Rebates for energy upgrades have become more widespread in the past few years. But finding them isn’t necessarily easy. The incentives may not be well publicized, the programs don’t always last very long, and money is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you’re late you may be out of luck. The problem is even trickier if you manage a portfolio of buildings scattered across the country. One solution: multiply your eyes and ears. That’s what Bob Holesko does. He’s the vice president of facilities for HEI Hotels and Resorts, a national owner and operator of upscale hospitality facilities. Energy is a big issue for HEI, and Bob has assembled an energy team to help him analyze opportunities and carry out upgrades. Key players are Rick Lubinski of Think Energy and Andy Gerlach of the Loyalton Group. Along with them, Holesko works with a select group of vendors. One thing they all watch for is rebates. And it’s not just them. Holesko has his chief engineers keep an eye out for incentives as well. He cites a hotel Long Beach, Calif., where a chief engineer learned of a water conservation rebate that allowed the property to replace 390 toilets for free. On other projects, rebates have driven down payback periods by 4 to 6 months – a significant gain, given that his top management team monitors payback periods closely. No wonder Holesko stresses the importance of paying close attention to program announcements from utilities. “My chiefs all know: Read your information. If you have a rebate program, let me know.”