Residential New Construction
What is it?
Builders of new single-family detached homes with central heat and air systems may qualify for incentives when installing high-efficiency equipment, and for utilizing high-efficiency building techniques in residential new construction. The same incentives are available to qualifying homeowners who build their own home.
What are the measures?
Step 1:
To qualify for any Residential New Construction incentives, the measures in step one must be met. The new home’s complete duct system must be sealed and proper levels of ceiling insulation must be installed.
- Ductwork: Earn a $50 incentive for sealing the entire duct system with mastic. All joints and seams must be sealed, including registers at the ceiling.
- Ceiling Insulation: Earn a $75 incentive when attic insulation levels meet a minimum R-30 standard.
Step 2:
Once the measures in step 1 are met, builders may qualify for any of the following incentives.
- Heating and Cooling Rebates: Earn $100 for each unit that meets a minimum qualifying efficiency rating (ARI rating only) of 14.0 SEER. Any building envelope improvements must be incorporated into the home’s design and HVAC sizing calculations prior to installation.
- Windows: Earn an incentive up to $350 when all windows are NFRC-labeled with a minimum solar heat gain coefficiency of less than .40 and a U-factor of less than .65.
- Alternate Water Heating: Earn a $100 incentive when you install a heat recovery unit or heat pump water heater (applicable only when used with or in the replacement of an electric water heater).
- Certification: If all measures are installed, the builder will receive a $75 cash incentive* for each home that is certified by an independent HERS rater to meet the Energy Star® requirement of a HERS index less than 86.
What is the HERS Index?
HERS is a home energy rating system that involves an analysis of a home’s construction plans and onsite inspections. Based on the home’s plans, the Home Energy Rater uses an energy efficiency software package to perform an energy analysis of the home’s design. This analysis yields a projected, pre-construction HERS Index. Upon completion of the plan review, the rater will work with the builder to identify the energy efficiency improvements needed to ensure the house will meet Energy Star performance guidelines. The rater then conducts onsite inspections, typically including a blower door test (to test the leakiness of the house) and a duct test (to test the leakiness of the ducts). Results of these tests, along with inputs derived from the plan review, are used to generate the HERS Index score for the home. Tampa Electric does not perform the HERS analysis. To learn more, visit the Web page.
How does it work?
Once the certificate of occupancy has been issued, and the energy-efficient construction materials and equipment have been installed as specified in the program guidelines, the builder submits the downloadable Residential New Construction form, completes and mails it to Tampa Electric.
Note: A six-digit vendor number is required for processing. This number is assigned to builders who register with Tampa Electric. To register, please complete and submit this Vendor Number Request form
. A vendor number will be e-mailed to you within five to seven business days.
* Only one incentive payment will be issued per home. The payment is based on equipment and/or measures purchased prior to the certificate of occupancy.
