Rockin' Some Rebates

For more than a decade, United has been assisting and educating members on ways to better manage their energy use. United continues to invest in its members by offering free home energy audits and valuable rebates for energy efficiency upgrades.

The co-op recognized early on that conscious efforts made by a member to waste less energy not only would keep hard-earned money in the member’s pocketbook, but also would help drive down costs for the entire cooperative membership.

Almost 39,000 rebates have been awarded for various residential energy efficiency improvements since 2010. Member participation in United’s Energy Innovation Rebate Program continues to grow each year, and United expects this year to surpass all the others.

The following residential rebate incentives are available for the year 2023. There was only one minor change to the rebates from the previous year, and this change appears within the Air Source Heat Pump Rebate.

Air Source Heat Pump Rebate

The Department of Energy (DOE) is changing the way HVAC systems are tested in 2023. Up to this point, air conditioners and heat pumps were sold, and easily compared, based on their SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. SEER has been the standard benchmark to determine how energy-efficient HVAC units are. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy-efficient the unit is.  
Starting January 1st of 2023, the DOE replaced SEER ratings with SEER2 ratings. SEER2 ratings are determined utilizing harsher testing conditions to better represent real-life conditions. Previous SEER ratings did not accurately emulate the influence of ductwork and external static pressure on HVAC equipment.

SEER2 is calculated the same way as SEER. However, the more strenuous testing conditions result in lower SEER2 ratings than the previous SEER rating.  This is because the blower motor must work harder to push air through the unit. Going forward, all HVAC equipment will be compared and sold with the new and improved SEER2 ratings.
While United did not adjust the Air Source Heat Pump Rebate offerings from last year, United did add the new SEER2 language to the rebate literature. United’s Air Source Heat Pump Rebates are as follows:

$200 for 16 SEER/15.3 SEER2
$300 for 17 SEER/16.2 SEER2
$400 for 18 SEER/17.2 SEER2
$500 for 19 SEER/18.1 SEER2 or more

HVAC Tune-Up Rebate

By far, the most utilized rebate offered by United is the HVAC tune-up rebate. Experts estimate heating and cooling accounts for more than 50 percent of energy consumption in a standard residence. Due to this fact, HVAC maintenance is a vital aspect of managing energy consumption. If an HVAC system is not operating up to par, the first place an operational inefficiency is likely to be noticed is on the electric bill. United recommends continuing maintenance of an HVAC system, and offers $100 per unit, per year for having regular tune-ups performed by authorized HVAC technicians. This helps to ensure systems are running at peak performance and efficiency.  

Attic Insulation Retrofit

United’s attic insulation rebate not only has efficiency benefits, but also offers yearlong household comfort. If a home does not have a proper insulation level, it can leave the home’s energy envelope more vulnerable to ambient temperatures. This can leave the home feeling cold and drafty in the winter or hot and stuffy in the summer. As a result of inadequate insulation, HVAC systems typically run more to offset the tug-of-war between comfort settings inside the home and extreme external temperatures, increasing energy consumption. To receive a rebate for attic insulation, a free home energy audit is required prior to install. When a United energy expert verifies a member has 8 inches of insulation or less, then the member qualifies for the retrofit attic insulation rebate, paid only up to a maximum depth of 12 inches. United gives 2 cents per inch installed, per square-foot of the attic space. For example, if a member had 5 inches of insulation, and the attic was 2,000 square feet, the rebate calculation would be as follows:

12 inches, less existing inches (5 inches) = 7 inches available for rebate. 7 x .02 x 2000 = $280.00

Thermostat Rebates

United currently offers a $50 rebate for new purchases of Nest, ecobee, and Honeywell smart Wifi-enabled thermostats. A rebate application must be filled out and sent to United, along with a proof of purchase.

When a member installs any other brand of Wifi-enabled thermostat, they can receive a $25 rebate for each thermostat that replaces a non-Wifi thermostat. An energy audit is required prior to the change-out, or the member can provide United an invoice proving the prior thermostat was a non-Wifi thermostat. The thermostat must be new, and the member must provide United with proof of purchase to qualify for the rebate. Nest, ecobee and Honeywell smart Wifi thermostats do not qualify for this $25 rebate.

Fuel Conversion Rebate

In general, it is much easier to monitor and control emissions at the power plant level rather than at the point of use for residences. Therefore, members who wish to be more environmentally conscious, or who are concerned about having gas or propane in their home, can receive a $100 rebate for converting from gas or propane to electric. Members who switch from a liquid propane or natural gas HVAC system to a heat pump can receive a $100 rebate. This $100 rebate is also available for members who remove a propane or gas water heater and install an electric model.

Level 2 EV Charger

The same motivation to alleviate environmental emissions by eliminating end use emission products prompted a rebate for a level 2 EV charger rebate. United offers a rebate for 50 percent of the cost of the charger up to $500 for a level 2 EV charger. Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions of any kind. In contrast, a typical passenger vehicle emits 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.  

Heat Pump Water Heater

In a typical residence, an electric water heater is usually the second-largest electric consumer in the home. Heat pump water heaters are twice as efficient as standard electric tank water heaters.

If members upgrade their water heater to a heat pump water heater, they can receive a rebate of  $150. To qualify for this rebate, the heat pump water heater must have a capacity of at least 40 gallons and a minimum energy factor of 2.0.

Solar Screens

Solar screens assist in maximizing energy efficiency as well as comfort levels, so United also offers members a rebate for these. Windows account for 25-30 percent of a home’s heat loss/gain. One of the most cost-effective measures for decreasing the amount of heat gain through the windows is the use of solar screens. Solar screens have the proven capability of blocking up to 90 percent of the heat absorbed through a window. United will pay $5 for every 15 square feet of window covered to a maximum of $50. This rebate is eligible for all windows, excluding north-facing windows. A United free home energy audit must be performed prior to install.

Helping members understand how to manage energy usage is fundamental to United’s mission and commitment to providing exceptional service and value to its membership. The cooperative’s rebate program is one of the many resources available to members that embodies this mission. For additional information on rebates, or to learn more about the many other ways United can help members manage energy usage, such as scheduling a free home energy audit, contact a local United office today.