opportunities for combining private and public sector capital to electrify the municipal fleets at scale.
The Washoe County, City of Reno, and NCEF teams will use the fleet electrification plans as a basis for conducting broader market education for private fleet owners in the community, including in collaboration with the Greater Nevada Clean Cities and Communities Apprentice Coalition. If you manage a commercial fleet and are interested in working with other regional stakeholders to accelerate your transition to lower-emissions fleet solutions, consider joining the Greater Nevada Clean Cities & Communities Coalition, if you’re not already a member. Contact the leaders on the link above to learn more.
The goal with this grant is to build demand for clean energy projects and aggregate a robust pipeline of financeable projects in Net-Zero Emissions Buildings and Zero-Emissions Transportation with a minimum of 50% of projects in Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities (LIDACs).
“Buildings and fossil fuel-powered vehicles are the largest contributors of dangerous emissions in our community,” said Brian Beffort, Washoe County Sustainability Manager. “We know there are numerous opportunities to reduce these emissions while saving taxpayers money on energy and fuel costs. The MIF grant brings experts who can analyze our current systems and recommend best-practice solutions to help us improve our service to Washoe County’s communities. We’re grateful for that support.”