CHP Quick Tips

Tip: The U.S. DOE CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships can provide an independent, unbiased review of vendor proposals, including the engineering and the economic assumptions and approaches. In most cases, this service is provided free of charge for sites in our region. Contact Us for details.

Tip: Good reads: To learn more about current trends in CHP, check out either Cogeneration and Onsite Power Production and Distributed Generation - two free bi-monthly magazines focused on CHP issues, technologies, applications, and case studies.

Tip: RETScreen from Natural Resources Canada is a high-quality, free, easy-to-use software program for evaluating the economics of potential CHP projects, with a wide selection of fuels (including renewable fuels), technologies (including cooling), market sectors, and applications. It also assesses greenhouse gas emissions.

Tip: There are seven U.S. DOE CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships, covering each region of the country. See the Map and Websites.

Tip: CHP is not just for cool or mild climates. If you live in a locale requiring air conditioning, you can use the waste thermal energy from CHP to run an absorption chiller. You benefit from low-cost cooling, and the local utility benefits from reduced summer peak loads. Integrated systems are on the up-and-up.

Tip: CHP is inherently an energy efficiency measure. It improves efficiency by 50% or more compared to generating heat and power separately. For instance, CHP is included in Utah's policy to advance energy efficiency in the state. It is also in New Mexico's energy efficiency strategy and Colorado's Climate Action Plan.

Tip: Currently, 85 downtown utilities and 330 campuses in the US use district energy to reduce costs & emissions, increase efficiency, and improve reliability. District energy systems deliver electricity, steam, heating, and/or cooling to urban centers, campuses, military bases, business parks, and planned sustainable communities.

Tip: New CHP and waste heat projects in Arizona can get capital cost grants of $400-500/kW from Southwest Gas. The grants can supply to to 75% of the total capital costs. Contact Southwest Gas Key Account Management at 602-395-4058 for more information.

Tip: The Walk-Through Checklist helps you collect information that your U.S. DOE CHP Technical Assistance Partnership will need to determine if CHP is right for your facility.