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Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity Program

Many school projects may be eligible for additional incentives on the purchase and installation of qualifying equipment from the Illinois Energy Now rebate program offered through the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The Illinois Energy Now rebate program could provide matching funds. However, schools are required to identify those prior to receipt of School Energy Efficiency Grant awards.

Schools applying for DECO’s Illinois Energy Now Energy Efficiency rebate program must receive electric delivery service from ComEd or Ameren Illinois wires and/or natural gas delivery service from Ameren Illinois, Nicor, Peoples or North Shore Gas (regardless of the retail electric supplier and/or natural gas supplier).

To find out if your project is eligible visit ILLINOIS ENERGY NOW.​​

School Energy Efficiency Project Grant IWAS Application Instructions

• Insulation of the building envelope, structure or systems within the building:
• Storm windows or doors;
• Caulking or weather stripping;
• Multi-glazed windows or doors;
• Heat absorbing or heat reflective glazed area;
• Other window and door system modifications to reduce energy consumption;
• Automated or computerized energy control systems;
• Heating, ventilating, air conditioning or HVAC system repairs or replacement (does not include initial installations);
• Replacement or modification of lighting fixtures to increase energy efficiency of the lighting system without increasing illumination of a facility, unless illumination is necessary to conform to the applicable building code for the lighting system after the proposed modification are made;
• Energy recovery systems;
• Energy conservation measures to provide long-term cost reductions;
• Alternative energy systems, including but not limited to wind power or solar power systems; and
• Other projects designed to reduce the consumption or use of energy.​​

Awards are determined first by submitting an application that meets all requirements and second by ranking those applicants current need index, granting awards starting with the highest to the lowest until the funds run out.​

• Quarterly expenditure reports are required at the end of each quarter. A notice, with the attached form and instructions will be emailed to the award recipient at the end of each quarter. Forms must be completed and submitted within 20 days.
• A final expenditure report is required and must be submitted through IWAS-SEEG within 20 days of completing the project.
• All grant funds must be expended or legally obligated within two years of disbursement or will be returned to ISBE within 45 days.
• If the actual project expenditures are less than expected so that amount of the grant is greater than 50% of the total project expenditures, then the applicant will refund the amount of the grant that is in excess of 50% of actual project expenditures.​​

• 2014, Round 1, SEEG Priority Ranking List
• 2011, Round 1, SEEG Priority Ranking List