Zero Emission Homes for Healthier Communities
The Building Better Homes Program offers support for developers and home builders in the design and construction of new zero emission single family homes and townhomes, marketing and promotion of these homes, and training focused on passive house principles applicable to single family homes and townhomes.
See full program document here.
Benefits Offered to Developers and Home Builders
NYSERDA’s Building Better Homes Program offers essential resources every step of the way to reduce barriers to market entry and help meet the projects bottom line.
Expanding Market Demand
Incentives to support market positioning at the forefront of zero emission homes design, construction, and development.
Zero Emission Homes
Exceptionally energy-efficient homes designed to be resilient and utilize all-electric heating, cooling and ventilation equipment, including kitchen and laundry appliances.
Healthy Building Practices
Bring customers value with well-designed comfortable, efficient, safe environments that promote healthy indoor air quality, combat allergens and asthma, and emphasize occupant control.
Resilient Building Strategies
Applicants are encouraged to use strategies like passive survivability during extended power outages, address forward looking climate conditions, and community resilience enhancing strategies.
Build Better Training
Advance your team’s knowledge of energy efficiency standards while positioning your firm as a leader in clean and resilient building practices. Financing is available to train all facets of the project team from design, consulting, building, and sub-contracting.
Funding Overview
Approved applicants may be able to access one or more of the incentive and support categories below.
Build the Market
Promotion of zero emission new homes.
up to:
$50,000
annually
$100,000
lifetime cap
Design or Re-design
Financial incentives to support the design or re-design to meet zero emission standards.
up to:
$4,000
per project
Training
Passive House certification training for your staff.
up to:
$2,000
per person
$30,000
lifetime cap
Funding
Approved projects receive an incentive per delivered home.
up to:
$8,000
single family home
$5,000
townhome
Homes that will be located in disadvantaged communities are offered higher incentives. Homes utilizing ground source heat pump technology for space conditioning and domestic hot water production are also offered a higher incentive.
Applicants are encouraged to explore stacking additional incentives opportunities through NY-Sun program, The Inflation Reduction Act, and Section 45L IRA tax credits. Find more information from the EPA 
and DOE .
Eligibility
- Applications must be submitted prior to issuance of the building permit.
- Builder promotion and marketing of their zero emission home is a critical aspect of accessing program support.
- Third party certification to a standard such as Passive House, Zero Energy Ready Homes, ENERGY STAR®, ILFI, NGBS or an alternative listed in the program documents.
- Resiliency strategies should future proof and protect homes during flood events and to mitigate impacts during power outages.
Who Can Apply
Developers and Home Builders are encouraged to apply. At a minimum, the following must be demonstrated:
- Demographics, background, and production levels.
- Actively building single-family homes or townhomes in New York State.
- Committed to building zero emission homes.
Applications will be accepted continuously through December 31, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
Have questions or need more information?
Download the factsheet for this opportunity [PDF]
Email: [email protected]