PG&E - Residential New Construction Savings by Design Program

Summary

Pacific Gas and Electric provides rebates to home builders who construct energy efficient homes. There are three separate programs, each with their own requirements and incentive structure, that builders can choose from: The ENERGY STAR Performance Method, The New Solar Homes Partnership Performance Method, and the Prescriptive Method. The ENERGY STAR Performance Method Builders of single-family homes can qualify for this incentive by constructing homes which exceed 2005 Title 24 Energy Code requirements by at least 15%, and also meet the ENERGY STAR Thermal Bypass Checklist and the California Energy Commissions Quality Insulation Installation (TBC/QII) requirements. Homes which meet these requirements are eligible for a rebate of $400 if they are built in Coastal Climate Zones 1-7, or $500 if they are built in Inland Climate Zones 8-16 The New Solar Homes Partnership Performance Method As part of the California Solar Initiative, the California Energy Commission oversees the New Solar Homes Partnership which provides incentives for home builders to construct new homes with photovoltaics built in. To qualify for the New Solar Homes Partnership, the homes must also be built to achieve certain efficiency levels. These same required efficiency levels also make the home eligible to receive a rebate through PG&E. Just like the New Solar Homes Partnership, builders have two options for participating in this program. Tier 1 requires homes to exceed the current Title 24 Standards by 15% and have Energy Star appliances. Tier 2 requires the residential unit to be 35% more efficient, to be 40% lower in the building’s air conditioning energy requirements than current Title 24 standards, and have all Energy Star appliances. Under both Tiers, any appliances provided by the builder must be ENERGY STAR certified. Qualifying Tier 1 homes can earn the builder rebates of $400 or $500 depending on the climate zone, and Tier 2 homes can earn a rebate of $2,000 for all climate zones. The Prescriptive Method Builders not participating in either of the above methods can receive rebates for upgrading one or more specific prescriptive features in homes within their developments. An incentive will be paid for each qualifying feature that is not used to meet the 2005 Title 24 baseline.