Frequently Asked Questions
ENERGY AUDITS
1. What does the RAN-RM program use for the outside air temperature data?
The BETTER tool, used to perform a preliminary energy analysis by the RAN-RM Program, considers the outside air temperature data from the nearest weather station based on the specific ZIP code of each facility.
2. Does the RAN-RM program consider comfort as a factor during energy auditing?
Indoor thermal comfort and indoor air quality are important factors in selecting energy efficiency measures during the level II energy audit.
3. Do energy auditing models understand how churches use their building differently than other building types?
The occupancy pattern for each facility, such as a church, is considered during both level I and level II energy audits to select cost-effective retrofit measures.
4. When will the RAN-RM program consider facility schedules in their energy audits?
Occupancy patterns and operating schedules will be considered in level I and II energy audit analyses.
5. For more detailed energy audits will students from the RAN-RM program visit the facilities to better understand the occupancy behavior of the facilities?
Yes, as part of the level II energy audit of each facility, a RAN-RM team will visit and survey each facility to collect detailed data including daily and seasonal occupancy patterns of the building as well as perform relevant testing and monitoring protocols.
6. Can nonprofits review and respond to the reports provided by RAN-RM?
Yes, the applicants can provide feedback on the various energy analysis reports prior to the final selection of subrecipients by the RAN-RM team. Multiple information sessions will be conducted throughout the duration of the program to solicit feedback. Applicants can also provide feedback to the RAN-RM team through email: [email protected].
7. What if during Measurement and Verification (M&V) some facilities don’t meet the 25% margin of energy savings?
If the measured energy savings are less that the expected targets, the facilities will undergo a retro-commissioning analysis to evaluate the performance of various retrofitted systems and their operating strategies to ensure that the targeted energy efficiency goals are met.
FACILITY APPLICATION AND SELECTION
1. How many nonprofits will be selected for retrofits as part of this program?
A total of 24 to 36 nonprofits will be selected for this program divided between two funding cycles. The first funding cycle is scheduled for 2025-2026 while the second is planned for 2026-2027.
2. If a facility already completed a level 2 audit in last spring (2024), do they need to reapply?
Since the RAN-RM program officially started in October 2024, facilities that participated in the trial level II energy audit completed during May 2024 need to reapply. These facilities are automatically included as part of the pool of applications for the first selection funding cycle 2024-2025.
3. How can applicants track their application’s status?
Applicants will be receiving the preliminary energy assessments reports for their facilities in late December 2024 and early January 2025. If selected to undergo a level I energy audit, applicants will be contacted for additional information and details about their facilities. Informational sessions will be scheduled during 2025 to inform applicants about the selection process for subrecipients. For any questions, applicants can contact the RAN-RM team at the following email: [email protected].
4. Will facilities that are less energy efficient than others be chosen for retrofits?
Yes, one of the most important criteria for selecting facilities to be retrofitted is their level of energy efficiency. Thus, those facilities with lower energy efficiency levels among the application pool are more likely to be selected as subrecipients. It should be noted, however, that other criteria will be considered in the final selection of subrecipients.
5. Can a nonprofit provide multiple applications?
If a nonprofit owns and operates several buildings served by separate meters (i.e., receive separate utility bills for each individual building), the nonprofit can submit multiple applications (i.e., one application for each building).
6. If not selected in phase 1 can nonprofits reapply in phase 2?
Some of the nonprofits not selected during the first funding cycle will be allowed to reapply depending on their energy efficiency potential. However, the RAN-RM program prefers new applicants for the second funding cycle 2025-2026.
7. Department of Energy approval of subrecipients is scheduled for September 2025. Is that a program deadline or does it match up to the federal fiscal year end?
September 2025 is the RAN-RM program deadline for the final selection of subrecipients and is not set by the Department of Energy.
8. If we already sent you an application for a RAN grant for our entire building, would it be a good idea to update it to limit the scope of our proposed project to certain improvements that we expect to have the most improvement in energy efficiency?
The RAN-RM team will work closely with applicants and ultimately the selected subrecipients to finalize the list of energy efficiency measures identified as part of various energy assessment analyses. Selected subrecipients will have the opportunity to review and provide feedback on the final list of retrofit measures.
9. How are you identifying applicants within the Justice40 community?
The first screening tool for the RAN-RM program is the following platform (Justice40 Map), which identifies buildings within disadvantaged communities that meet Justice40 requirements. However, the RAN-RM program will work with each subrecipient to identify other options and criteria that may meet Justice40 requirements.
10. If the nonprofit selects a subcontractor located in a Justice40 community will that count towards the nonprofit’s Justice40 eligibility?
The selection of subcontractors located in Justice40 communities does not affect the Justice40 status of the subrecipients in any way. Other options may be considered to help subrecipients meet Justice40 requirements.
11. Will it help a nonprofit if their application explains how they benefit the Justice40 communities even if they are not located in one?
Yes, there are several alternatives for subrecipients to meet Justice40 requirements including providing various services that benefit disadvantaged communities and groups. For these alternatives, specific justifications and documentation will be required.
12. Will it add value to our application if we address Justice40 issues in our written response?
The RAN-RM team will work closely with the selected subrecipients to assess if they can meet Justice40 requirements using alternative options even if their facilities are not located in Justice40 communities. All applicants should refer to the Department of Energy Justice40 site for the definitions of the Justice40 initiative: Justice40 Initiative | Department of Energy.
13. If we become a finalist for a RAN grant will the RAN-RM team help us assess our impact on Justice40 communities?
The RAN-RM team will work closely with subrecipients who are located outside the designated Justice40 communities yet provide beneficial services to these communities to assess if they can meet Justice40 requirements.
14. Do nonprofits selected for retrofitting need to sign any documents?
Yes, agreements with specific terms and conditions must be signed and executed before any funds from the RAN-RM program are disbursed to subrecipients.
15. Will the University of Colorado provide training to nonprofits, focused on developing a clear understanding of the contract and the terms after subrecipient selection?
Yes, the RAN-RM team will provide training sessions related to invoicing and financial requirements after the selection of the subrecipients.
RETROFIT PROCESS AND TECHNOLOGIES
1. Will the RAN-RM team consider applicants’ recommendations and preferences while making suggestions for retrofits?
Yes, the RAN-RM team will communicate with applicants about the results of each energy audit, final retrofit recommendations and potential subcontractors.
2. Would the RAN-RM program support the measures towards facility electrification?
Yes, the RAN-RM program supports electrification efforts of the selected facilities. However, the main objective of the RAN-RM program is to reduce energy consumption through energy efficiency retrofit measures. Thus, funds from RAN-RM program cannot be used to deploy renewable energy technologies including roof PV systems.
3. Does the funding cover professional engineering services?
Yes, the funding provided by the RAN-RM program covers the cost of professional services to specify and install systems and equipment that enhance the energy efficiency performance of facilities.
4. Will retrofit recommendations consider the maintenance cost of equipment based on nonprofit locations?
The selection of various retrofit measures and systems will consider the life cycle costs including maintenance costs. However, the funds from the RAN-RM program will cover only the specification and installation costs for the retrofit measures. Ongoing maintenance costs are expected to be covered by the subrecipients as part of the normal operations of their facilities.
5. Can the addition of an air-conditioning system be included as part of a retrofit?
The addition of air conditioning could be included as part of the retrofit package if it significantly enhances indoor thermal comfort especially when coupled with other energy efficiency measures to achieve an overall energy use reduction for the facility.
6. Is there a time limit for when retrofits need to be completed?
All subrecipient retrofit projects of the RAN-RM program are expected to be completed within a 16-month period after the approval of the final list of subrecipients by the Department of Energy.
7. Can you provide nonprofits with the industry contacts associated with the program?
For some subrecipients, the industry partners for the RAN-RM program may provide technical assistance and/or equipment as part of their cost share contributions. However, the RAN-RM team will communicate directly with the industry partners and involve selected subrecipients on an as-needed basis.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY REQUIREMENTS
1. Could you explain the waiver for projects that are less than $250K?
Specific requirements on the Buy America Build America (BABA) small grants waiver will be discussed with each subrecipient when the final selection is made by the RAN-RM program. In broad terms, the small grants waiver will exempt awards that do not exceed the Simplified Acquisition Threshold currently set at $250,000 (total project costs) from the Buy America requirement. For more details, please visit: BABA Waiver Request 2023-01 | Department of Energy.
2. Do churches and nonprofits need a SAM.gov registration number or is that just for contractors?
Yes, if selected, subrecipients must provide their SAM.gov registration number (Unique Entity ID) to the University of Colorado-Bouder (UCB) as a requirement to receive federal funds provided by the RAN-RM program. The subcontractors selected to install the approved retrofit measures are not required to provide their SAM.gov registration number but they must meet other flow down requirements including the Davis Bacon Act. Thus, it is important for subrecipients to coordinate with the RAN-RM team when selecting contractors.
COST SHARE AND FUNDING
1. Can facilities apply in-kind cost share?
The cost share can be in-kind (non-monetary), but the RAN-RM team must be notified about this option during the level II energy audit and before the selection process of subrecipients.
2. Is it possible for a nonprofit to use Direct Pay/Elective Pay as part of the cost share?
For the RAN program, which is funded by the Department of Energy, the cost share cannot be provided by another federal program. However, nonprofit organizations are encouraged to take advantage of the Directive/Elective pay as a part of their larger energy goals, even though these funds cannot count towards cost share for the RAN program.
3. If a nonprofit agrees to pay more than the required 20% cost share, will that help with the application?
Yes, the contribution level to the Department of Energy cost share requirement is an important factor that the RAN-RM program will consider in the final selection of subrecipients.
4. Can nonprofits combine funding through two different programs?
Federal funds cannot be counted as cost share towards the RAN program. However, non-federal funds can be combined as cost share contributions for the RAN-RM program.
5. Can nonprofits use funding from non-federal sources towards cost share?
Non-federal funds can be used as cost share contributions for the RAN-RM program.
6. Will the RAN-RM program provide rebates either before or after the M&V?
The RAN-RM program provides funds to specify and install the retrofit project for each selected subrecipient. The RAN-RM program does not provide any rebates. The M&V analysis will be conducted to ensure that the target energy savings are met by the RAN-RM program.
7. What about rebates that you after meeting a certain energy goal – can they be used towards cost share?
If the rebates are from non-federal entities, then there is a possibility that these can be considered as part of the cost share for the RAN-RM program. However, since there are different types of incentives, the rebate programs should be discussed prior to including them as cost share.
OTHER
1. Is the RAN-RM program working closely with utilities?
Yes, some of the partners include utilities that operate within regions served by the RAN-RM program.
2. How will the change in national leadership affect the program?
From the current knowledge and understanding of the RAN-RM team, there are not expected to be any changes to the RAN program.
LEVEL 1 ENERGY AUDIT DATA COLLECTION
1. It seemed like data from other churches was getting into my spreadsheet. Is this still a problem?
This issue should be fixed now as the spreadsheet link now auto-downloads the file. Previously this was happening when applicants were opening the Google sheet and adding the data. Instead, the sheet should be downloaded before completing it. Once completed, it can then be uploaded per the instructions.
2. Are R-Value of walls and windows necessary?
No, as long as the applicant provides the construction type of the wall and the building construction date, RAN-RM team can estimate the R-values.
3. Is the quantity of light fixtures necessary?
Yes, it is necessary to provide the quantity of each light fixture and their correct wattage. This will be used to calculate Lighting Power Density.
4. Is 2/21/2025 a hard deadline for data submission?
No, that is a soft deadline. Since CU-Boulder students will be providing data collection assistance, applicants can submit their data by 2/27.
5. Will there be an information session?
No, there will not be an information session. Instead, for assistance on completing the audit, CU Boulder students will be contacting applicants to provide assistance with the data collection. These one-on-one meetings should lead to better results.
6 .Do churches that participated in the trial run last spring need to complete the L1 audit form?
Yes, these churches still need to complete the form because at this stage, we are requiring additional information as well as some repeat information.
7. Are we able to include multiple photos in a single file which we can upload in the form?
Yes, we recommend you paste multiple photos, as when you’re taking perimeter photos, into a word document and then upload the file. Please make sure photos of floor plans and name plates are higher resolution as students need to clearly see the information.
8. How can I add the number of bulbs when in the lighting systems tab of the spreadsheet?
Applicants can add additional fixture types that are not present in the drop down by selecting “User Input” and Typing Bulbs under fixture type, number of bulbs can be added in the fixture quantity column itself.
9. Can I upload information related to heating/cooling system, lighting, equipment, and temperature setpoints as attachments rather than filling out the spreadsheet?
With the exception of “Other Building Envelope Data” and “Walls-Roof-Foundation Data” all the other data can be uploaded as attachments following the upload section for “Building Envelope and Systems Data”.
10. Can I upload additional file such as previous audit reports, retrofit measures, and retro-commissioning reports?
Yes, the last section of the Google Form should provide applicants with space to upload any additional information. Applicants can upload 10 files per upload section. We have provided 2 such sections.