PA DEP: Applications Now Accepted for Home Heating Equipment Rebates

PA Residents Can Receive $500 to Replace Inefficient, Non-Electric Furnaces, Water Heaters

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rebates are now available to help Pennsylvania residents conserve energy and save money by upgrading their home heating systems, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger said today.

The Pennsylvania Home Heating Equipment Rebate Program offers rebates of up to $500 toward the cost of replacing non-electric residential hot water heaters, furnaces and boilers fueled by home heating oil, natural gas or propane with more efficient, ENERGY STAR-rated units.

The $11 million program is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"With the home heating season ending, many Pennsylvanians may now be thinking about replacing their old, inefficient heating systems," said Hanger. "The Home Heating Rebate Program offers a financial incentive to upgrade two of the largest areas of energy use in a typical household—heating and water heating. It was designed to complement conservation efforts and rebates offered by electric utilities to upgrade household appliances.

"By focusing our federal Recovery Act money on heating and water heating, we are encouraging our residents to make investments in their homes that will enable them to save substantial amounts of energy and money over the next two decades," he added.

Pennsylvania residents may reserve a rebate online at www.paheatingrebates.com. Those without Internet access can call 877-592-2061.

Once a reservation is made, consumers will have 30 days to submit the necessary documentation of purchase and installation. Rebate checks will then be mailed directly to the consumer.

The best way to ensure that rebate funding is available is to make the reservation in advance. The program's website contains a real-time indicator of funds still available.

The rebate program could help 33,000 households become more energy efficient.

According to ENERGY STAR, the annual energy bill for a typical single-family home is $2,200. A resident could save more than $900 a year by upgrading to a more energy efficient furnace and water heater. The program also will provide a spark to the state's economy by creating an estimated 120 jobs through manufacturing opportunities for new equipment, and job opportunities for the contractors who will install the units.

Hanger said the rebate program is one of several incentives available to consumers. A rebate can be combined with federal tax credits, a non-electric utility rebate, and/or a manufacturer's rebate.

The Keystone HELP program, for example, offers low-interest loans to help finance purchases. These lower rates can save thousands of dollars over the life of the loan, further enhancing the energy saving from the improvements being made and minimizing out-of-pocket costs. Visit www.keystonehelp.com for more information.

Homeowners should also consider performing a home energy audit to see where they can conserve energy or use it more efficiently to save money.

"An energy audit calculates how much energy is used, evaluates how efficiently it is used, and suggests ways to make a home even more energy efficient. Sealing leaky walls and ducts, and adding insulation are two examples of ways to make a household better equipped to retain the heat generated by a new heating system," Hanger said.

"An audit can also ensure that the replacement system is properly sized for the job. Adequate air sealing and insulation may reduce the size and increase the efficiency of the new system."

To learn about rebates for electric appliance upgrades, consumers should contact their electric utility. To learn more about how the federal Recovery Act and related investments are helping Pennsylvanians, visit www.recovery.pa.gov.

Media contact: John Repetz, 717-787-1323

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection