A quality HVAC system is crucial for a comfortable and energy-efficient home, but it’s also a major investment. You deserve the most efficient comfort solutions achievable, which is why HVAC rebates are so important. They can help ensure high-efficiency furnaces, air conditioners and other equipment is more budget friendly.

HVAC efficiency standards are going up next year, so now’s an excellent time to compare your options. A variety of companies, organizations and even government entities are promoting rebates in 2023 to help everyone acquire a new, high-efficiency HVAC system.

Rebates for High-Efficiency Furnaces

Lots of manufacturers of high-efficiency furnaces offer rebates toward the cost of a new system. These furnaces include energy-efficient components like variable-speed blower motors, which enable the thermostat to optimize how much heating is generated. It’s an easy way to decrease energy use overall. Local utilities also provide furnace rebates because less energy use means less strain on the local energy grid.

The government’s ENERGY STAR® program is also useful for obtaining a furnace rebate. You can type in your ZIP Code to find out which rebates you could be qualified for. Equipment with the ENERGY STAR® rating means it fulfills your region’s standards for energy-efficient comfort.

Air Conditioner Rebates

A lot of of the same rebates for high-efficiency furnaces are also suitable for air conditioners. You can save hundreds on new installation for equipment from a top brand such as Lennox. Just consult your local utility companies to verify which makes and models are suitable. In addition, you can often join federal and local rebates for even higher savings. Don’t hesitate to find out what's all available, because it can easily add up to 10% of a new, high-efficiency cooling system

Available Rebates for Smart Thermostats

A smart thermostat is a particularly valuable improvement to your home comfort system. With intelligent programming, you can enhance the daily schedule. Utility companies highly value this level of efficiency, and so most provide rebate programs for new smart thermostats. In time, these rebates effectively enable you to get a free smart thermostat!

Local utility companies also provide programs where they swap reduced rates for the capacity to adjust your thermostat during peak energy use. This helps reduce strain on the grid, particularly when heat waves or cold fronts arrive. When registered in this program, your thermostat can automatically be adjusted by a few degrees.

Additional Ways to Save: Tax Credits for Energy-Efficient Equipment and Home Improvement Projects

Somewhat different compared to rebates, tax credits are also available for the purchase and installation of energy-efficient HVAC systems. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act restarted a program in 2021 that provided credits for up to 10% of the project’s cost. The new credits are now worth 30% of the cost and can be claimed every year rather than only once. These credits are obtainable for a much greater variety of projects, such as home energy audits, electrical, insulation, ventilation, and even your doors and windows! The programs are designed to share the most benefits for lower-income households, maximizing the improvements to HVAC efficiency nationwide.

New Legislation for Heat Pump Rebates

The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act incorporated separate legislation referred to as the High-Efficiency Electric Homes and Rebates Act, or HEEHRA. This incentive is especially targeted toward heat pump technology, which transfers heat instead of creating it by combusting fuel. To persuade more people to convert to this energy-efficient comfort system, these rebates are significantly higher than incentives for AC units and furnaces.

If your household’s income is lower 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 average income can cover 50% of equipment and installation costs.