Side-by-side comparisons for every major energy technology, incentive, and certification decision.
Every major commercial energy decision comes with a competing option — solar vs. battery storage, a 179D deduction vs. the Investment Tax Credit, LEED certification vs. ENERGY STAR, rooftop solar vs. a power purchase agreement. The right choice depends on your building type, utility tariff structure, capital budget, and risk tolerance.
These guides cut through the marketing to give you the actual trade-offs — upfront cost differentials, ROI timelines, incentive eligibility differences, and the scenarios where each option wins. Each comparison is structured identically: a head-to-head table, a scenario matrix showing when to pick which, and a decision checklist you can take to your next facilities or finance meeting.
Use the guides below to scope your project, then run the free energy audit or cost estimator to validate the numbers for your specific portfolio.
Start with whatever represents your largest near-term capital decision. For most commercial buildings, that's the solar vs. battery storage guide if you're evaluating on-site generation, or the 179D vs. ITC guide if a recent renovation or construction project may qualify for a tax deduction. Facilities managers under compliance pressure (NYC LL97, BERDO, etc.) should start with LED retrofit vs. building automation, since those two paths deliver the fastest carbon intensity reductions per dollar spent.
Yes, though the optimal choice often flips at certain square-footage or demand thresholds. Each guide includes a "Best For" section that calls out size, usage, and utility rate structure factors. A 20,000 sq ft office building will face a different solar vs. storage math than a 500,000 sq ft distribution center. The cost estimator lets you plug in your specific building parameters to see project-specific numbers.
In many cases, yes. The Inflation Reduction Act explicitly allows certain combinations — 179D can often be paired with Section 48E investment tax credits on the same project, subject to basis adjustment rules. The 179D vs. ITC comparison guide walks through the stacking rules in detail, including the interaction with bonus depreciation and transferability provisions that apply to tax-exempt building owners under the IRA.
Cost benchmarks and incentive amounts are reviewed quarterly and updated when a material change occurs — new IRS guidance, DOE dataset update, or a significant shift in equipment pricing. Each guide displays its last-reviewed date at the top. For real-time project pricing, use the interactive cost estimator which pulls from a live dataset of commercial installer quotes.
Run the free AI energy audit first. It analyzes your utility bill data to identify which upgrades — lighting, HVAC, envelope, solar, demand response — deliver the best simple payback for your specific utility rate structure, climate zone, and building use type. The audit output includes a ranked capital stack recommendation you can take directly to your CFO or board.
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