Look for Utility Incentives for Energy Efficiency for New Construction

Do you think of utility incentives when you're planning a new construction project? Maybe you should. If you're considering a green building, you should visit your utility to see if they have energy efficiency incentives for new buildings.

For example, Southern California Edison has a program called Savings By Design.  At the Facility Decisions conference and exposition in Las Vegas, David Jacot, who manages commercial energy efficiency incentive programs for the utility, said the new construction incentives emphasize integrated design. New construction presents an opportunity to achieve significant long-term energy gains - gains that can't be achieved by retrofits down the road. For example, a properly sited building with high performance windows presents the opportunity for effective daylighting and reduced heating and cooling loads.

While integrated design presents opportunities to reduce some first costs to help pay for extra investments in other efficiency measures - for example, lower cooling loads mean that mechanical systems can be smaller - steps to maximize energy efficiency typically have a higher first cost than their conventional counterparts. And although integrated design can reduce long-term energy costs, first costs can still be an obstacle.

To offset the initial costs of an integrated design, Southern California Edison offers a range of incentives: direct financial incentives for owners, financial incentives for design teams, energy resources and design assistance. The incentives can be substantial, said Jacot, because of the potential for significant long term energy gains.

Savings By Design is available in many areas of California outside the Southern California Edison territory, said Jacot. Check www.dsireusa.org, a national database, to find out if there are new construction incentives available in your state.