Emerging technology

How it works

energySMART searches for new products and practices that are commercially available to help bring them widespread adoption. These technologies go through pilot assessments to provide information on true performance, operational energy savings and would-be installation costs of future energySMART offerings. After conducting pilot assessments, the technologies are evaluated to determine if they should be added to the portfolio of energySMART offerings. 

Participation benefits

Participation in an emerging technology pilot is the first step in determining if your product or practice should be eligible for an energySMART rebate. If selected for a pilot assessment, energySMART will provide:

• Assessment-related technical consulting, design and engineering assistance.
• Customer incentives for equipment and installation, depending on project specifics.
• Monitoring and data collection to help demonstrate savings.
• Project summary of results when the pilot assessment is complete.

Pitch an idea

Pitch an idea to us if you have a technology that you would like to pilot that meets the following participant and technology criteria:

• A manufacturer or vendor of a new product or practice that has the potential to realize natural gas savings for Nicor Gas customers.
• Prototype units are not eligible. Applicants should be prepared to provide functioning units for pilot assessments (subsidies for equipment or installation costs may be available).
• Product or practice should have applications for residential, commercial or industrial spaces.
• Pilot assessments must be conducted at Nicor Gas customer sites.
• Proposed products and practices must comply with all local, state and federal regulations.

Submit your application

Submit applications for innovative improvements and bring your energy-efficient concepts to life.

If you are an engineer, entrepreneur, business owner or manufacturer with an energy efficiency technology, we would like to speak with you.