CalMTA’s Commercial Replacement and Attachment Window Solutions (CRAWS) market transformation initiative (MTI) seeks to reduce carbon intensity of buildings through improved building envelope thermal performance and downsized heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
The retrofit technologies of Commercial Secondary Windows (CSW) and Vacuum Insulated Glass (VIG) offer a simpler installation process and substantially lower installation costs compared to full window replacements. Although windows on average comprise approximately 15% of a building’s exterior surface, they are responsible for HVAC losses of approximately 40%. This equates to approximately 12% of a typical building’s overall energy use.
There is a growing recognition that replacing poor-performing windows should be a prerequisite to decarbonization in existing commercial buildings. Statewide building performance standards (BPS) are in the early development phase in California, creating a sense of urgency to prepare the existing commercial building market to enable compliance. Improving window performance to prevent high solar heat gains, particularly during peak load periods, would reduce demand on HVAC systems and contribute energy savings to meet the state’s aggressive decarbonization goals.
This draft MTI Plan is based on more than two years of development, research, outreach, and analysis. Links to the supporting appendices are listed to the right. CalMTA will submit this the full plan and appendices to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) via an Application in 2026 following MTAB review and public comment.
Want to learn more about the CRAWS MTI Plan? Read the FAQs.
This appendix includes the MTI’s full Logic Model. The Logic Model is a systematic and visual way of presenting CalMTA’s understanding of the interventions necessary to remove barriers, expected outcomes of those interventions, and a pathway to the desired end state.
This appendix contains feedback on the MTI Plan from the Market Transformation Advisory Board.
CalMTA continued to make substantial progress on market transformation initiative (MTI) development and operational milestones in the 1st quarter of 2026. In this webinar, the CalMTA team shared activities related to market transformation idea development, operations, financial status, and key outcomes including submission of the revised Induction Cooking MTI Plan
CalMTA completed its third and final startup year in 2025, advancing the creation of a market transformation (MT) portfolio designed to deliver impactful solutions that contribute to California’s clean energy future and support the state’s climate goals. This year marked a pivotal milestone for CalMTA, as the California Public Utilities
Recognizing the historical inequities of energy efficiency investment, as well as the disproportionate energy burden faced by communities across California, CalMTA applies an equity lens in our approach to developing a market transformation portfolio for California. Prioritizing equity in our program design requires developing a unique set of tools and
CalMTA’s Residential Heat Pump Water Heating (HPWH) Market Transformation Initiative (MTI) aims to accelerate market adoption of heat pump water heaters in the single-family and small multifamily property sectors. HPWHs offer a substantial grid and energy efficiency benefit to California’s housing stock and are a foundational technology for achieving the
2026 will be a pivotal year as CalMTA progresses beyond the program’s initial three-year start-up phase and moves California’s first Market Transformation Initiatives (MTIs) to implementation. Following the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)’s unanimous approval of the first-ever statewide energy efficiency MTIs in November 2025, CalMTA is authorized to immediately
This market characterization report is an output of the Phase II research for the Commercial Replacement and Attachment Window Solutions (CRAWS) Advancement Plan, finalized in September 2024. CRAWS in this report specifically refers to vacuum insulated glass (VIG) and commercial secondary windows (CSW). The CRAWS market transformation initiative (MTI) offers
The California Market Transformation Administrator (CalMTA) develops and manages market transformation initiatives in the state to reduce energy use and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
CalMTA follows a rigorous process for reviewing, scoring, and then developing relevant, timely market transformation initiatives. The process supports market transformation initiative creation from concept to program development to market deployment, as well as the eventual exiting of the market.
Learn more about CalMTA’s planning and research on energy efficient technologies and our work to build California’s market transformation portfolio, and access quarterly and annual progress reports.
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CalMTA
Resource Innovations
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Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019
(888) 217-0217
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