Builder$sense is GVEA’s electrical energy efficiency residential rebate program for home builders who install electrical energy efficiency measures during construction. By "building in" energy efficiency from the start, homeowners will not only save money on their electric bills throughout the life of the home, but builders also receive a rebate for installing identified energy efficient measures.

ELIGIBLE GUIDELINES

• New construction, major additions or remodels
• Residential structures only; one time per structure
• Must be receiving or have applied to receive electric service from GVEA at the construction site

How to participate
It’s easy; no application is necessary. Call GVEA at 452-1151, ask for the Builder$sense program. Our Energy Efficiency Specialist will schedule an appointment to inspect your residence, complete the paperwork and process your rebate.

Does participation in Builder$sense affect participation in other Energy$sense programs?
Builder$sense applicants may participate in Home$sense but in no case will GVEA pay incentives for a single installation more than one time.

General rules
To be eligible for a rebate, electrical equipment must be U.L. listed and all electrical and plumbing installations should conform with all applicable building codes. There is no limit to the number of eligible measures installed.

ELIGIBLE MEASURES

Lighting

1. Interior hardwired fluorescent lamp fixtures or compact fluorescent lamp fixtures
   Rebate: $25
   Notes and restrictions: Must have minimum of four hardwired fluorescent fixtures to be eligible. All fixtures except for closets are eligible when four or more are installed throughout the structure.
2. Screw-in fluorescent light bulbs used in hardwired light fixtures such as track lighting or recessed fixtures.
   Rebate: $5
   Notes and restrictions: Must have minimum of four hardwired fluorescent fixtures to be eligible. For eligible homeowners only (see "Who & What is eligible?"); builders not eligible for screw-in fluorescent light bulb rebates.
3. Combination photocell/motion detector exterior light fixture
   Rebate: $30
   
4. High pressure sodium (HPS) exterior light fixture
   Rebate: $75
   Notes and restrictions: Rebate applies to HPS lamp of 100 watts or less.

Vehicle engine preheating plug-ins

1. Timer controlling an exterior vehicle plug-in outlet
   Rebate: $40
   Notes and restrictions: Timer must be hardwired into the house electrical system. Timer must be capable of on/off settings in one hour or smaller increments and must have a self-resetting override switch.
2. Switch controlling an exterior vehicle plug-in outlet
   Rebate: $20

Electric water heater

1. R-11+ insulating blanket installed on an electric water heater
   Rebate: $20
   Notes and restrictions: Be sure to check the manufacturer's literature before installing an insulating blanket on the electric water heater. Installing an insulating blanket on a water heater may void the warranty of the unit.
2. Timer controlling the electric water heater
   Rebate: $75
   Notes and restrictions: To qualify for the rebate, the timer must be hardwired into the house electrical system and must not have an override switch.

To participate in GVEA’s Builder$sense program, call GVEA at (907) 452-1151 or 800-770-GVEA.

For more information on energy efficient measures or products, call the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation’s Research and Information Center at 800-479-INFO, or the Alaska Cooperative Extension Service at (907) 474-7201.

GVEA's three Energy$sense programs are Home$sense, Builder$sense and Business$sense