Why Participate?

• Receive generous financial incentives for approved homes on a per-unit basis
• Demonstrate a commitment to the construction of high-quality, energy-efficient new construction
• Energy-efficient HERS rated homes on average sell for higher prices when compared to unrated homes. Learn more from Freddie Mac’s analysis of energy-efficient homes rated between 2013 and 2017: Energy Efficiency: Value Added to Properties and Loan Performance

Who Should Apply?

• Building developers with single family residential new construction, multi-family buildings, or gut rehabilitation projects in Philadelphia
• Projects must receive firm rate and have single fuel natural gas heat

Eligible projects are defined as:

• New single-family construction projects where a licensed professional architect or engineer is preparing and certifying building plans.
  • A single-family house is one that may be fully detached, semi-detached, a row house, or a townhome.
• A multi-family building with residential units where natural gas space and water heating systems are being replaced or redesigned, and where the renovations trigger Energy Code compliance.
• Gut rehabilitation projects in single-family homes where at least two building systems are being replaced or redesigned, and where the renovations trigger Energy Code compliance.
• For a dwelling that is attached to other homes to be considered a single-family house, it must:
  • Be separated from adjacent housing units or commercial spaces by a ground-to-roof wall;
  • Have no housing units, commercial spaces, or common spaces above or below;
  • Be directly accessible from the outdoors without using a space shared by another housing unit or commercial space; and
  • Be supplied with space and water heating by its own individual mechanical systems.

Participation Requirements & Benefits:

To participate, homebuilders must fill out and return an acknowledgment form and complete the following steps:

• Build an eligible single-family home.
• Achieve 15% savings, at minimum, beyond energy code requirements (2018 International Energy Conservation Code).
• Carry and Maintain in effect insurance of the types and in the amounts that a prudent vendor in the industry would carry, including general liability insurance coverage of at least $1,000,000. If requested by the program, furnish a certificate of insurance evidencing commercial general liability, automobile liability, and workers’ compensation and employer liability policies.
• Obtain a Home Energy Rating from a certified Home Energy Rating System (“HERS”) rater and submit the HERS Rating to the Program within 90 days of completed HERS Rating. HERS Ratings and other project information must be submitted by uploading required documentation to a password-protected online portal. Participating Homebuilders should contact a program representative
• Make homes available for quality assurance inspections.