As energy codes advance, Energy Trust’s EPS New Construction program updates program incentives and requirements to ensure cost-effective savings that go beyond code. EPS New Construction will have several changes to Oregon offerings starting in April 2022:
- Update to the 2021 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC)
- Increase the incentive for net zero homes
- Adjust the requirements for energy smart home incentives for electric vehicle (EV) readiness and solar + storage readiness
- Introduce a new incentive for homes that qualify as affordable, rural, within tribal communities, and/or the builder or verifier is registered with the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) in Oregon
Updating to the 2021 ORSC
The 2021 ORSC became mandatory in October 2021. To qualify for EPS New Construction whole home incentives, beginning in April, participating homes that complete construction and apply for incentives must exceed the 2021 code by at least 10 percent. Builders can earn escalating incentives for each modeled percentage above code their home achieves, up to 35%. Please refer to the Incentive Overview Sheet for full details.
Increasing incentives for net zero homes
EPS homes that offset at least 95% of their predicted annual electric load can earn net zero incentives. Net zero project incentives will increase from $750 per home to $1,000 per home, starting in April. Along with this update, Energy Trust released updated guidelines to meet net zero requirements.
Simplifying energy smart home offerings for EV ready and solar + storage ready homes
In recent years, Energy Trust has offered incentives for EPS homes that included a suite of energy smart home features. To simplify the participation process, builders can now earn incentives for these measures as standalone bonuses to their EPS incentive:
- EV ready: $200 per home (see requirements)
- Solar + storage ready: $200 per home (see requirements)
EPS New Construction will also introduce a new incentive for homes that qualify as affordable, rural, within tribal communities, and/or the home’s builder or verifier is registered with COBID.
Starting in April, builders can earn a $500 bonus for EPS homes that meet any of the following criteria:
- Home is affordable to median income earning households, as defined in this form
- Home is sited in a rural location, within a municipality that has 3,000 or fewer residents, as defined by the US Census
- Home is sited within a tribal reservation, colony or community, and/or developed with the intent that tribal members will reside in the home
- Builder is registered with COBID
Do you have questions about any of these updates? Please contact the trade ally coordinator via email or phone at 1.877.283.0698.