Objective

The Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme (EASe) is a co-funding scheme administered by the National Environment Agency (NEA) to encourage companies in the manufacturing and building sectors to carry out detailed studies on their energy consumption, also known as energy appraisals, and identify potential areas for energy efficiency improvement.

Form of Assistance

Grant Quantum

Funding would be provided for up to 50% of the qualifying cost of engaging an expert consultant or Energy Services Company (ESCO) to conduct investment grade energy appraisals and recommend specific measures that can be implemented to improve energy efficiency.

Over a 5-year period, the maximum amount of funding to any single facility or building is capped at $200,000.

Qualifying Costs

The qualifying costs include the energy appraisal fees comprising:

• Salaries
• Use of instrumentation and evaluation tools
• Expendables
• Overheads

Singapore GST is excluded.

The cost of implementing the recommendations of the energy appraisal would not be supported under the EASe.

Eligibility Criteria

Company

The owner or operator of the manufacturing facility or building must be registered in Singapore.

The manufacturing facility or building for which the energy appraisal is being carried out must be located in Singapore.

ESCO

The appointed expert consultant or ESCO can either be a foreign or local company that is accredited by the Energy Sustainability Unit (ESU), a unit of the School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore (NUS).

Details on ESU's Accreditation Programme for ESCOs are available at: http://www.esu.com.sg/research1b.html

Qualified internal teams with good track record in carrying out energy appraisals of comparable scale and scope may also be considered for funding. Such teams must provide evidence of substantial experience in carrying out energy appraisals of the scale and scope intended.

*	We recommend that you thoroughly assess the capabilities of the ESCO that you are selecting to ensure that it matches your needs and requirements well.

Energy Appraisal

The detailed energy appraisal must not have commenced at the time of application. The company must not have signed a contract with the ESCO for the detailed energy appraisal at the time of application.

The detailed energy appraisal should cover the whole plant, facility, or building. Manufacturing equipment and processes may be excluded from the appraisal. For large facilities or buildings, a partial appraisal covering a complete system or part of the facility or building may be considered.

Disbursement of Grants

All disbursements of grants will be made on a reimbursement basis.

Others

Besides energy appraisals, process plants can also carry out long-term monitoring of individual system components and overall systems to identify efficiency degradation. This is known as Efficiency Monitoring. Such projects are also eligible for funding under EASe.