Start saving before you start building

When you plan to design and construct an energy-efficient building, you have an opportunity to save money, keep building occupants comfortable and demand less from the environment. An energy efficient building also increases the value of your property.

Tacoma Power can help make the most of your energy-efficient design by providing up to 100 percent of the incremental costs for measures that will help make your new building(s) more energy-efficient. Our cash incentives and expert assistance on new commercial and major remodel construction projects will help you identify energy-savings opportunities with efficient lighting and lighting controls, insulation levels in walls and ceilings as well as in heating and cooling equipment.

Tacoma Power’s New Construction program, launched in June 2008, was designed for commercial and business customers including industrial facilities, major remodels, offices, schools, hospitals, retail, nonprofits and government buildings.

Key benefits

• Lower your building’s initial and ongoing operating costs
• Create more comfortable work setting
• Reduce environmental impacts
• Lower your electric bill

View our New Commercial Construction Fact Sheet.

Tacoma Power offers three types of electric efficiency measure incentives to meet your needs.

Equipment rebates help offset the upfront cost of specific energy efficient equipment and are ideal for smaller buildings because they are straightforward with no detailed calculations needed. Eligible equipment includes:

• Three-phase AC motors
• Air conditioning equipment
• Heat pumps and chillers

Prescriptive incentives help save energy in small office buildings. These incentives are available for the installation of specific packages of measures that can save more energy than equipment rebates alone. Tacoma Power offers different incentive levels based on the office building’s floor area:

• Efficient lighting and lighting controls – incentive of 25 cents per square foot
• Mechanical and glazing improvements – incentive of 25 cents per square foot
• Combination of the above two packages –incentive of 50 cents per square foot

Again, there are no detailed calculations needed.

Custom incentives are ideal for larger buildings and cover other efficiency measures, including:

• Efficient lighting strategies
• Efficient heating and cooling system modifications
• Increased insulation levels and improved glazing

Custom incentives are offered at $0.20 per kWh of first year energy savings, not to exceed the incremental cost of the efficiency project. Energy savings calculations are required. The project must save at least 10 percent more than the City of Tacoma Energy Code requirements.

Design Team and Commissioning Incentives

Tacoma Power also has additional cash incentives for building designers and owners of efficiency projects that save 30% more than what the energy code requires. Projects must be at least 30,000 square feet. Please call for more details.

Tacoma Power will:

• Meet with you and your design team
• Determine your building’s potential efficiency measures and incentive amounts
• Help you decide which efficiency measures to install
• Provide an agreement for you to sign

After that, you can:

• Incorporate efficiency measures into your building’s design and construction
• Receive the financial incentive after Tacoma Power inspects your building

Need further assistance? Call Tacoma Power Representative Gary Johnson at (253) 502-8619 for more information about how your business might qualify for the new construction incentives.