Energy Efficiency Grants
Get money to save money!
You probably hear it all the time - saving energy is a great way to save on monthly expenses for your business or non-profit. There’s just one catch… sometimes you have to spend money to make money!
While there are great ways to save energy without spending a nickel (go check your thermostat!), some upgrades require expense that can compete with other needs for your organization.
We’re here to help! We are re-launching our Energy Efficiency grants program in 2026, with awards up to $5,000 per small business or non-profit, and a total of more than $100,000 to give away!
Here’s how it works:
First, get a no-cost energy consultation with C3. Our energy experts will help you find the best ways to slash your power and gas bills.
We will help you pay for upgrades, including:
Insulation and sealing leaky windows and doors
Smart thermostats
New lighting
Energy Star appliances
Water Heaters
HVAC upgrades and replacements
We will also help you stack savings from other government and utility rebate programs to maximize impact!
If this sounds great to you, your next step is simple: reach out through one of the buttons below and we will get you started!
*Charlottesville grants have a rolling deadline. The first round of Richmond applications will be due on August 31, 2026, with additional rounds held if funds remain.
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This program is for small businesses and non-profits in the Charlottesville and Richmond regions.
To qualify, you must meet the definitions of a small business as defined by the State of Virginia.
In general, this equates to businesses or non-profits with either less than 250 employees, or less than $10M in average annual gross receipts.
Must be headquartered in and have a physical location in Charlottesville or Albemarle. Home businesses are excluded.
Must not have more than three locations in Charlottesville or Albemarle.
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Your energy assessment is provided at no cost to you. C3 is compensated for this service by our funding partners.
In the Charlottesville region, the grants are available for three tiers of upgrades:
Tier 1: insulation, weatherization and air sealing. These are capped at $1,000, or 50% of the total cost, whichever is lower.
Tier 2: LED lighting, HVAC tune-ups, new thermostats, and solar window films. These measures align with the Dominion Small Business Improvement Program. Capped at $1,500 or 30% of the upgrade cost, whichever is lower.
Tier 3: new or replacement appliances, HVAC units, and water heaters. Units must be Energy Star certified, or equivalent where Energy Star is not available. Capped at $2,000 or 30% of upgrade costs, whichever is lower.
Non-profits can receive an additional $500 to apply to any of the above.
In the Richmond region, the grants are capped at $2,000 per recipient, but there is not a cost share requirement. The general criteria are that the upgrade must reduce energy usage and/or greenhouse gas emissions. C3 will make this determination.
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At this time, funds are available for Charlottesville through the end of 2027, and in Richmond through fall of 2026.
In general, grants are awarded on a rolling basis with no application deadline.
C3 may apply discretion to advance or defer certain recipients to ensure a variety of the community is served, e.g. locations, business sectors, etc…
Past recipients will be deferred to the end of the grant cycle, so that new recipients have first priority.
Hear from past grant recipients
Read more at the C3 blog
Thank you to our supporting partners
