Energy efficiency projects typically don’t fail because they’re bad ideas; they fail because the path forward isn’t clear. Whether driven by budget relief, compliance demands, or sustainability goals, organizations often struggle to move from concept to execution. Connecting the dots between technical need, financial viability, and stakeholder alignment is where most plans get stuck. 

Turning an opportunity into action takes more than identifying an upgrade. It requires clear asset visibility, a sound funding strategy, and the ability to build consensus across departments with competing priorities. 

The Problem: Risk Is Rising, Visibility Is Low 

In a world of aging infrastructure and rising energy costs, standing still is no longer an option. 

Through more than 14,000 HVAC and mechanical asset assessments across industries, Mantis has found that 25% of equipment is past its useful life, and half is over 15 years old. That’s a staggering amount of hidden risk, both financially and operationally. 

Source: Mantis client analysis of over 2500 sites and 14,500 mechanical unit assets​ 

If you wait for a critical unit to fail, you're forced into emergency mode: scrambling for the fastest-available replacement, paying a premium, and risking service interruptions that ripple across operations. In healthcare, for instance, one client faced the possibility of downtime in an MRI suite, putting both patient revenue and safety scores on the line. 

The cost of inaction is steep. Yet many facility leaders delay energy efficiency projects due to a lack of capital, clarity, or internal alignment. That’s where a smarter, phased approach comes in—one that builds on data and long-term asset planning, like strategic multi-year assessments, can provide. 

The Solution: A Phased, Data-Driven Path to Execution 

Typically, successful energy projects begin with a shared understanding of objectives and priorities.  A successful energy efficiency initiative aligns with one or more of three strategic drivers: 

1. Financial Impact 

If the goal is margin improvement or asset value, we focus on high-ROI, short-payback projects like lighting retrofits, building controls, or HVAC optimization. 

• Example: A manufacturing company with aging rooftop units and compressed air systems prioritized a bundled HVAC and controls project with a 2.8-year payback. By targeting high-usage systems and coordinating early with their utility, the team captured significant incentives while cutting operational costs—improving margin and stabilizing energy spend across their facilities. 

2. Regulatory Compliance 

Energy upgrades are often required in cities with benchmarking laws (like LL88 in New York or Energize Denver). We help organizations meet these mandates and build a financial case that earns internal support. 

• Projects like controls or lighting upgrades often satisfy compliance while delivering <3-year paybacks—demonstrating how smart energy efficiency solutions can support both regulations and ROI. 

3. Environmental Goals 

Organizations with ESG commitments or net-zero targets often need support in prioritizing actions. We provide decarbonization studies and roadmap planning to align projects with long-term goals. 

• Example:  A national higher education system began with a decarbonization study that assessed mechanical systems across dozens of campuses. The audit prioritized opportunities based on equipment age, performance, and compliance risk. After identifying key upgrade measures, the system funded the top-priority projects and built a multi-year roadmap to phase in the rest. 

Funding That Fits 

Once a plan is in place, the next hurdle is often funding. This doesn’t need to be a showstopper; more resources are available than many clients realize. 

A range of funding mechanisms can be used to reduce or eliminate upfront costs, including: 

• Utility Incentives: Utility providers may offer rebates, sometimes covering 30–40% of project costs.
• On-Bill Financing/Repayment (OBF/OBR): This option lets you spread project costs across your monthly utility bills.
• PACE Financing: Allows energy upgrades to be paid over time through property tax assessments.
• Sector-Specific Programs: For example, hospitals in Connecticut may qualify for 0% financing through local partnerships.
• Federal Tax Deductions (179D): This long-standing deduction allows commercial building owners to reduce tax liability by meeting certain energy performance standards. 
  • While currently available, proposed federal legislation may phase out this benefit in the near future—making now a strategic window to act while it remains in place. 

Identifying and securing the right funding mix requires technical knowledge and familiarity with local, state, and federal programs. It’s not just about listing options; it’s about knowing which are viable and how to combine them effectively. For more on the cost of waiting, explore the strategic risks of deferred action. 

Securing Stakeholder Buy-In 

Getting a project approved often means aligning decision-makers who care about very different things. Here’s how organizations can align key decision-makers across functional areas: 

• Facilities Teams likely want reliability and fewer emergency calls.
• Finance Leaders probably want ROI, cost control, and budget certainty.
• Executives may want to reduce risk, meet ESG goals, and comply with regulations. 

Organizations that build business cases that speak each stakeholder’s language increase their odds of success. In one healthcare project, the facilities director initially led the conversation. The CFO became involved after realizing over $500,000 in utility incentives were at risk. When the CEO was informed that aging HVAC systems threatened uptime in a profit-driving medical suite, project urgency was no longer in question. 

To make the business case resonate across functions, organizations need to focus on material insights—the specific data points that matter most to each stakeholder. Clear analysis and targeted visualization of audit findings can help transform technical information into strategic investment priorities. 

Conclusion: From Planning to Payoff 

Energy efficiency projects don’t succeed because someone said yes to a good idea; they succeed because someone had a smart plan and the right teams to support it. 

At Mantis Innovation, we help organizations see the complete picture of their building assets, develop phased improvement strategies, and identify funding opportunities that make projects possible now, not five years from now. Whether your goals are financial, regulatory, or environmental, our process is built to help you move forward with confidence and clarity. 

Ready to see what’s possible in your portfolio? Contact Mantis today. We’ll help you uncover the opportunities and make the case that gets them done.