You'll save money on annual electric costs and reduce your compressed air system's maintenance and downtime when you take advantage of Tacoma Power's Compressed Air Efficiency program. We have cash incentives and technical expertise to help you lower your system's operating costs and improve its reliability.

Compressed air systems are critical to many plant operations but can be expensive to maintain and operate. Someone who uses a 150 horsepower air compressor that runs 5,800 hours a year could save up to $9,100 in electric costs by improving the compressor's air efficiency.

Local businesses say . . .
"Our participation in Tacoma Power's Compressed Air Efficiency program not only helped to reduce our operating costs, but also raised our awareness of maintaining peak operating efficiency." - Doug Bloom, Concrete Technology, Tacoma

Did you know?

• A compressed air system can represent up to 20 percent of your total electric usage.
• Over the lifetime of your compressed air equipment, your electricity costs may represent 76 percent of your total compressed air operation costs.
• Reducing system pressure by two pounds per square inch can save you one percent of your annual electric costs.
• An air leak as small as a quarter inch can cost more than $5,000 in annual electric costs.

Cash incentives
We offer money to you when you buy and install efficient compressed air system technologies, such as variable speed compressors, controls with increased air receiver storage and distribution modifications. The incentive rate is 20 cents per first year kilowatt hour saved, up to 70 percent of the approved project cost. Efficiency projects must have identified savings and approval from Tacoma Power before they can proceed.

Training
Both Tacoma Power customers and compressed air equipment vendors may participate in periodic training opportunities sponsored by Tacoma Power and conducted by certified Compressed Air Challenge (CAC) instructors. CAC is an independent, nonprofit organization funded by the Department of Energy, with no commercial bias. Both a one-day basic overview session and a more in-depth two-day curriculum are available.

Demand-side assessments
We'll pay up to half of the cost of a demand-side assessment of your system, which will identify air leaks, inappropriate compressed air uses and other potential operational improvements.

Supply-side assessments
We have requirements for customers, compressed air vendors and industry experts that provide guidance for quantifying and documenting energy savings and potential incentives for efficiency improvements.

Get started
Download your program application and contact one of our energy experts at (253) 502-8619 or power@cityoftacoma.org for more information and to get started on your compressed air efficiency project.

Download the Compressed Air Efficiency fact sheet.

Download the Compressed Air Efficiency case study.

Program requirements and rebate amounts are subject to change without notice. Tacoma Power does not endorse any particular contractor, manufacturer or product. Tacoma Power makes no express or implied warranties of these products.