Commercial sustainability rebate

Empowering Louisville businesses to lead in sustainability

Louisville businesses are at the heart of our community’s sustainability journey. The Commercial Sustainability Rebate Program is designed to help local businesses take meaningful steps towards accomplishing their sustainability goals from reducing waste and cutting emissions to investing in energy efficiency and circular economy solutions. Whether you’re looking to install energy-efficient upgrades, launch a waste reduction program, or pilot a new sustainable business model, this program is here to help you turn your ideas into action.

This rebate structure provides accessible opportunities for businesses of all sizes to participate, whether you’re taking your first step toward sustainability or scaling an innovative new idea. Also, this rebate can be stacked upon other grants, rebates, or incentives that a business might already be receiving.

Each year, the City of Louisville offers a tiered rebate structure to support a wide range of sustainability projects:

$1,000 rebates for small, ready-to-go projects (5 available)
$5,000 rebates for mid-sized, high-impact efforts (3 available)
$10,000 awards for ambitious, transformative initiatives (2 available)

Only 1 project per applicant will be considered per applicant. This means that only one rebate amount with the project application will be considered.

The rebate is a collaboration with Boulder County Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE). Together, we’re investing in projects that make a difference for both local businesses and the Louisville community. Join us in building a cleaner, more resilient Louisville, one project at a time.

Program timeline

March 2, 2026: Application opens
August 7, 2026: Application closes
August 10-14, 2026: Review of applications
August 17, 2026: Awards made and awardees notified

Evaluation and scoring

All applications will be evaluated using a standardized 100-point scoring rubric, regardless of rebate tier, with the opportunity to earn bonus points depending on any present sustainability initiatives or certifications (described further in the grading rubric). Applicants must select the funding tier they are applying for and will be scored competitively within that tier. Projects must receive a minimum average score of 70 points to be eligible for funding.

Evaluation and scoring rubric

Category	Sub-Criteria	Description	Max Points
Environmental Impact	GHG Emissions Reduction \| Waste Diversion & Circularity \| Water Conservation \| Measurement & Tracking	Potential to reduce emissions through energy efficiency, renewable energy, increase waste diversion, increase biodiversity or carbon sequestration, decrease water usage, etc.	40
Feasibility & Capacity	Timeline & Milestones	Clear, achievable timeline with project milestones.	5
Feasibility & Capacity	Team & Resource Allocation	Business has capacity to execute the project.	5
Feasibility & Capacity	Budget & Cost-Effectiveness	Budget is appropriate and funds are used efficiently.	5
Community & Economic Impact	Equity & Accessibility	Presents a high sustainability impact for the business and greater Louisville community Benefits underserved populations or promotes equity. Engages community or creates replicable outcomes. Supports long-term business sustainability or green jobs.	30
Narrative	Description of the suggested sustainability project	Clearly explains overall project	15
Bonus	CGBN Recognition (Support through Gold), B Corp Certified, LEED certification, or others similar *Number of points will be decided upon the discretion of the grading committee, and the applicant can receive up to 10 points	Active Colorado Green Business Network member Gold Designation (verified), Verification of other sustainability business certifications or awards	10

Project examples

Rebate level	Potential project examples
$1,000	Zero Waste Collection setup Compostable packaging switch Waste sorting improvements Low-flow water fixtures Weatherstripping or pipe insulation Waste audits Sustainable landscaping improvements (i.e. Irrigation audit)
$5,000	Building-wide compost/recycling systems Installation of an electric vehicle charging station Smart thermostat + energy audits Electrification upgrades to decarbonize Small-scale sustainable landscape alterations
$10,000	Solar panels with energy storage Reusable container system across businesses Creation of composting systems High-efficiency HVAC and building upgrades Zero-waste manufacturing pilot Large-scale turf replacement

$1,000 Wider Access Tier – Example Project

Zero Waste Collection & Waste Sorting Improvements

Business Type: Local café / quick-service restaurant
Location: Downtown Louisville
Employees: 6

Project Summary:
This project implements a standardized zero-waste collection system in the café’s front-of-house area, including labeled landfill, recycling, and compost bins paired with staff training and customer-facing signage.

Environmental Impact:
The project is expected to divert 40–60% of waste from landfill through improved composting and recycling. Waste hauling invoices will be reviewed monthly to track diversion performance.

Feasibility & Capacity:
The project will be completed within 30 days of award notification. The café owner and shift managers will lead staff training. Total project cost is $1,250.

Community & Economic Impact:
This highly visible project improves waste practices for customers and creates a replicable model for other small food businesses in Louisville.

Estimated Score: 78 points

$5,000 Mid-Tier Competitive Tier – Example Project

Building Energy Optimization & Decarbonization Readiness

Business Type: Professional office (architecture/engineering firm)
Location: East Louisville
Employees: 12

Project Summary:
This project reduces energy use through a professional energy audit, smart thermostat installation, and conversion of a gas water heater to an electric heat pump model.

Environmental Impact:
The project will reduce natural gas use by approximately 18% and electricity use by 12%. Utility data will be tracked for 12 months post-installation.

Feasibility & Capacity:
The project will be completed within 90 days and managed by firm leadership with licensed contractors. Total project cost is $9,800.

Community & Economic Impact:
The project demonstrates leadership in small building decarbonization and supports long-term business operating cost stability.

Bonus Considerations:
Active Colorado Green Business Network Silver member.

Estimated Score: 85 points

$10,000 High-Impact Projects Tier – Example Project

High-Efficiency HVAC & Building Envelope Upgrade

Business Type: Light manufacturing / warehouse facility
Location: Industrial Louisville
Employees: 28

Project Summary:
This project replaces an aging gas-fired HVAC system with a high-efficiency electric heat pump and improves insulation and air sealing to significantly reduce emissions.

Environmental Impact:
The project eliminates on-site combustion for space heating, reducing emissions by an estimated 22–25 metric tons annually and lowering total building energy use by 30%.

Feasibility & Capacity:
The project will be completed within six months and managed by a facilities manager and experienced HVAC contractor. Total project cost is $48,000.

Community & Economic Impact:
The project improves indoor air quality, supports workforce retention, and provides a scalable decarbonization model for industrial businesses.

Bonus Considerations:
Pursuing Colorado Green Business Network Gold designation.

Estimated Score: 87 points

Apply for the Commercial Sustainability Rebate

Application will officially open on March 2, 2026, and close August 7, 2026.

The application will be posted on March 2, 2026. If you have any questions or concerns, please email the Sustainability Division.

Commercial Sustainability Rebate Application