Cost and Finance Options
Its Free!!
Thats the beauty of home energy performance. All of our services are paid for in future energy savings. Of course you have to make an initial investment, but it is all recuperated by the reduction of your utility bills.

On average home energy improvements will reduce energy consumption 30%. A return on investment that no bank or stock can match! Put your money into your house not the bank!

The homes in need of improvements the most have the potential for the most savings and, as a result, give the fastest return on investment.

New incentives are available in 2010 to help Vermonters improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Efficiency Vermont offers up to $2,500 in incentives per household to help Vermonters pay for energy efficiency home improvements completed by a certified Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor. These incentives are funded by Efficiency Vermont and, for Green Mountain Power customers, the Green Mountain Power Energy Efficiency Fund.

Your Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor will assist you in understanding the incentives that may be available for your project, and will provide you with the paperwork you need to receive incentives from Efficiency Vermont. Working with a certified contractor also assures that the project results in real energy savings and is installed safely.

What is the average incentive amount, and how likely am I to qualify?

INCENTIVES

Step 1: Meet these minimum requirements in order to qualify for all other Home Performance with ENERGY STAR incentives. Many Vermont homes have the potential to reduce air leakage by 30% or more. In 2009, more than 90% of homes achieved at least a 10% reduction.

Energy Efficient
Home Improvement

Qualifying Criteria

Customer
Incentive

Minimum Requirement

Air leakage reduction = 10% as measured by a pre- and post-blower door test*

$250 audit fee rebate

Install all recommended health and safety improvements including mechanical ventilation, CO detectors, or other essential health and safety improvements

Step 2: Complete additional energy efficiency improvements to increase your incentive. Not every home will qualify for an incentive in every category. Efficiency Vermont offers incentives for the energy efficiency improvements that save the most energy. In general, the less efficient your home was to start, the more opportunity there is to save.

Energy Efficient
Home Improvement

Qualifying Criteria

Customer
Incentive

Air Sealing

Reduce air leakage as measured by a
pre- and post- blower door test

20-35% reduction

= 35% reduction

$500

$750

Insulation

Install insulation meeting the
following R-value* criteria:

  

Location

Existing Insulation

New Insulation

Attic flat

R-value = R-16

R-value = R-49

$0.50 per square foot
of additional insulation

All other
locations

R-value = R-6

R-value = R-12

$0.75 per square foot
of additional insulation

R-values
between 6 & 8

R-value = R-18

R-values
between 8 & 16

R-value = R-49

Heat Distribution Improvement

Install at least $200 of duct sealing, leak repair, or other heat distribution improvements

$100

Heat System Replacement

Replace an inefficient heating system with an efficient new system. See your contractor for details on qualifying criteria.

$500

Step 3: See if you qualify for bonus incentives. Bonus incentives are for truly comprehensive projects that substantially improve the air tightness and insulation levels of your home.

Energy Efficient
Home Improvement

Qualifying Criteria

Customer
Incentive

Comprehensive Retrofit Bonus Package

Reduce air leakage = 35% as measured by a
pre- and post- blower door test

$500

Install insulation in areas equivalent to at least 75% of the home's finished floor area (example: a 2000 sq. ft home could qualify by installing 1000 sq. ft of insulation in the attic and 500 sq. ft of insulation in the walls). Insulation must meet the above criteria for pre- and post- effective R-value.

Step 4: Calculate your total incentive based on the completed energy efficiency home improvements.

Maximum total incentive per project

$2,500

Efficiency Vermont will pay these incentives to the customer upon completion of the project.

Vermont homeowners are eligible for an incentive equal to one-third of the installed cost (up to $2,500) to help pay for a comprehensive home energy efficiency project completed by a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor like Energy Wise Homes.




 

Tax Credits

A Federal tax credit of 30% of the cost up to $1,500 is available for installation of certain energy efficiency products, through December 31, 2010. Eligible products include qualifying insulation, HVAC equipment, and hot water heaters installed in 2009 or 2010. Products must be installed in an existing home that is your principal residence.

Note: The tax credit for insulation covers the cost of materials, but not installation and labor costs. Contractors should provide an itemized bill that separates out the cost of the product from the cost of the installation/labor. Insulation must be installed to the standards of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code.

For more information on Federal tax credits for energy efficiency, consult your tax adviser or visit the following links:

ENERGY STAR Guide to Federal Tax Credits

The Tax Incentives Assistance Project

Credit Union Opportunities
  • Brattleboro Savings & Loan
  • New England Federal Credit Union
  • Union Bank The five regional Neighbor works HomeOwnership Centers (specializing in services for low and moderate income Vermonters)
  • Vermont Home Ownership
    In addition, Efficiency Vermont is working with TD Banknorth to offer the Warm & Weatherized Loan program, and is exploring opportunities for partnership with Chittenden Bank.  TD Banknorth and Chittenden Bank offer energy efficiency loans, but do not offer the interest rate reduction incentive.  Other resources include:
  • Energy Star.Gov
  • ">Energy Star Tax Incentives
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