Savings by Design

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Resources for Energy-Efficient New Construction for Buildings

Savings by Design is a program offered by PG&E to encourage high-performance new building design and construction for commercial buildings. The program offers building owners and their design teams a wide range of services, such as Design Assistance; Design Team Incentives; Owner Incentives; and an educational resource, Energy Design Resources.

Savings by Design offers these services for customized new construction projects that exceed California’s Title 24 energy efficiency standards.

Contact your PG&E account manager early in the design process of your project to identify available funding, receive program information specific to your project needs, and enhance your project’s overall energy efficiency potential.

The program, administered by California’s four investor-owned utilities under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), offers owners and their design teams a variety of services. The SBD Participant's Handbook (PDF, 347 KB) has more information on the program.

This program offers analysis and resources to aid owners and design teams with energy-efficient facility design.

• Technical design assistance to analyze and design more energy-efficient buildings and process systems
• Owner incentives of up to $500,000 per project to help offset the investment in energy-efficient building and design, subject to project incremental costs.
• Design team incentives of up to $50,000 per project to reward designers who meet ambitious energy-efficiency goals.
• Energy Design Resources, the educational component of the Savings By Design program, offers design tools and resources for architects and engineers to support energy-efficient design efforts. Check out the latest energy-efficiency measurement tools, download simulation software, participate in virtual training workshops, register for training throughout our service territory or read the latest newsletters and design briefs online.

What’s New for 2010

NEW Green Building Certification Incentive NEW End Use Monitoring Incentive NEW Enhanced Commissioning Incentive NEW Integrated Design Stipend offering

Do You Qualify for an Incentive?

• The facility must be located in the PG&E service territory and will receive service from PG&E upon completion.
• Review the Participant Handbook (PDF, 347 KB) for detailed eligibility requirements
• Contact your PG&E representative or the Business Customer Service Center at 1-800-468-4743. We will help you identify the appropriate application forms, confirm your eligibility and walk you through the process.

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for incentives, a project application must be submitted to PG&E. The energy savings and incentives are estimates only and PG&E finalizes the incentive amounts after project completion. The actual incentive amount may therefore vary from the pre-construction estimated amount.

How to Apply

Complete and mail an application to your PG&E representative or mail it to the address on the application. Contact us early in the schematic design phase to determine energy efficient opportunities for your project.

Application Package

• Savings by Design/Customized New Construction (PDF, 162 KB)
• Savings By Design – Design Team (NRNC-DT) (PDF, 241 KB)
• Participant's Handbook (PDF, 347 KB)

Savings By Design Program Materials

• Savings By Design Fact Sheet (PDF, 264 KB)
• Savings By Design Brochure (PDF, 633 KB)
• Savings By Design Brochure Lighting Insert (PDF, 937 KB)
• Savings By Design Brochure HVAC Insert (PDF, 991 KB)

Additional Information

Pacific Energy Center

The San Francisco-based Pacific Energy Center offers design and engineering professionals a variety of complimentary classes, design consultations and resources to assist with your energy-efficient projects.

Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)

CHPS combines the efforts of utilities, the government and non-profit organizations to provide energy-efficiency information, services and incentive programs to California public school districts. Find out how to meet your school's energy-efficiency goals while maintaining a well-lit, healthy and comfortable learning environment.

Case Studies

• Georgina Blach Intermediate School (PDF, 967 KB)
• Sonoma State University (PDF, 110 KB)
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library (PDF, 86 KB)
• Project Case Studies

Contact Us

If you have specific questions regarding these programs please contact the Savings By Design team at 415-973-3803 or by e-mail. You can also visit the About Us section of the Savings by Design web site to contact a team representative directly.