Fall 2024 Program Changes & Reminders
Efficiency Vermont Program Updates & Reminders
Home Repair Program Launch
Efficiency Vermont is launching a Home Repair Program on October 1st, 2024, to help enable roughly 150 Vermonters, where home repair projects are a blocker, to move ahead with weatherizing their homes. Efficiency Vermont is leveraging $3 M in funding towards this Home Repair Program, acknowledging that there are a number of cases in which significant repairs are needed in order for a weatherization project to be installed.
This program is available for single-family homeowners and property owners of 1-4 unit residential buildings. Households must be low-to-moderate income to qualify. Households served by VGS or BED are not eligible for this offer. Rebates up to $15,000 per household will be provided for specific home repairs needed to be able to complete weatherization projects. Funding is first-come, first-served until funding expires. Efficiency Vermont staff will review projects ahead of the start of the home repair project to determine eligibility.
Eligible Home Repair Program measures include:
- Roof Repair
- Remediation
- Siding/Sheathing
- Window repair/replacement
- Foundation
- Drainage
- Ground Vapor Barrier
- General Safety Devices
- Combustion Appliance Safety
- Chimney or Flue
- Ventilation
- Ductwork
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Radon Mitigation
- Mobile Home Repair
- Or otherwise determined by EVT staff
Contractors are eligible to participate in the Home Repair Program. If your business installs any of the above measures or you have additional questions about this offering, please attend our virtual ARPA Home Repair Training Webinar on Tuesday, October 22nd from 9:00 am to 10:00 am.
HPwES Program Update - October Addendum
Efficiency Vermont will be sending out an updated Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES) contractor addendum by late October via email. If you are a current HPwES contractor and have an expired BPI or certificate of insurance, please be sure to submit updated versions with this addendum to ensure your compliance with the program.
The key updates to this addendum include, formalizing the BPI certification requirements to require at least one staff member hold either the Building Analyst – Technician (BA-T) or Building Analyst (BA-P) certification. Note if you still have an active Building Analyst Professional or Building Envelope Professional those are still acceptable, but you must renew to the newer BA-T or BA-P when it expires.
Additionally, we are introducing a new section in the contract where we ask you to select the services you offer. Participation in all services is not mandatory; this is purely for data collection purposes to identify any market gaps that may exist and better serve homeowners.
The addendum must be signed and returned by December 2, 2024. Failure to comply will result in removal from the HPwES program and the inability to submit future projects.
Commercial Lighting Project Rebates
A reminder to all lighting partners that Efficiency Vermont continues to support commercial lighting projects. If you are installing qualifying exterior lighting fixtures and/or non-networked controls like occupancy sensors, there are still rebates available to you.
Download and submit this Commercial Lighting Rebate form to Efficiency Vermont to receive these rebates, or simply apply online. If you have questions, please contact Efficiency Vermont at [email protected].
Energy Code Assistance Center
Efficiency Vermont is here to help Vermonters understand the most up to date State of Vermont building codes.
With the new Vermont RBES and CBES changes now in effect, Efficiency Vermont has plenty of training material to help you understand the current energy code. You can access many CBES and RBES training videos, as well as access other reference materials, by visiting the following Energy Code Support webpage.
Workforce Development Funding
The Vermont Trades Forgivable Loan Program is an offer from VSAC to help with offsetting the costs of training for a skilled trade. The loan covers up to full tuition, initial licensing fees and exam fees for qualified recipients enrolled in industry-recognized training and certification programs.
BED Program Updates & Reminders
BED’s 2024 changes to Centrally Ducted Heat Pump incentive levels
- Two rebate levels, “Standard” and “High-Performance”. Both Standard and High-Performance level models can capture the statewide mid-stream contractor discount. Customers installing High-Performance (HP) models are also eligible for an additional $1,350 to $5,450 BED on-line rebate depending on size. HP models must meet “Energy Star V6.1 Cold Climate _North _Eligible for Federal Tax Credit” criteria as listed on the NEEP Qualified Products List.
- Please visit the BED website to see all current rebates on a wide variety of heat pump, electric vehicles, and electric lawn care products
- Please send any questions to [email protected]
BED and VGS continue weatherization rebate partnership
- As ductless heat pumps become more common in Burlington, many buildings will be hybrid space heaters (partial electric heat pump and partial natural gas). BED and VGS recognize that many of these buildings would benefit greatly from professional weatherization upgrades.
- BED and VGS have developed a streamlined process to split the customer rebate.
- Customers will receive the same total rebate amount (based on VGS’s current rebate levels) but may get one check from BED and one check from VGS. BED and VGS do the rebate calculations quickly so there are no project delays.
- Please send any questions to: [email protected]or VGS staff can also answer any questions.
BED continues to offer the Weatherization Repayment Assistance Pilot Program (WRAP)
- With WRAP, a homeowner can make weatherization improvements and then make monthly payments through their monthly BED or VGS bill over a period of up to 15 years. This is a two-year pilot program funded by the state and overseen by the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA).
- Qualifying weatherization projects can include insulation and air sealing, as well as heat pumps and advanced wood heating systems (when combined with weatherization improvements). The WRAP monthly charge can stay with the home’s account if the dwelling is sold.
- If a house is heated mostly with natural gas (VGS), then contact the VGS Team.
- If a house is heated mostly with oil, kerosene, propane, wood, pellets, or electricity, then contact the BED Team at [email protected].
Vermont Electric Co-op Program Updates & Reminders
Vermont Electric Co-op (VEC) offers incentives for the purchase of:
- Electric vehicles: For plug-in electric vehicles, $250 bill credit for purchases (new or used) and $50/year for leases; for all-electric vehicles, $500 bill credit for purchases (new or used) and $100/year for leases; $500 income-qualified bonus
- Level II EV chargers: We offer a free charger. It must be installed by the participant and enrolled in VEC’s communications platform so that VEC can request that it not charge when the co-op is anticipating peak electric demand. That helps shift usage to times when electricity is cleaner and less expensive.
- Public/workplace/multi-family charging stations: $500 bill credit per connection.
- Heat pumps: For ducted, air-to-water, and ground source heat pumps as well as heat pump water heaters, a joint incentive is available through Efficiency Vermont; a $150 per unit thermal efficiency credit is available if the system was installed in a building that meets thermal efficiency criteria.
- Pellet stoves: A joint incentive with Efficiency Vermont is available through participating retailers, plus another $150 if the unit is installed in a building that meets thermal efficiency criteria.
- Other machinery: residential lawn mowers, $50 bill credit; commercial-scale mowers and electric forklifts, $1,000 bill credit.
- Heat pump pool heaters: $600 bill credit for units that meet efficiency criteria.
- Induction cooktops: $100 bill credit. (Portable induction cooktops do not qualify.)
VEC also offers custom incentive opportunities for members who want to replace fossil fuel equipment and reduce carbon emissions, through electric service upgrades or line-extensions. These projects often serve commercial facilities like sawmills or sugaring operations, for instance.
Please visit www.vermontelectric.coop for more information or contact [email protected] or 1-800-832-2667 with questions.
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