Q: You have written about the rebates Flathead Electric Co-op offers for high efficiency heat pumps, but I have an older gas boiler. Are there any rebates available for those?
A: Yes and No. It depends on the type of gas you heat with. In 1997, the Montana Legislature passed an electric deregulation law that established the Universal Systems Benefits (USB) fund. The USB funds are collected by utility companies and electric cooperatives. These funds are used for low-income energy assistance and energy efficiency programs. Rebates for qualifying high efficiency equipment can be part of the utilities energy efficiency programs offering.
On the electric side, it can be used for lighting as well. It is used for energy audits and insulation improvements too.
Propane companies are not utilities and do not participate in the USB so these rebates don’t apply if that is your energy source. Since utilities and cooperatives use these funds for a variety of programs their rebate offers do change from time to time.
If your boiler runs on natural gas provided by NorthWestern Energy, which is the only natural gas utility in our service area, then you are in luck. They just released a generous limited time offer that will rebate $750 for a high-efficiency hot water boiler (90 percent AFUE or better) that replaces and standard boiler when installed by a preferred contractor, like AirWorks. You would quality for $650 if self installed or by a non-preferred contractor. That is some pretty good coin right there.
This rebate program also provides $450 for high efficiency furnaces (installed by preferred contractors or $400 if not). There is also up to $50 available for programmable thermostats. And there is another rebate for insulation upgrades.
You can learn all the details and find application forms at www.NorthWesternEnergy.com/EPlus. This offer is only available until June 30, 2018! So if you have an older lower-efficiency boiler or furnace, now is the time to act so you can realize the energy savings for the reminder of this heating season in addition to getting the rebate.
If you do replace your equipment, now would be a great time to improve your insulation levels (you might score another rebate) and seal cracks in the building envelope. If you have ice dams or bodacious icicles you just might need some more insulation or other heat-loss mitigation measures. We can point these out to you during our estimate visit. We also offer blower door testing to accurately measure the heat-loss of your home and to pinpoint areas of air leakage.
After last week’s storm, make sure you check the perimeter of your home for any damage snow or ice might be doing to plants and especially your HVAC equipment outside. You might check to see if you need to rake snow off the roof and do your best to move snow away from your foundation. Winter has only started … so, give me call to discuss your concerns.
As always, good advice and estimates are free at AirWorks. (406) 257-1341
