Jam on Hawthorne has been waking up Portland with eggs, coffee and brunch since 2002. Tucked inside a nearly 100-year-old building in Southeast Portland, the restaurant is beloved for its welcoming vibe and crave-worthy menu. When Gordon Feighner and his wife, Katie Prevost, purchased the business in 2015, they made it their mission to keep Jam’s charm alive while modernizing key equipment behind the scenes.

So, when the restaurant’s aging kitchen ventilation system began to fail, loudly, Feighner knew it was time for an upgrade. “The old system sounded like a jet engine, and it broke down every few months,” Feighner said.

In January 2024, Jam installed a new high-efficiency commercial vent hood to replace the noisy, unreliable system. After the work was complete, Feighner worked with Energy Trust of Oregon to confirm eligibility* and received cash incentives of nearly $26,300 to help offset the cost of the upgrades.

“The process couldn’t have been easier,” Feighner said.

The results were immediate. The new vent hood helped reduce noise so dramatically that kitchen staff had to lower their voices, which could now suddenly be heard in the dining room. Indoor comfort improved, too. The previous system had been pulling air-conditioned air out of the space too quickly, making it difficult to maintain consistent temperatures. The upgrade brought in balanced airflow and more comfortable conditions for both staff and guests.

And the end result? Annual energy cost savings of $6,000, plus a quieter, cooler environment that enhances the customer experience.

Feighner noted that the incentive came at just the right time. “We had to close in January to get the new equipment installed and handle some other maintenance, so it wasn’t just the cost of the upgrade, it was potential lost revenue too. Having this support helped offset that, and it made our January loss look a lot less scary than it could have been.”

This wasn’t Jam’s first time working with Energy Trust, either. Soon after taking ownership, Feighner installed energy-efficient lighting. And during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jam received cash incentives for upgrading to high-efficiency gas fryers.

Feighner, who holds a degree in environmental economics and has worked in energy and utility policy, says Energy Trust’s support aligns with both his values and the restaurant’s bottom line. “It’s not just about energy savings, either, it’s about comfort, customer experience, and keeping the doors open in slow months.”

He encourages other restaurant owners to reach out, even if a project is already underway. “If you’re trying to make smart, responsible purchasing decisions, Energy Trust cash incentives can make it a lot easier to choose the more efficient option.”

Want to follow Jam’s lead? Learn more about how your business can save energy and money with cash incentives for energy-efficient equipment including ovens, vent hoods, fryers, HVAC equipment and more. Visit our equipment incentives page or email existingbuildings@energytrust.org to get started on your energy-saving project today.

*We recommend you work with Energy Trust to confirm eligibility prior to installing any equipment.