California’s New Solar Homes Partnership gains from Building America research

The New Solar Homes Partnership is a California Energy Commission (CEC) managed program under the larger California Public Utilities Commission’s Go Solar Initiative. The New Solar Homes Partnership (NSHP) is a $350 million program aimed at creating a sustained solar market for new homes. As part of the Go Solar Initiative, the NSHP aims at incorporating solar power into 50% of all new homes built in California by 2020. The program will change the way solar incentives are allocated in all Independent Service Operator (ISO) areas, including PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E and serve as a model for the rest of the country.

The program begins a new era of state solar support with the inclusion of energy efficiency requirements for all new solar homes. Rob Hammon, of the Building Industry Research Alliance (BIRA), and Principal of ConSol, co-chaired the CEC NSHP Advisory Committee. Mr. Hammon has successfully communicated the concept that homes be equipped with all cost-effective energy efficiency measures before more expensive solar energy is added. Building America research provides proof, with real utility data, that combining energy efficiency with solar is the most cost-effective way to reduce homes’ energy consumption and bills.

NSHP offers two tiers based on energy efficiency performance. The first tier requires a 15% increase in efficiency over California’s Title 24 to receive incentives. The second tier requires a 35% improvement above Title-24 building code, and a 40% improvement above cooling requirements. The second tier allocates more financial incentive for energy efficiency and solar improvements. Both tiers require third party inspections to verify proper orientation, absence of solar shading, and high performance building features. The program design was convincingly influenced by Mr. Hammon, based on Building America’s research findings from analyzing real utility data at Premier Gardens and a comparative control development. BIRA’s research, relying on electric and natural gas bill data provided by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), validated the cost effectiveness of energy efficiency measures, the peak reducing capacity of Near Zero Energy Homes, and the practicality of achieving south and west facing PV systems on all homes in typical production community layouts. All three of these research findings directly influenced California’s new program design and acceptance. NSHP homes will be energy-efficient, cut peak electricity use, contribute to ongoing Building America community-scale research objectives, and serve as model to emulate up and down the state and across the country.

It should be noted that none of this research nor shaping of this new program would be possible without the bold leadership of SMUD.

Program Basics:

Tier I

$2.50/watt (+$0.10/watt if >50% of homes)
15% incentive (Utility programs: $500 typical)
Basic marketing support (logo)

Tier II

$2.50/watt (+$0.10/watt if >50% of homes)
Efficiency incentive (est. $2,000, new utility program)
Local jurisdictional support
Program logo (enhanced)
Local marketing support

Go Solar California

Fig. 1: California Solar Initiative logo from website

NSHP Guidebook

Fig. 2: Cover Page of NSHP Guidebook, featuring Premier Garden’s Picture

PV orientation

Fig. 3: PV orientation (azimuth) range for within 7% annual TDV performance in CZ12

References
Go Solar California - http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/index.html
New Solar Homes Partnership Guidebook - http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/documents/CEC-300-2006-017-CMF.PDF