Home Performance with Energy Star Rebates

December 19, 2012

Summary

The current round of funding for the Home Performance with Energy Star program has been exhausted, please reference program web site for future funding information.

The Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) is now offering rebates for residents that make qualifying energy efficiency improvements as part of the Home Performance with Energy Star program. In order to qualify for incentives, the applicant must be the registered owner of a separately metered, single-family detached or attached residence where the equipment is installed. Attached units include duplexes, townhouses, and condos. Multi-family residential, commercial, and newly constructed buildings are not eligible for incentives under this program.

The program offers several different incentive paths to qualifying homeowners. The standard measures path offers rebates for specific energy efficiency measures such as home insulation, windows, doors, air sealing, and water heaters. The performance measure path offers progressively increasing incentives based on the level of energy consumption reduction, starting with a minimum energy consumption reduction of 20%. The high introductory performance rebate levels currently offered are scheduled to expire March 31, 2012. Prescriptive incentives are also available for heating and cooling measures.

The first step to participating in the program is to have an energy audit performed by a program-approved contractor. Based on the results of the energy audit, the contractor will provide the homeowner with a series of energy savings recommendations, but it is up to the homeowner to decide which upgrades they would like completed.* The contractor then completes the selected improvements and submits a completed final application for incentives on behalf of the homeowner. If improvements totaling more than $500 are made within 6 months of the energy audit, the homeowner also qualifies for a rebate of $250 against the cost of the energy audit.The program will only provide incentives for improvements made on or after August 18, 2010. Please see the program web site or contact an SEU representative for further program information.

In addition to the rebates, the program also offers loans from $1,000 - $20,000 with terms of up to 10 years to finance up to 100% of project costs. The loans are unsecured, do not require home equity, and carry an interest rate of 3.99% for Performance Path improvements and 6.99% for Standard Path improvements. Renewable energy projects that meet the requirements of the Delaware Green Energy Program may also be financed through this program if they are accompanied by the installation of at least one other measure with a cost of at least $500. Energy savings associated with renewable energy installations is not included in the calculation of savings for Performance Path measures.

The Delaware SEU is a non-profit organization created by the state of Delaware to foster a sustainable energy future for the state through conservation, efficiencies and the use of renewable energy sources.

*The list of eligible energy efficiency improvements above is a list of possible improvements that may be identified in the required energy audit. In practice, eligible improvements are "custom" in nature, and depend on the results of the energy audit and the wishes of the homeowner.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector:	State
Category:	Financial Incentive
State:	Delaware
Incentive Type:	Rebate Program
Web Site:	http://www.energizedelaware.org/Home-Performance-with-Energy-Star/
Administrator:	Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU)
Start Date:	08/18/2010
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:	Clothes Washers Dishwasher Refrigerators/Freezers Dehumidifiers Water Heaters Lighting Furnaces Boilers Heat pumps Air conditioners Duct/Air sealing Building Insulation Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building Custom/Others pending approval Other EE Tankless Water Heater
Incentive Amount:	Standard Measures Path Energy audit: $250 Attic insulation: up to $400 Wall insulation: up to $400 Crawlspace insulation: up to $400 Basement insulation: up to $400 Windows: up to $400 Exterior doors: up to $50 Air sealing: up to $400 Duct sealing: up to $400 Rim joist insulation: up to $200 Tankless hot water heater: up to $200 Electric domestic heat pump hot water heater: $200 Performance Measures Path Energy audit: $250 Energy reduction of 20%: $3,000 Additional reductions: $1,000/each additional 5% reduction up to $8,000 for a 45% reduction Heating and Cooling Measures Central AC: $400 Air-source heat pump: $400 Furnace (gas or oil): $400 Boiler (gas or oil): $550
Maximum Incentive:	Total: up to $8,250 (maximum performance track + $250 energy audit rebate) Standard Measures Path: lesser of $1,800 or 20% of cost (does not include heating and cooling incentives) Performance Measure Path: 50% of cost up to $8,000 maximum Heating and Cooling Measures: determined by incentive levels
Equipment Requirements:	Central AC: at least 16 SEER and 13 EER Air-Source Heat Pump: at least 15 SEER, 12.5 EER, and 8.5 HSPF Gas Furnace: at least 92% AFUE Oil Furnace: at least 86% AFUE, ECM motor Gas Boiler: at least 90% AFUE Oil Boiler: at least 86% AFUE, temperature reset or thermal purge control
Installation Requirements:	Measures must be installed by a program-approved contractor

Contact

Name:	Program Information - Home Performance with Energy Star
Organization:	Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility
Address:
Phone:	(877) 624-4448

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.