New bonuses launched for contractors helping flooded Vermont homes

WINOOSKI, VT

Agency of Natural Resources & Efficiency Vermont offer contractor incentives for replacing heating systems, adding resiliency to flood-hit homes 

WINOOSKI, VT—Efficiency Vermont and the Agency of Natural Resources have launched new bonus offers for contractors to help repair residential heating and hot water systems damaged or destroyed by this summer’s floods. Bonuses are also available for projects that help Vermont households electrify their home heating needs and add flood resilience to their heating system. 

The new offer incentivizes HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) contractors to prioritize flood-related projects in households impacted by the July and August floods. Bonuses can be collected for eligible flood-impacted home heating or hot water system projects that utilized Efficiency Vermont’s flood recovery rebates for the equipment being installed.

The new bonus offers, funded through a $200,000 grant from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR), include: 

• $1,000 incentive for installing eligible ducted or ductless heat pumps, electric hot water heaters, or heat pump hot water heaters (including new supplemental heating provided by heat pumps). 
• $750 incentive for eligible central wood or pellet boilers, furnaces, and stoves (including new supplemental heating provided by wood stoves). 
• $500 incentive for ENERGY STAR-certified fossil fuel boilers, furnaces, and hot water heaters. 
• Up to $250 in a “resiliency adder” for installing systems above designated flood level. 
• Up to $250 in “electrification adders” to complete a home electrification economic analysis, heat pump design calculations, installing eligible circulation pumps, or installing eligible mechanical ventilation. 

Contractors can receive bonus incentives for eligible projects completed in flood-impacted homes dating back to July 10, 2023 (including homes outside the nine counties declared as flood disasters by FEMA). Contractor bonuses are capped at $1,500 in incentives per household assisted and $15,000 in incentives per company. 

“These bonus payments will help increase contractor availability in flooded areas by mobilizing contractors to prioritize flood-impacted households,” said Bryn Oakleaf, the Efficiency Excellence Network Program Manager at Efficiency Vermont. “The bonuses also mean more opportunities for households to replace or enhance their home heating systems with lower-emissions options like electric heat pumps, or with wood or pellet stoves and boilers.” 

"By incentivizing contractors to prioritize flood-related residential projects, we not only contribute to the recovery of Vermonters impacted by the recent disaster but also support the adoption of sustainable heating solutions,” said ANR Secretary Julie Moore. “This initiative aligns with our commitment to climate action and fosters a more resilient housing infrastructure.” 

The new bonuses are available to all contractors and are not restricted to members of the Efficiency Excellence Network (EEN). The EEN includes more than 450 independent contractors working on projects across Vermont who take advantage of the network’s technical training, professional certifications, and workforce development initiatives.  

Contractors interested in participating in the program should visit the Efficiency Excellence Network trade partners page. 

The new contractor bonuses are in addition to Efficiency Vermont’s flood recovery rebates for property owners, which include $10 million to replace heating systems and appliances in flood-impacted homes and rental units. Zero-interest Home Energy Loans of up to $30,000 are also available to help flood-impacted Vermonters rebuild.

About The Efficiency Excellence Network 

Managed by Efficiency Vermont, the Efficiency Excellence Network hosts members who are a licensed and insured network of independent contractors committed to providing their customers with the highest level of professional energy efficiency services. The network is comprised of experts in the advanced technologies and building science that make buildings more energy efficient and affordable to maintain. They are also trained to understand and consider important health and safety measures that are key to any job. Learn more at www.efficiencyvermont.com/trade-partners/efficiency-excellence-network

About Efficiency Vermont

As the nation’s first Energy Efficiency Utility, Efficiency Vermont has helped Vermont avoid over 13.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award for the last eight consecutive years. Efficiency Vermont works with partners to help our state transition to more affordable, low carbon energy use through education, incentives, and support for our clean energy workforce. Learn more at www.efficiencyvermont.com.

Efficiency Vermont Press Contact
Matthew Smith
Phone: (802) 540-7662
[email protected]