Active
Clean Energy
Incentive

Building Initiative for Low-Emissions Development (BUILD) Incentives and Technical Assistance

Ongoing
Total Funding
$80,000,000
Maximum Award
Overview

The Building Initiative for Low-Emissions Development (BUILD) Program is designed to provide technical assistance and incentives for new all-electric low-income residential buildings that reduce GHG emissions.

Funder

California Energy Commission

Opportunity Website

Total Funding

$80 million for the program; minimum $60 million of that for incentives for low-income residential housing

Funding Source

State

Maximum Award

Award Details

 

  • 300 free hours of technical assistance for design, development, and construction:
    • Educational resources on all-electric building design and technologies
    • Support throughout all development phases (including building design, construction, installing near zero emission technologies) and information on local building permits
    • Assistance with submission of BUILD Incentive Application package and participation support
  • $2 million program cap per applicant
  • $3,300 per unit for multifamily average greenhouse gas incentive
  • $5,500 per home for single family average greenhouse gas incentive
  • New Adopter Design Award: BUILD provides eligible applicants constructing their first all-electric, low-income multifamily building (10+ units) with up to $100,000 design award to defray direct design costs

Eligibility

Applicants that are one of the following may be eligible:

  • Private owner or developer
  • Public owner or developer
  • Nonprofit organization
  • Tribal Communities 

Building owners or developers of low-income housing with:

    • Five years’ development experience
    • At least one completed low-income project

Eligible Activities

Eligible Projects include:

  • Single and multifamily low-income residential housing with varying income restrictions depending on project location and type of housing
  • All-electric and no hookups to the gas distribution grid
  • Demonstrate modeled resident utility cost savings
  • Project located in one of four gas service territories: Southern California Gas, Pacific Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southwest Gas Corporation

Residential building eligibility:

  • Newly constructed buildings
  • Existing buildings repurposed for housing
  • Building additions or renovations where 50% or more of the exterior weight bearing walls are removed or demolished

Notable Requirements

BUILD incentives are based on a project’s anticipated modeled greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction as compared to the mixed-fuel 2019 Energy Code prescriptive standards. Projects receiving BUILD incentives cannot result in higher utility bills for building occupants. Technical assistance is approved or denied on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the date and time of the electronic submission of a complete technical assistance application. Technical assistance for specific projects is dependent on the amount of program funds available based on the gas corporation’s contribution percentage to the program.

Preferences

See the specific eligibility requirements for incentives and/or technical assistance above and online.

How to Apply

Apply for a BUILD incentive through the BUILD Online application system. To request Technical Assistance (TA), submit a Technical Assistance Application.

ConstructionElectrification UpgradesHousing

Technical Assistance Available

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