Research supports need for program

SRP conducted one-on-one interviews with Phoenix area homebuilders to obtain feedback to refine the SRP PowerWise Homes program prior to its introduction to the market. Overall, a majority of the homebuilders supported the program; especially being linked to SRP and the energy-efficient home certification to support the image of a quality-built home. Research also shows that consumers desired a home energy-efficiency program that is sponsored by a utility.

Energy-efficient homes are more than just a trend. By the end of the decade, industry analysts predict that more than two million homes will earn an energy-efficient rating similar to PowerWise Home models.

According to a study by McGraw-Hill Construction, 20% of new construction will be green by 2012. A 2008 survey of real estate listings in Seattle found that environmentally certified homes sold for almost 5% more and stayed on the market for 24% less time than comparable homes sold in the prior year.

Creating awareness among buyers

We actively promote SRP PowerWise Homes to our residential customers.

Get up to $680 per home with SRP PowerWise Homes

By participating in the SRP PowerWise Homes™ program, you'll offer discerning buyers the right combination of value, aesthetics, environmental sensibility and energy efficiency—and put money back in your pocket for each home you build. SRP PowerWise Homes

Incentives and benefits

For each SRP PowerWise Home you build, you'll earn from $480-680 based on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) index of the home. SRP PowerWise Homes must have a HERS index of 84 or lower. This index uses an evaluation of house design in comparison to a computer-simulated reference house of identical size and shape.

There are two tiers of incentives based on the HERS index:

Tier Rating Incentive
¹One HERS index of 84-81 $480/home
SEER 14 $100
²Two HERS index of 80 or less $680/home
SEER 15 $200
SEER 16 $300
Air Change Per Hour .20 $80
Window U-Value .35 $100

¹Upgrade available for Tier I builder is SEER14.
²Upgrades available for Tier II builder are SEER15, SEER16, ACH.20, and Window U-Value .35.

Verification of whole-house mechanical ventilation and pressure balancing of each room is required. (Note: Powder and laundry rooms are exempt from pressure balancing.)

Home Hunters video with SRP's Kim HumphreyAdditional benefits of participation:

  • SRP brand recognition
  • Flexibility in reaching eligibility
  • Utility cost estimate sheets
  • Home Hunters video about home testingComplimentary I-codes for enrolled subdivisions
  • Complimentary inspections during various stages of construction to ensure building and energy-efficient standards are being met. Evaluation includes testing for insulation, blower door and ducts.
  • Marketing support such as home buyer publications, sales kits,
    signage, advertising and Web site links.

Eligibility requirements

To determine eligibility, each home in a subdivision is modeled based on builder plans or bid sheets. The modeling of the homes include input values from:

  • Window and house square footage
  • Type of house
  • HVAC size and SEER
  • Wall and ceiling insulation values
  • Hot water size and efficiency and window specifications (such as u-factor and SHGC)

All homes in the community must qualify to be deemed eligible.

Qualifying features:
Materials that can help you qualify for this program are:

  • 13 SEER HVAC equipment (minimum of 14 SEER for tier-two homes)
  • R-19 composite wall insulation
  • R-30 ceiling insulation
  • Lower window to wall ratios
  • Dual pane and low-e windows
  • Energy Star lighting and/or appliances
  • Jump ducts

Testing and inspections:
To demonstrate the energy efficiency of the models being offered to buyers, testing and inspections are performed by a third-party consultant on randomly selected houses during construction. SRP pays 100% of the cost for this initial testing.

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About the program

SRP PowerWise Homes uses whole building design to develop high-performance buildings at optimal costs. This approach brings together building design, energy conservation, and today's renewable-energy technologies to minimize a building's operating costs and makes the most of all its elements.

Criteria established for PowerWise Homes is built on reduced energy consumption on a kilowatt-hour per-square-foot basis, thereby lowering utility bills. Compared with standard homes, PowerWise Homes use substantially less energy for heating, cooling and water heating, delivering hundreds of dollars of annual utility bill savings to each home.

How to participate

If you agree that participating in SRP PowerWise Homes is the right move economically and environmentally, call your SRP Key Account Manager today.

Jeff Klefstad
(602) 236-4267

Rebecca Smout
(602) 236-2489

Unsure who your account manager is? Call Vicki Davis, Business Customer Solutions manager
(602) 236-5623

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