The ComEd® Energy Efficiency Program new construction offering serves commercial, industrial and public sector buildings. In conjunction with participating gas utilities, we provide technical assistance and financial incentives to help building owners and design teams exceed the minimum efficiency requirements of the Illinois Energy Conservation Code.
There are four participation options that determine the rate and type of incentives available. The primary differences between these options are application timing and/or level of engagement with our technical assistance team:
Accelerate Performance provides technical assistance and incentives to project owners who agree to establish a defined energy performance requirement as part of their procurement process for design and construction services. The goal is to achieve measurable, low-energy usage once the building is operational.
Comprehensive offers energy modeling, technical assistance and financial incentives. This track is open to projects with applications submitted before design is 50% complete for at least two of four building system types, and at least six weeks prior to design completion.
Expedited Assistance offers expedited energy modeling and technical assistance with reduced financial incentives for projects that are beyond 50% design completion. Two of four major building systems must be at least six weeks from design completion.
Special Offers are available for certain building types. These provide an optimized and predictable incentive pathway with predefined, per-square-foot incentives for achieving specific energy efficiency best practices, as well as optional bonus measures. Visit ComEd.com/NewConstruction for current special offers.
All participation options offer the potential for engaged design teams to receive incentives, as well.
How do I know which path is best for my project?
Call 1-855-433-2700 and ask to speak with a ComEd Energy Efficiency Program commercial new construction representative, or email BusinessEE@ComEd.com. We are happy to discuss eligibility and options for your project.
If your project meets all these requirements, you are encouraged to submit an Application for Technical Assistance.
All commercial, industrial, multi-family and public sector projects are eligible.
Developers of income eligible single-family and multi-family major renovations may be eligible for higher incentives through the affordable housing new construction offering.
Projects that do not meet these eligibility requirements may be eligible for other incentives through the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program. Learn more about our portfolio of offerings and incentives.
The ComEd customer receives the incentive, and the design team lead is eligible to receive up to 10% of the owner’s incentive if actively engaged during program participation.
Incentive amounts vary greatly and depend on the specific energy efficiency measures ultimately implemented. Incentive amounts are greater when you engage us earlier in the design process.
Incentives through the new construction offering vary depending on how far your project exceeds current Illinois Energy Conservation Code standards. These standards provide baseline efficiency values for regulated building systems and technologies.
The Accelerate Performance, Comprehensive Assistance and Expedited Assistance options compare a building’s estimated energy use—after implementing our recommended energy conservation measures—to the building’s energy use if only meeting the Illinois Energy Conservation Code baseline. The engineer working on your project will tell you which baseline code will be used.
Additionally, special offers are available for certain building types with predetermined, per-square-foot incentives for achieving a specific, optimized package of energy efficiency measures.
Incentives are paid after a project is complete, has been site-verified, and all required paperwork has been submitted. This typically takes about six to eight weeks. Once approved for payment, incentive checks are sent within five business days. Incentives are paid to the ComEd customer’s business, or the ComEd customer can have the incentive paid to a third-party business.
Design incentives are awarded to design firms that demonstrate a high level of engagement with the new construction team. Engagement is measured by the quality of communication between the design team and the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program throughout the project, including timely responses to requests for information and openness to suggestions from the program team. The design incentive helps offset the cost of pursing an integrated system design approach in coordination with program staff.
There is no penalty for not implementing all recommended energy conservation measures in the project’s design. However, the incentive amount will change based on which recommendations are included in the final design due to the impact on estimated energy usage.
To receive the special offers available for certain building types, all required best practice measures must be achieved. Speak with your ComEd Energy Efficiency Program representative for more information.
No. The ComEd Energy Efficiency Program is funded in compliance with state law. We provide technical assistance support, including energy modeling, at no additional cost to your project. The electric and natural gas measure incentives help offset the cost of installing the recommended energy-efficient equipment. Our design team incentive can help offset the cost of coordinating with the program.
We can work within your timeline—as long as your team provides documentation and responses when requested. Working with the program team is easy. The program’s energy engineers will request a handful of phone calls and emails, as well as drawings and submittal updates, throughout the engagement process.
No. We can support your modeling efforts by sharing our energy models with your team. However, our services are not a substitute for these types of modeling services.
Speak with a ComEd Energy Efficiency Program new construction offering representative today. Call 1-855-433-2700 and ask to speak with the commercial new construction representative, or email BusinessEE@ComEd.com.
If your project meets eligibility requirements, you are encouraged to fill out an application. Email the completed application and any available project drawings to BusinessEE@ComEd.com or PublicSectorEE@ComEd.com. If you have questions, speak with a ComEd Energy Efficiency Program new construction offering representative today by calling 1-855-433-2700.
The building owner, project manager or design team lead would be the ideal team member to reach out to us.
The deadline is based on your building’s design process. Ideally, the customer or design team member will submit the application in the early stages of design—during schematic design or pre-design. At a minimum, applications should be submitted at least six weeks before design completion. However, design stages can be compressed or overlapping for design/build projects and other fast-track projects.
