New construction grants
Building a new facility, or expanding an existing one? Grants and rebates are available for up to 100 percent of the incremental costs for many high-efficiency electric and natural gas applications. Whether you're building a new facility or involved in a major remodel, Puget Sound Energy will provide you with useful information, recommendations, referrals, and specifications on available grants and rebates.
Contact one of our Energy Management Engineers early in the design phase to maximize your opportunity for incentives.
How to qualify
To qualify, projects must exceed efficiency levels prescribed in applicable energy codes by at least 10 percent for electricity savings measures, and exceed code for natural gas measures. There are several approaches utilized to determine incentives for your project. Contact a PSE Energy Management Engineer to discuss what funding approach is best suited to your project. Below are funding options:
| Funding approach |
Incentive |
Whole-building custom approach
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This approach is generally for large, complex buildings and is based on the integrated design principle. Owners utilize energy-simulation tools to evaluate the energy performance of the proposed building compared to the energy code. The incentives are:
- $0.60 to $1.80/sq. ft. for 10% to 30% energy-efficiency improvements compared to the energy code
- Buildings exceeding the energy code by 11% to 29% will receive a prorated incentive
Projects heated with natural gas from other providers are eligible for half the incentive and must improve both electric and total building energy use above the 10% threshold. |
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Incentives are paid per square foot based on the selected standardized measure package. The package is estimated to save at least 10% more energy than if the facility was built to the energy code. Adding efficiency measures to the selected package can provide additional incentives.
Prescriptive approach is reserved for specific building types up to 100,000 sq. ft. |
Component prescriptive approach (rebates) |
Rebates are standardized incentives available for various technologies and end uses. An updated rebate list is available here or by calling a PSE Energy Advisor at 1.800.562.1482. |
Component custom approach |
Incentives up to 100% of the incremental cost for improvements in energy efficiency are provided for individual measures. The grant is determined using energy savings estimates and incremental measure cost data. |
Energy-efficiency building commissioning |
Incentives for third-party building commissioning are up to $0.32/sq. ft. Additional incentives are available if the commissioning agent completes a design review. The maximum incentive is up to 50% of the commissioning agent’s fee as it relates to energy efficiency. |
We'll work with your planning, design and development team to propose cost-effective efficiency upgrades. In addition to PSE's up-front funding, there's an opportunity to lower ongoing operating cost projections, which could help you obtain favorable financing rates.
Projects qualify when they use
- Innovative HVAC systems or system components, including evaporative assist cooling and heat recovery
- Control systems to optimize savings of new efficient technologies
- ENERGY STAR® TP-1 Transformers
- Day lighting to allow for high quality, energy-efficient lighting and improved productivity in the space
- Building thermal improvements such as class 35 glazing
For complete details and grant forms, use the "Grant Forms" link listed above.