Variable Speed Drives & Motors

Reduce your equipment’s energy usage with variable speed drives and motors.

Many motors run at a constant speed, even when there is little demand to do so. This operation can waste energy and wear out equipment faster. An energy-efficient variable speed drive (VSD) slows the fan or pump down when the load decreases, saving energy.

The Sponsors of Mass Save offer incentives for new variable speed drives, as well as replacement of existing motors and drives that are aging or less efficient.

How to Participate

For steps on how to participate, select if you are adding a new variable speed or replacing an existing motor or drive.

Contact Your Program Sponsor
Before purchasing the equipment, provide your Program Sponsor with equipment specifications, project costs, and savings, to see if project is eligible for an incentive.
Download & Email Rebate Form
Receive Pre-Approval from Your Program Sponsor
Once Sponsor review has occurred and the project is determined eligible, a pre-approval letter will be issued outlining the incentive amount.
Install Pre-Approved Equipment
Once your project has been pre-approved, purchase and install the qualifying equipment within 12 months.
After Installation Is Completed
Once the installation is completed, notify your Program Sponsor and provide final documentation of installation, including invoice and final specifications. Once information is verified, incentive payment will be issued.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? The Sponsors of Mass Save offer customized project support to help your business save money and energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Contact Your Program Sponsor
Before purchasing the equipment, provide your Program Sponsor with equipment specifications, project costs, and savings, to see if project is eligible for an incentive.
Download & Email Rebate Form (Variable Speed Drive Only)
Download & Email Rebate Form (Variable Speed Drive & Motor)
Receive Pre-Approval from Your Program Sponsor
Once Sponsor review has occurred and the project is determined eligible, a pre-approval letter will be issued outlining the incentive amount.
Install Pre-Approved Equipment
Once your project has been pre-approved, purchase and install the qualifying equipment within 12 months.
After Installation Is Completed
Once the installation is completed, notify your Program Sponsor and provide final documentation of installation, including invoice and final specifications. Once information is verified, incentive payment will be issued.

Can’t find what you’re looking for? The Sponsors of Mass Save offer customized project support to help your business save money and energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Eligibility

To view eligibility requirements, select if you are adding a new variable speed or replacing an existing motor or drive.

For a full list of eligibility requirements, please reference the rebate form.

Must be an existing customer of Cape Light Compact, Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil
A VSD must be controlled by an automatic signal in response to modulating air and/or water flows. The VSD’s speed must be automatically controlled by differential pressure, flow, or temperature
Applicants must demonstrate significant load diversity that will result in savings through motor speed variation
Motors must operate a minimum of 2,000 hours annually to be eligible for incentives
VSDs installed in process, wastewater, or municipal water supply applications may use the Custom Application process, which requires detailed energy savings calculations

Must be an existing customer of Cape Light Compact, Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil
A VSD must be controlled by an automatic signal in response to modulating air and/or water flows. The VSD’s speed must be automatically controlled by differential pressure, flow, or temperature
Applicants must demonstrate significant load diversity that will result in savings through motor speed variation
Motors must operate a minimum of 2,000 hours annually to be eligible for incentives
The following VSD applications are NOT eligible for prescriptive incentives under this application:
- Forward curve fans with inlet guide vanes
- Variable pitch vane-axial fans
- Planned replacement or replacement of previously failed VSD
- Two-speed cooling tower fans
- VSD used for balancing
- VSD used as two-speed control of fan or pump
- VSD used to mitigate oversized motor installation
VSDs installed in process, wastewater, or municipal water supply applications may use the Custom Application process, which requires detailed energy savings calculations

Related Rebates & Incentives

Case Study: South Shore Millwork, Inc.

With the installation of variable speed/variable frequency motors and other efficiency upgrades, this architectural woodwork producer saved $30,491 annually.

Not Sure Where To Start?

If you’re looking for advice on how to save energy, the Sponsors of Mass Save offer energy assessments and guidance to support efficiency projects from start to finish.

Learn More