A quality HVAC system is crucial for a comfortable and energy-efficient home, but it’s also a significant investment. Everyone deserves the most efficient comfort solutions available, which is why HVAC rebates are so beneficial. They can help ensure high-efficiency furnaces, air conditioners and other equipment is more affordable.
HVAC efficiency standards are going up next year, so now’s an excellent time to explore your options. Various companies, organizations and even government entities are extending rebates in 2023 to help everyone procure a new, high-efficiency HVAC system.
Rebates for High-Efficiency Furnaces
Lots of manufacturers of high-efficiency furnaces provide rebates toward the cost of a new system. These furnaces feature energy-efficient components such as variable-speed blower motors, which enable the thermostat to fine-tune how much heating is produced. It’s an easy way to lower energy use overall. Local utilities also share furnace rebates since less energy use translates to less strain on the local energy grid.
The government’s ENERGY STAR® program is also useful for acquiring a furnace rebate. You can type in your ZIP Code to learn which rebates you might be approved for. Equipment with the ENERGY STAR® rating means it meets your region’s standards for energy-efficient comfort.
Air Conditioner Rebates
Many of the same rebates for high-efficiency furnaces are also suitable for air conditioners. You can save hundreds on new installation for a system from a leading brand like Lennox. Just check with your local utility companies to learn which makes and models are eligible. What’s more, you can usually join federal and local rebates for even greater savings. Don’t hesitate to learn what’s out there, because it can quickly add up to 10% of a new, high-efficiency cooling system.
Potential Rebates for Smart Thermostats
A smart thermostat is a particularly valuable addition to your home comfort system. With intelligent programming, you can enhance the daily schedule. Utility companies can benefit from this kind of efficiency, and so most offer rebate programs for new smart thermostats. In time, these rebates essentially permit you to get a free smart thermostat!
Local utility companies also offer programs where they provide discounted rates for the capacity to adjust your thermostat during peak energy use. This helps avoid strain on the grid, particularly when heat waves or cold fronts arrive. When participating in this program, your thermostat may automatically be corrected by a few degrees.
Additional Ways to Save: Tax Credits for Energy-Efficient Equipment and Home Improvement Projects
A little different from rebates, tax credits are also available for the purchase and installation of energy-efficient HVAC equipment. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act reactivated a program in 2021 that offered credits for up to 10% of the project’s cost. The revised credits are now worth 30% of the cost and can be claimed every year instead of only once. These credits are available for a much wider variety of projects, like home energy audits, electrical, insulation, ventilation, and even your doors and windows! The programs are tailored to provide the most benefits for lower-income households, maximizing the improvements to HVAC efficiency all over the country.
New Legislation for Heat Pump Rebates
The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act incorporated separate legislation called the High-Efficiency Electric Homes and Rebates Act, or HEEHRA. This incentive is specially aimed toward heat pump technology, which transfers heat instead of producing it by igniting fuel. To motivate more people to convert to this energy-efficient comfort system, these rebates are significantly higher than incentives for AC systems and furnaces.
If the household’s income is less than 80% of the local median, you can use the rebates to cover 100% of the costs of a new heat pump. Households meeting 80-150% of the typical income can pay for 50% of equipment and installation costs.
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