A well-designed HVAC system is essential for a comfortable and energy-efficient home, but it’s also a significant investment. Every homeowner deserves the most effective comfort solutions available, 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 increasing next year, so now’s an ideal time to check out your options. A variety of companies, organizations and even government entities are promoting rebates in 2023 to help everyone procure a new, high-efficiency HVAC system.

Receive a Tax Rebate by Installing a High Efficiency Furnace

Many manufacturers of high-efficiency furnaces extend rebates toward the cost of a new system. These furnaces incorporate energy-efficient components such as variable-speed blower motors, which allow the thermostat to refine how much heating is produced. It’s an easy way to reduce energy use overall. Local utilities also share furnace rebates since less energy use results in less strain on the local energy grid.

The government’s ENERGY STAR® program is also useful for acquiring a furnace rebate. You can submit your ZIP Code to learn which rebates you might be approved for. Equipment displaying the ENERGY STAR® rating means it fulfills your region’s standards for energy-efficient comfort.

Earning a Rebate for a High Efficiency Air Conditioner

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

Potential Rebates for Smart Home Accessories Like Smart Thermostats

A smart thermostat is an incredibly valuable improvement to your home comfort system. With intelligent programming, you can enhance the daily schedule. Utility companies can benefit from this kind of efficiency, and so most provide rebate programs for new smart thermostats. Over time, these rebates effectively allow you to get a free smart thermostat!

Local utility companies also offer programs where they provide reduced rates for the capacity to adjust your thermostat during peak energy use. This helps avoid strain on the grid, namely when heat waves or cold fronts arrive. When enrolled in this program, your thermostat may automatically be corrected by a few degrees.

More Incentives: Tax Credits for Energy-Efficient Equipment and Home Improvement Projects

Somewhat different from rebates, tax credits are also available for the purchase and installation of energy-efficient HVAC systems. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act reactivated a program in 2021 that supplied credits for up to 10% of the project’s cost. The updated credits are now worth 30% of the cost and may be claimed every year instead of only once. These credits are available for a much wider variety of projects, such as home energy audits, electrical, insulation, ventilation, and even your doors and windows! The programs are designed to offer the most benefits for lower-income households, maximizing the improvements to HVAC efficiency all over the country.

New Legislation for Heat Pump Rebates

The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act incorporated separate legislation known as the High-Efficiency Electric Homes and Rebates Act, or HEEHRA. This incentive is particularly aimed toward heat pump technology, which transfers heat instead of producing it by combusting fuel. To motivate more people to transition to this energy-efficient comfort system, these rebates are significantly higher compared to incentives for AC systems and furnaces.

If a household’s income is lower than 80% of the local median, you could use the rebates to cover 100% of the costs of a new heat pump. Households meeting 80-150% of the typical income can take care of 50% of equipment and installation costs.