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

HVAC efficiency standards are increasing next year, so now’s a great time to check out your options. Various companies, organizations and even government entities are offering rebates in 2023 to help everyone procure a new, high-efficiency HVAC system.

Rebates for High-Efficiency Furnaces

Numerous manufacturers of high-efficiency furnaces offer rebates for a new system. These furnaces feature energy-efficient components such as variable-speed blower motors, which enable the thermostat to fine-tune how much heating is released. It’s a fantastic way to decrease energy use overall. Local utilities also offer 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 learn which rebates you might be approved for. Equipment with the ENERGY STAR® rating means it meets your region’s standards for energy-efficient operation.

Air Conditioner Rebates

Many of the same rebates for high-efficiency furnaces are also useful for air conditioners. You can save hundreds on new installation for efficient cooling from a top brand like Lennox. Just check with your local utility companies to learn which makes and models are entitled. Additionally, you can easily join federal and local rebates for even more savings. Don’t hesitate to learn what's out there, because it can easily add up to 10% of a new, high-efficiency air conditioner

Potential Rebates for Smart Thermostats

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

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

Additional Ways to Save: High Efficiency Products and Home Improvement Credits

Slightly different than rebates, tax credits are also promoted for the purchase and installation of energy-efficient HVAC equipment. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act restarted a program in 2021 that supplied credits for up to 10% of the project’s cost. The new credits are now worth 30% of the cost and may be claimed each year as opposed to only once. These credits are eligible for a much wider variety of projects, including home energy audits, electrical, insulation, ventilation, and even your doors and windows! The programs are designed to provide the most benefits for lower-income households, maximizing the improvements to HVAC efficiency across the country.

New Legislation for Heat Pump Rebates

The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act contained separate legislation called the High-Efficiency Electric Homes and Rebates Act, or HEEHRA. This incentive is particularly aimed toward heat pump technology, which transfers heat instead of creating it by combusting fuel. To encourage more people to transition to this energy-efficient comfort system, these rebates are considerably higher versus incentives for AC units and furnaces.

If a household’s income is below 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.