Zero By Design

Building a Sustainable & Resilient Los Angeles

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LADWP’s Zero By Design encourages developers to build more sustainably by providing financial incentives for commercial and high-rise multifamily new construction projects which exceed Title 24 or industry standards.

Participants may receive:

  • Owner incentives to help offset the added costs of building more efficiently
  • Design Team incentives for attaining aggressive energy savings goals
  • Complimentary design assistance and review to aid applicants in realizing their project’s maximum efficiency potential

Eligibility Requirements

LADWP ZBD participants and projects must meet the following requirements to be eligible for program incentives:

  • Project must be a non-residential or high-rise multifamily new construction or renovation/remodel project located within LADWP’s service territory
  • The proposed design must exceed Title 24 or current industry standards for energy efficiency by at least five percent (5%) to qualify
  • Projects not completed within 48 months of LADWP approval may be cancelled and reserved funds returned to the program fund
  • Projects must meet all other LADWP ZBD requirements as specified in the program application

Make certain to review the Terms and Conditions and participation requirements prior to completing the application documents.

Express

LADWP ZBD Express Image

 For prescriptive measures, applicants can apply through LADWP ZBD’s Express pathway.

LADWP ZBD Express provides incentives for the purchase and installation of high efficiency new equipment. Utilizing deemed savings calculations, Express expedites your application processing to get you paid faster. 

 

Chillers

Includes:
• Air-Cooled
• Air-Cooled, Path B
• Water-Cooled

Water Heater

Includes:
• HPWH, Residential, All Electric
• HPWH, Commercial, All Electric
(Click for complete list.)

Water Heater

HVAC

Includes:
• Heat pump HVAC, All Electric
• Ductless HVAC, Residential, All Electric
(Click for complete list.)

HVAC

Lighting

Express lighting is limited per building type. Annual operating hours are capped per California eTRM.
(Click for additional details.)

Lighting

Variable Speed Drives (VSDs)

Includes:
• Central Plant System
• Pool and Spa Pump

Horticultural Lighting

Must be listed on the DesignLights Consortium’s (DLC) Horticultural Qualified Products List.
(Click for additional details.)

Horticultural Lighting

Whole Building Performance

LADWP ZBD Whole Building Image

LADWP ZBD Whole Building Performance offers a more comprehensive approach.

A building is composed of many systems working together to serve its occupants. By viewing building performance as a whole, builders explore systems integration and connectivity to develop innovative and effective efficiency solutions which help reduce operating costs and increase occupant comfort. LADWP Zero By Design’s Whole Building Performance rewards developments that exceed Title 24 requirements by at least 5%.

Incentive Categories and Levels

End Use*

Commercial Incentive
($/kWh)

High-rise Multifamily Incentive
($/kWh)
Lighting

$0.25

$0.30
HVAC – Cooling

$0.60

$0.50
HVAC – Heating

$0.30

$0.15
HVAC – Heating 
(all electric)

$0.65

$0.65
HVAC – Ventilation

$0.25

$0.35
Horticultural Lighting

$0.30

N/A
Appliance, Plug & Process

$0.30

$0.30
Domestic Hot Water

$0.15

$0.15
Domestic Hot Water 
(all electric)

$0.65

$0.65
*Any End Use categories indicating negative energy efficiency savings and incentives will be deducted from the project’s total efficiency savings and incentive amount. This does not pertain to building electrification measures.

Design Team

LADWP ZBD Design Team Image

To reward Design Teams for setting and achieving aggressive energy savings targets, LADWP Zero By Design also provides incentives to Design Teams. In order to qualify, Design Teams must submit a qualifying energy model to participate.

In addition to the energy model, the Design Team Leader must submit a completed and signed Design Team application along with the completed and signed Owner’s application. The energy model must be completed using the California Energy Commission approved compliance software for the current Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Code). The energy model must be accurate, reflective of the proposed building and detail and list the proposed equipment and schedules.

Design Team Incentives

Incentives Paid to the Design Team Leader

 

 Entry Level 
(% Better than T24)		 Incentive Maximum Incentive 
Per Project
Design Team 5% 1/3 of Owner 
Incentives 1		 $50,000

130% of the Design Team Incentive may be payable upon review and approval of the pre-construction energy model.

How to Apply

Prior to completing the application documents, review the Terms and Conditions and eligibility requirements to determine if you qualify.

All projects require LADWP approval prior to the start of construction or installation of any new equipment. You must prepare and submit an application package to reserve funds.

The LADWP ZBD application package includes:

Express

For customers applying through the Express application track, the application package must include:

Forms

  • ZBD New Construction Incentive Program Application (Part A)
  • Authorization Form (if applicable)  
  • Express Supplemental Form (Part B)


Additional Materials 

  • Schematic drawings and/or manufacturer’s specification sheets for all proposed equipment
  • For LED Horticultural Lighting Measures, customers must also submit the following:

Whole Building Performance

For customers applying through the Whole Building Performance application track, the application package must include:

Forms 

  • ZBD New Construction Incentive Program Application (Part A)
  • Authorization Form (if applicable) 
  • Whole Building Performance Supplemental Form (Part C)
  • Design Team Application (Part D), if applicable


Additional Materials

  • Project plans, schedules and blueprints (refer to: Project Drawing Set and Materials Information Checklist)
  • Schematic drawings and/or manufacturer specification sheets for all proposed equipment, if applicable
  • Energy model
  • Energy model generated hourly baseline and proposed data
  • Other energy savings calculations, if applicable

To Submit

Submit all required forms via email to [email protected] or mail to: 

LADWP CI&I PROGRAMS 
Attn: LADWP Zero By Design Program 
111 N. Hope Street, JFB Room 1057 
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Once your application has been received, a LADWP ZBD Program Manager will be assigned to your project and will contact you to confirm receipt of the application.

Application Summary

Documents Needed Express Whole Building
Part A New Construction Incentive Program Application X X
Authorization Form (if applicable) X X
Part B Express Supplemental X  
Part C Whole Building Performance Supplemental Form   X
Part D Design Team Application (if applicable)   X
Horticultural Lighting Workbook (if applicable) X  
Energy Model (if applicable)   X
Schematic drawings and/or Manufacturer’s Specification Sheets X  
Architectural MEP plans, CD drawings, and schedules (if applicable)   X
Project Drawing Set Information Checklist   X

Important Notices

Projects not completed within 48 months of LADWP approval may be cancelled and reserved funds returned to the program fund.

LADWP is unable to guarantee estimated energy savings amounts. LADWP will provide energy savings and incentive calculations only upon completion of the project and verification of the energy savings.

The incentives are reserved on a first come, first served basis until funds are exhausted.

This program shall at all times be subject to change or termination without notice.
 

DISCLAIMER

By applying for an LADWP incentive and/or program, personal information provided may be subject to public disclosure by requesting parties, pursuant to the California Public Records Act.

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