Building to the ENERGY STAR specification saves owners money from the beginning by reducing operating expenses. Through this requirement alone, this threshold in the QAP has resulted in over 100 development projects and a total of 2,314 units that will be ENERGY STAR certified. This is transforming the affordable housing market, and has helped bring the ENERGY STAR program to the attention of developers across the state. As a result of these efforts, the program was awarded the 2006 U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR award for Excellence in Affordable Housing. NJHMFA continues to support advances in the ENERGY STAR program, offering the Microload option in the QAP Green Point.
Some NJHMFA programs have an ENERGY STAR certification requirement. Not all projects are able to go through the ENERGY STAR Homes program, please review the current Guide to NJHMFA ENERGY STAR Requirements for alternatives - found in the Related Documents section on the right - and which includes a Multifamily Logic Tree for quick reference. While the document mentioned above provides guidance on how to meet NJHMFA financing requirements; it specifically references the energy efficiency programs offered through the NJ Clean Energy Program. The following sections cover these offerings.
A regular home, built to code, would have a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score of 100. ENERGY STAR Homes have a minimum HERS score of 85; that is, they are designed to be 10-15% more energy efficient than a home built to local code. The Clean Energy Program has hired Honeywell Utility Solutions to administer the NJ ENERGY STAR Homes program.
NEW! As of January 1, 2012, the NJ ENERGY STAR Homes program introduced the "NJ ENERGYEfficient Homes" as an entry level of qualification for incentives (this level is not eligible to earn Energy Star Certification), has fully transitioned to the V.3 ENERGY STAR standards, and fully adopted the ENERGY STAR Multi-family High Rise Program. (1) Please review the Guide to the right for updates on incentives; (2) in the new program, developers will need to pay for and contract with an independent HERS rater. If you are just getting your feet wet, constructing 'green' homes, you can start by building a NJ ENERGY STAR Home.
For existing single-family homes and low-rise multifamily buildings, you can participate in the NJ Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Homes program. This program is available to all residents and to homes ranging from single-family (1-4 units) to low-rise garden apartments (1-3 stories, no elevator, individual meters). If no health and safety issues are found in the home and energy saving opportunities are identified during the home audit, seek bids for work to be completed by a contractor from the pre-qualified list. If you want to install measures - such as insulation, high efficiency heating and/or other eligible improvements - that result in 10-20% energy savings, NJCEP will give a $2,000.00 rebate, for up to 1/2 of the costs and up to a $5,000 0% interest loan where a utility loan is unavailable. If the improvements result in a 20-25% energy savings, NJCEP will give a $4,000.00 rebate, for up to 1/2 of the costs and up to a $10,000 0% interest loan where a utility loan is unavailable. For energy savings greater than 25% NJCEP will give a $5,000.00 rebate for up to 1/2 of the costs and up to a $10,000, 0% interest loan where a utility loan is unavailable. For multifamily buildings, different incentive rates are in effect. This program is available to all NJ owners, regardless of income.
This program is geared towards existing and new construction multifamily, commercial and industrial buildings. Under this program, the owner hires a qualified Pay for Performance Partner, who will conduct a whole-building energy audit and recommend a scope of work that would achieve 25% energy savings (or percent savings less than building to code). When the analysis is complete, the scope of work finalized and financing put in plan; then the partner will submit, on behalf of the owner, for the 1st incentive (based on building sq. ft.). When work is completed; the partner will submit for the 2nd incentive (based on projected energy savings). After monitoring the building for one (1) year and making adjustments as needed to meet the goal; then the partner would submit for the 3rd incentive, which is based on actual energy savings (even if savings are more than projected).
The commercial and industrial section of the Clean Energy Program is labeled 'Smart Start'. In addition to the Pay for Performance program, there are many incentives for specific lighting upgrade packages, many different types of equipment and for an energy professional's design assistance. There is flexibility in the program to address your specific energy upgrade project - please call 1-866-NJ-SMART for more information.
