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FAQs

The best time to get started with Next Level Homes is during the design phase, when you can still make design changes to maximize your incentive. We strongly encourage you to reach out to our team as early as possible in the process of building a new home.

The Certified Performance pathway requires homes to be certified with ENERGY STAR or Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (DOEZERH). Due to ENERGY STAR and DOEZERH requirements, the decision to take this approach typically needs to be made early in the design process. Some homes that are nearly complete or already completed may still be eligible for the Energy Credits+ pathway if they were built to exceed Washington State Energy Code-Residential (WSEC-R) by at least 0.5 eligible code credits and/or include highly efficient home features. Visit the incentives page to view the complete list of eligible features.

The Energy Credits+ pathway offers an incentive for each 0.5 eligible energy credit above the Washington State Energy Code-Residential (WSEC-R). The energy code provides many options for earning energy credits, and builders can determine the best way to earn additional energy credits. To receive Next Level Homes incentives, the above-code energy credits must demonstrate claimable energy savings, which means some credits like renewable energy are not eligible. The Energy Credits+ pathway also offers incentives for specific equipment and design choices, such as more efficient insulation, windows, ventilation, and heat pump water heaters. You may choose to work with a HERS Rater to participate in this pathway to maximize energy savings and incentives.

The Certified Performance pathway offers incentives for homes with an ENERGY STAR or Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home (DOEZERH) certification. ENERGY STAR and DOEZERH certifications indicate that the home offers better energy efficiency and performance compared to homes that only meet minimum energy code requirements. Homes permitted under 2021 WSEC-R can also leverage bonus incentives in this pathway, but bonus incentives are not available to homes permitted under 2018 WSEC-R in the Certified Performance pathway. Participants seeking Certified Performance incentives for a home are required to work with a HERS Rater to confirm that the home meets ENERGY STAR or DOEZERH certification requirements.

Homes can receive either the Standard Incentive or the Building Opportunity Incentive. Standard Incentives are available to homes that meet the eligibility criteria for the program. Building Opportunity Incentives are only available to homes that meet eligibility criteria and are built on land owned by an income-qualified community land trust and/or reservation land. The Building Opportunity Incentives are higher than the Standard Incentives. Both incentives are standalone and cannot be combined.

Compared to a rebate program, there are a few more steps involved in applying for and receiving incentives from Next Level Homes. Participants must submit the program’s required documentation after construction is completed to demonstrate the home qualifies for incentives. Within four weeks of submission, the Next Level Homes team will complete a technical review of the documentation and follow up with any questions or requests for corrections. Once our team approves the documentation, we will submit the project for payment, which can take up to six weeks.