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Lesley Baulding, Created: Sep 03, 2015, Last modified: Dec 30, 2019Energy Efficiency Incentives for Builders in New Jersey
Our monthly email newsletter went out yesterday to our subscribers and highlighted the various energy efficiency incentives for builders and HERS Raters who work on ENERGY STAR-certified new homes. The newsletter featured utility programs in Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah. You may be interested to learn that these programs are only the tip of the iceberg! The ENERGY STAR website boasts several more rebate programs, so if you’re interested in seeing what’s available in your area, click on the Builder and Incentive Locator map on the organization’s website.
One of our email subscribers responded to the newsletter and told us about an impressive rebate program in New Jersey. The Residential New Construction program focuses on three tiers of homes.
- New Jersey ENERGYEfficient Homes (Tier 1): These homes have energy-efficient characteristics and save about an estimated 15% more energy than a traditionally built home, yet do not meet ENERGY STAR standards under the EPA.
- New Jersey ENERGY STAR Homes (Tier 2): These homes meet the EPA’s ENERGY STAR v3 requirements, which means they are estimated to be 20-25% more energy efficient than traditionally built homes and meet all EPA ENERGY STAR Homes standards.
- New Jersey Zero Energy Ready Home (Tier 3): These homes promote innovation in building design, materials, techniques, and operation in order to achieve energy savings estimated to be 50% before the addition of on-site renewable energy generation. The NJ Zero Energy Ready Home tier encourages the construction of homes that use advanced, high-efficiency building products, practices, lighting, appliances, and renewable energy. Tier 3 was formerly called New Jersey Climate Choice Home. This tier aligns with the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Homes.
In our newsletter, we highlighted rebate programs that had incentives up to $7,000. While these are certainly attractive to the builders and HERS Raters in those locations, professionals in New Jersey should be extra excited – it appears as though the NJ Clean Energy Program offers much higher rebates! Let’s take a look…
| Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 3 Plus | |
| HERS (Before Renewables) | ENERGYEfficient Home | ENERGY STAR Home | Zero Energy Ready Home | Zero Energy Home, 100% Renewables |
| 75* | $250 | $1,250 | ||
| 70** | $500 | $1,500 | ||
| 65 | $750 | $1,750 | ||
| 60 | $1,000 | $2,000 | ||
| 55 | $2,000 | $3,000 | ||
| 50 | $3,500 | $4,500 | $6,500 | $9,500 |
| 45 | $6,250 | $7,250 | $9,250 | $12,250 |
| 40 | $9,250 | $10,250 | $12,250 | $15,250 |
| 35 | $12,750 | $13,750 | $15,750 | $18,750 |
| 30 | $16,250 | $17,250 | $19,250 | $22,250 |
| 25 | $17,250 | $18,250 | $20,250 | $23,250 |
| 20 | $18,250 | $19,250 | $21,250 | $24,250 |
* This level is only available for multi-family units.
** This level is only available for multi-family and multi-single units.
So basically, it pays to be energy efficient! Homeowners certainly see the savings of ENERGY STAR-certified homes – with savings between $200-$400 a year on utility bills – and it seems NJ builders can also benefit from savings! In fact, Neil Goldman, who works for the NJ Residential New Construction program, told us that the rebates are typically paid to the builder, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. The energy efficiency incentives can go to the homeowner, developer, or HERS Rater as well. Pretty cool!
To learn how you can spruce up your skill set and join this growing industry, give us a call at (800) 460-2575.
