About ENERGY STAR New
Homes

Program Overview

Sponsors of the Program

ENERGY STAR Partnership

Contact Us

For Homebuilders

How to Apply

Value & Benefits

Certification Guidelines

Technical Specifications

Home Energy (HERS) Rater Information

Frequently Asked Questions - General

Frequently Asked Questions - Technical

For Homebuyers

Features of ENERGY STAR Qualified Homes

Benefits to Homeowners

Ask Your Contractor

Resources

Affiliated Programs

Organizational Allies

Featured News and Events

 

 

Value & Benefits

Excellent benefits are provided to homebuilders who construct ENERGY STAR qualified homes within the service territories of the Program Sponsors. A few of these benefits are listed below.

Incentives
Marketing and Sales Assistance
Training Information
Free Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)

Incentives
Massachusetts New Homes with ENERGY STAR offers a limited number of monetary incentives to homebuilders who construct homes that achieve minimum energy efficiency requirements. Below are the base incentive packages available for energy-efficient homes that are completed prior to December 31, 2009. Homebuilders must submit an Application and Agreement Form to be considered for incentives.

2008 Financial Incentives
Massachusetts New Homes with ENERGY STAR offers a limited number of monetary incentives to homebuilders who construct homes that achieve minimum energy efficiency requirements. Below are the base incentive packages available for energy−efficient homes that are completed prior to December 31, 2009. Homebuilders must submit an Application & Agreement form and Incentive Request Worksheet for incentive consideration. The actual incentive amounts you receive will be contingent upon the final performance of the home and the verification of energy efficient measures installed by a certified HERS Rater. You will receive the incentive amount of the performance standard the home achieves, regardless of the incentive award.

Package

Requirements

Single-Family Incentive

Multi-Family Incentive

Code Plus

6 ACH CFM 50, 8% leakage

$325

$225

ENERGY STAR I

HERS Index of 85 to 66

$750

$650

ENERGY STAR II

HERS Index of ≤65

$1,250

$1,150


* Incentive amounts are subject to change.
** Duct leakage rate is % of floor area leakage to outdoors tested at 25 Pascal pressure.
***Homes with indexes of approx 50 or less may qualify for an additional $2,000 federal tax credit.
**** A single-family unit is a detached or attached unit separated by a vertical firewall. A multi-family project must be three stories or below to qualify.

Incentives for Energy Efficiency Measures
Homebuilders who submit an application to the Program can also apply for incentives for the following energy efficiency measures in addition to the incentives described above. GasNetworks* pays incentives for the efficient gas powered equipment.

Package Measure Specification Sponsor Incentive**

ENERGY STAR Appliances

ENERGY STAR Qualified
Refrigerator and Dishwasher

Must be installed in low-income
housing with service by
NSTAR, National Grid or Cape Light Compact

$100 per package

ENERGY STAR CFLs

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)

Unlimited CFLs will be installed upon homebuilders’ approval. A $2 incentive per installed CFL is available to electrician.

FREE

HVAC Equipment

Central Air Conditioning Equipment and Air Source Heat Pump

SEER 14, EER 11.5 or HSPF of 8.2. Only offered in NSTAR & NGRID service areas.

$300

GasNetworks*

High Efficiency Furnace

AFUE 92% or greater

$100

GasNetworks*

Furnace with ECM*

AFUE 92% or greater

$400

GasNetworks*

Hot Water Boilers*

AFUE 85% or greater

$500

GasNetworks*

Hot Water Boilers*

AFUE 90% or greater

$1,000

GasNetworks*

Indirect Water

Attached to natural gas boiler

$300

GasNetworks*

On-Demand Tankless Water Heater

.82EF or greater with ignition

$300

GasNetworks*

ENERGY STAR® Thermostats

≤2 thermostats (max 2 per unit)

$25


*Visit www.gasnetworks.com for more information on GasNetworks. GasNetworks incentives are valid through April 30, 2009.
**Incentive amounts are subject to change without notice.

Incentives for Renewable Energy Systems
Homebuilders who submit an application to the Program are automatically screened to determine eligibility for incentives for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. These incentives are made available through the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MTC) Green Affordable Housing Initiative. The incentives below require a separate application and are for projects that install solar PV systems in affordable housing. Please contact your account representative for this application.

Package

Single Unit Tied

Multi-Unit Tied

Affordable

20%-49% Affordable

50%-100%
Affordable

Base Incentive

$7.00 per watt

$6.00 per watt

$7.00 per watt

Possible Addition to Base

Green Buildings (LEED/CHPS)

$1.00 per watt

$1.00 per watt

$1.00 per watt

Other Available Incentives and Rebates
Apart from the Program, homebuilders may also qualify for additional incentives for qualifying energy-efficient equipment, such as; appliances, gas heating and water heating, cooling and renewable energy systems. To find out more information or to apply for these incentives, visit the web sites indicated below or ask your account representative for more information.

Program

Performance Standards

Incentive*

Additional Information

National Grid Technology Demonstratio

Solar Water Heater

$1,500 max

www.thinksmartthinkgreen.com

MTC

Renewable Energy Systems, LEED, MA Green

≤$20,000

www.mtpc.org

MA Tax Credit

Solar Heat, PV, Wind, Water

≤$1000

www.mass.gov/doer/programs/renew

Federal Tax Credit

Site Built and Manufactured Homes

≤$2,000

www.energystar.gov

Marketing and Sales Assistance

ENERGY STAR has become the signifying brand of energy efficiency that consumers trust. The Program will provide homebuilders with the assistance necessary to leverage the ENERGY STAR brand and gain an advantage in the competitive real estate market. Our 2008 Partners will receive the following:

Technical Assistance and Training

The Program will provide homebuilders with the technical assistance and training necessary to improve their homes’ energy performance, receive other incentives and/or tax credits, and certify their homes earn the ENERGY STAR. An account manager will guide you through the technical aspect of meeting ENERGY STAR specifications and the certification process. A certified HERS Rater will conduct the plan reviews and testing required as part of the certification process to verify that your home is eligible for incentives and earns the ENERGY STAR. The following services will be available in 2008: