Energy Programs

The National Center for Appropriate Technology’s (NCAT) trusted sustainable energy work helps businesses, residential consumers, public service organizations, governments, and farmers access practical and cost-effective solutions that lower energy bills, reduce impacts, and promote resiliency.

Our team of energy engineers, scientists, and certified solar designers have a combined century of experience in developing sustainable energy systems that are better for the planet and the bottom line.

We advocate for building owners, operators, and tenants.

We implement state and federal audit programs.

We facilitate energy conservation programs for utilities and cooperatives.

We determine if a project is cost-effective or if there are better alternatives.

We work with contractors, engineers, and architects to review construction and renovation plans to ensure maximum efficiency.

As part of its 40th anniversary celebration in 2016, NCAT installed a 45.4-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array at its headquarters in Butte, Montana. Coupled with a 4.5-kilowatt array installed in 2000, NCAT now produces enough electricity to meet the electrical energy demand of its headquarters all year long.

AgriSolar Clearinghouse

The AgriSolar Clearinghouse is a nationwide hub developed by NCAT to connect businesses, landowners, and researchers with trusted resources to support the growth of co-located solar and sustainable agriculture, also known as agrivoltaic development. Join the AgriSolar community.

Energy Assistance

NCAT connects people who need help paying heating and cooling costs with local resources through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Clearinghouse and the National Energy Assistance Referral hotline.

Energy Services

NCAT’s commercial and residential energy services team provides trusted and practical information for businesses, organizations, and homeowners to save on energy costs, reduce energy impacts, and promote resiliency.

Energy Audits

Energy tune-ups that analyze energy usage, identify energy-saving opportunities, identify renewable energy options, and estimate project costs. Our team of engineers, scientists, and certified solar designers approach buildings and businesses holistically. We work with building owners and operators to scope energy audits based on their budget, timeline, operational concerns, and energy goals.

We analyze heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC), refrigeration, motors, pumps, building shell, and lighting systems, and evaluate the site for potential alternative energy or fuel-switching opportunities. We have extensive experience auditing:

Hospitals and clinics
Schools and campuses
Offices
Breweries
Hotels

Contract Services

NCAT’s energy team contracts with utilities to facilitate their energy conservation programs. We are a nonprofit that helps people save energy cost-effectively and appropriately. We are an independent, scientific, customer advocate with over 40 years of experience in energy efficiency. We do not sell equipment, lighting, construction, or financial services and do not recommend specific contractors, products, or companies.

We work with utility customers to identify energy conservation opportunities, maximize their rebates and incentives, and minimize project and operating costs. NCAT has worked as a NorthWestern Energy contractor for more 20 years, longer than any other contractor in Montana. We’ve completed more than 3,000 projects in the utility’s territory and saved 1,387,599,007 kilowatt-hours of energy. That’s enough energy to power cell phones for the entire world population!

We also specialize in rural facilities, communities, and energy supplies. We’ve operated rural energy audit programs in partnership with state and federal government agencies, including the Montana Facility Finance Authority, and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Through these partnerships, our work has resulted in millions of dollars of energy-cost savings and decreased the energy consumption of large facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, manufacturing plants, industrial facilities, retail stores, breweries and more.

Our work with 250 schools has resulted in more than $30 million in energy cost savings!

Energy Toolkit

Sometimes the right tool can make all the difference. Explore our practical energy toolkit for information about lighting, heating and cooling, building codes, and more. Our toolkit includes resources for specific settings like breweries, lodging, hospitals, schools, industrial facilities, and office spaces. Click here.