Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Grant Program

The Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Grant Program is administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) through its Office of Energy. The program is established under the authority of 20 ILCS 687/6-6 and is designed to promote energy efficiency upgrades in residential properties across Illinois. Funded by the State of Illinois, this initiative aims to reduce energy demand and provide tangible energy savings to low-income and subsidized housing residents by supporting cost-effective, energy-saving building improvements. The current funding round offers $5,000,000 in total program funding and awards will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis until either the funds are depleted or March 1, 2025, whichever occurs first. Eligible applicants for this grant include public housing authorities, units of local government such as municipalities, counties, and townships, and nonprofit organizations that manage residential housing. The projects funded must serve residents who are beneficiaries of federal, state, or local public housing programs, including housing choice vouchers and rental assistance initiatives. Furthermore, the grant targets projects that involve no more than 20 dwelling units per location. Applicants are required to demonstrate prior completion of an energy efficiency assessment conducted by a third-party assessor within the past five years. Only upgrades identified in this assessment are eligible for funding. Qualifying improvements may include insulation of building envelopes, replacement of windows, upgrades to space heating and cooling systems, retrofits to heating and cooling distribution systems, upgrades to domestic hot water systems, indoor and outdoor lighting improvements, high-efficiency appliance replacement, and installation of programmable thermostats. All upgrades must meet ENERGY STAR product criteria on the installation date. The funding does not cover indirect or administrative costs. Cost sharing is mandatory, with the percentage required based on the total funding requested: 2% for awards between $25,000–$99,999.99, 5% for $100,000–$249,999.99, and 10% for $250,000–$500,000. Applicants must submit a comprehensive application package that includes a narrative project plan, third-party energy assessment, itemized project budget, and required forms from the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) system. Applications must be submitted electronically to [email protected] using the provided application forms. The agency will fund complete and eligible applications in the order received. Payments are made to grantees based on submitted invoices, not more frequently than monthly, and applicants must provide proof of payment to contractors within 45 days of reimbursement. Evaluation of applications will focus on completeness, eligibility compliance, and technical merit. While awards are based on a rolling basis, additional review considerations include correctness of cost estimates, partial awards where appropriate, and availability of funds. The anticipated project period is up to 12 months from the execution of the grant agreement, with final payments due no later than 14 months after execution. Recipients must also comply with state and federal reporting requirements, including quarterly performance and financial reports. For questions related to the funding opportunity, applicants may contact Rebecca Luke at [email protected] or 217-558-8145. The grant opportunity was posted on September 26, 2024, and the application window remains open until March 1, 2025, or until funds are fully allocated. This version of the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Grant Program expands eligibility to multifamily properties across more regions of Illinois, marking a significant expansion from its previous focus on single-family and duplex housing in environmental justice areas.