A quality HVAC system is crucial for a comfortable and energy-efficient home, but it’s also a significant investment. Everyone deserves the most effective comfort solutions possible, which is why HVAC rebates are so important. They can help guarantee high-efficiency furnaces, air conditioners and other equipment is more budget friendly.

HVAC efficiency standards are going up next year, so now’s an excellent time to compare your options. A variety of companies, organizations and even government entities are extending rebates in 2023 to help everyone procure a new, high-efficiency HVAC system.

Furnace Rebates Require High Efficiency Models

Numerous manufacturers of high-efficiency furnaces offer rebates toward the cost of a new system. These furnaces feature energy-efficient components like variable-speed blower motors, which allow the thermostat to optimize how much heating is produced. It’s an easy way to reduce energy use overall. Local utilities also provide furnace rebates since less energy use translates to less strain on the local energy grid.

The government’s ENERGY STAR® program is also helpful for obtaining a furnace rebate. You can type in your ZIP Code to find out which rebates you could be eligible for. Equipment featuring the ENERGY STAR® rating means it fulfills your region’s standards for energy-efficient operation.

Earning a Rebate for a High Efficiency Air Conditioner

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

2023's Rebates for Smart Home Accessories Like Smart Thermostats

A smart thermostat is a particularly valuable addition to your home comfort system. With intelligent programming, you can enhance the daily schedule. Utility companies can benefit from this degree of efficiency, and so most provide rebate programs for new smart thermostats. After some time, these rebates effectively enable you to get a free smart thermostat!

Local utility companies also create programs where they exchange reduced rates for the ability to control your thermostat during peak energy use. This helps reduce strain on the grid, particularly when heat waves or cold fronts arrive. When registered in this program, your thermostat can automatically be adjusted by a few degrees.

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

Slightly different than rebates, tax credits are also offered for the purchase and installation of energy-efficient HVAC systems. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act restarted a program in 2021 that offered credits for up to 10% of the project’s cost. The new credits are now worth 30% of the cost and can be claimed every year as opposed to only once. These credits are available for a much larger variety of projects, such as 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 all over the country.

New Legislation for Heat Pump Rebates

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

If a household’s income is below 80% of the local median, you are able to use the rebates to cover 100% of the costs of a new heat pump. Households that meet 80-150% of the median income can cover 50% of equipment and installation costs.