Building Initiative for Low- Emissions Development (BUILD) Program: Implementation Plan — 2026 Update

Senate Bill 1477 (Stern, Chapter 378, Statutes 2018) authorized the Building Initiative for Low-Emissions Development (BUILD) Program. The program provides incentives to builders to encourage the design of innovative, low-emission buildings. The bill requires the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), in consultation with the California Energy Commission (CEC), to develop and administer the program.

The CPUC adopted Decision 20-03-027 which requested the CEC to develop an implementation plan establishing the framework and requirements of the program. The BUILD Implementation was adopted through a CPUC resolution on April 15, 2021.

The Building Initiative for Low-Emissions Development (BUILD) Program Implementation Plan — 2026 Update is the third program implementation plan. Similar to the 2024 BUILD Implementation Plan, adopted in July 2024, the BUILD Implementation Plan — 2026 Update reiterates program administration, including participation requirements, program eligibility, incentive structure, eligible equipment, evaluation of new technology, bill savings calculation method, technical assistance provided, and the metrics used to evaluate program performance. The updated plan also revises program incentive distribution metrics and summarizes new and ongoing education and outreach activities.