Program Overview

With New Jersey SmartStart Buildings …

… A smart start now means better performance later! Whether you’re starting a commercial or industrial project from the ground up, renovating existing space, or upgrading equipment, you have unique opportunities to upgrade the energy efficiency of the project.

New Jersey SmartStart Buildings can provide a range of support — at no cost to you — to yield substantial energy savings, both now and for the future. Learn more about:

• Project Categories
• Custom Measures
• Incentives for Qualifying Equipment and Projects
• Program Terms and Conditions
• Find a Trade Ally

Please note: pre-approval is required for almost all energy efficiency incentives. This means you must submit an application form (and applicable worksheets) and receive an approval letter from the program before any equipment is installed (click here for complete Terms and Conditions.) Upon receipt of an approval letter, you may proceed to install the equipment listed on your approved application. Equipment installed prior to the date of the approval letter is not eligible for an incentive. Any customer and/or agent who purchases equipment prior to the receipt of an incentive approval letter does so at his/her own risk.

Getting Started

Submit your project application form as soon as you know you will be doing a construction project, or replacing/adding equipment.

Smart-Growth Eligibility: Check to make sure your project is eligible for incentives.

Incentives for new construction are available only for projects in areas designated for growth in the NJ State Development and Redevelopment Plan. Public school (K-12) new construction projects are exempted from this restriction and are eligible for incentives throughout the State.

Customers, or their trade allies, can determine if a location is in a designated growth area by referring to the Smart Growth Site Evaluator Tool available from the HMFA website. Contact a program representative if you are uncertain about project eligibility. The Smart Growth policies will be implemented consistent with Board Orders as described more fully in the C&I Operational Procedure Manual.

Apply for pre-approval by submitting an application for the type of equipment you have chosen to install. The application should be accompanied by a related worksheet, where applicable, and a manufacturer's specification sheet (refer to the specific program requirements on the back of the application for specs needed for your project) for the equipment you are planning to install. (Program representatives will review your application package and approve it, reject it, and/or advise you of upgrades in equipment that will save energy costs and/or increase your incentives.)

Support for Custom Energy-Efficiency Measures

Custom measures allows program participants the opportunity to receive an incentive for unique energy-efficiency measures that are not on the prescriptive equipment Incentive list, but are project/facility specific.

Incentives for Qualifying Equipment and Projects

Financial incentives are available for large and small projects. These incentives offset some — or maybe even all! — of the added cost to purchase qualifying energy-efficient equipment, which provides significant long-term energy savings. Ranges of incentives are available for qualifying equipment (depending on type, size, and efficiency) in several categories.

Find out more about equipment incentives!

For specific details on equipment requirements and financial incentives, including incentives for equipment not listed here, contact a program representative. Annual financial incentives may be limited to a maximum of $500,000 per customer utility account and are available as funding permits.