Step 1: Pre-Design Brainstorming

(Design Incentive of up to $1,000)

Prior to the brainstorming session, the client’s design team provides a preliminary project design definition, including (if known):

• Facility uses and hours of operation
• Number of occupants
• Total connected facility kW
• Number of floors and total floor area
• Descriptions of typical wall, roof and fenestration sections
• Preliminary lighting and equipment power levels
• Anticipated HVAC systems and source fuels
• Projected energy-management strategies

During the brainstorming session, program representatives will work with your project design team to help establish the base case design for the building and decide on specific efficiency  measures to be simulated in Step 2.

Check an example of Comprehensive Design Support in action.

Step 2: Design Simulation

(Design Incentive of $5,000 or more)

After the brainstorming session, which is a prerequisite for the design simulation incentive, the project design team conducts detailed analyses of energy-efficiency measures. The project design team will calculate installation costs and energy savings for each measure, using a building simulation model and the base case building data provided. An interactive model of proposed measures helps the team select the electric energy-efficiency measures to be included in the final design. At this point, a program representative will review the revised report and offer additional recommendations to the project team.

Design simulation consists of the following steps:

1. Analyze the base case building
2. The project design team will analyze each measure individually with the base case building to determine annual kWh and kW savings relative to the base case
3. Screen each measure for cost-effectiveness, using incremental cost estimates

The calculation of the design simulation incentive is based on $0.10/per sq. ft. for the first 50,000 sq. ft., resulting in a minimum incentive of $5,000. For each additional sq. ft., $0.03 will be added to the $5,000. The approved energy-simulation program is DOE version 2.1C or later; other programs may be considered for approval if they have hourly simulation capability at a minimum.

Design simulation results are summarized and provided to participants for review. Program representatives and the customer’s project design team reach consensus regarding which measures to model interactively and consider for inclusion in the building design. An additional interactive simulation is performed if needed.

Step 3: Detailed Analysis of Energy-Efficiency Measures

(Design Incentive of up to $5,000)

The owner/designer team selects the measures to include in the final project design. The design team performs a detailed analysis of recommended measures and incorporates the agreed-upon measures into the final design of the project.

The Commercial/Industrial Market Manager reserves the right to negotiate the combined total amount for design incentives.