Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumUpdate on my HVAC plans
So...there are all these rebates & credits (local, state, and federal) aimed at encouraging people to electrify (to get away from fossil fuel use in homes--and eventually the system will provide cleaner energy; I'd prefer being off the grid entirely, but that's another topic).
My scenario is that I rent out a townhouse (my sister and I inherited from our mother) to a low-income man and his dog.
So I thought Delaware was ready to roll and made a previous post about that. Turns out, only part of the program is up and running. The tax credits at the end of the year are ready (because they have time) and the equipment criteria for that are ready. Other parts are not ready--still being worked out and fought over in state offices--but "may" apply retroactively.
My tenant's AC is leaking and the system is 16 years old, inefficient by modern standards, and it's bad for the earth to re-charge if you know it's leaking. Also, it's very expensive/not worth it to try to find leak. Multiple techs have told me that it's usually in a non-fixable spot. And if you do fix one leak, another one pops up.
I went ahead and signed up for whatever rebates I could get in order to get a heat pump (Bosch) and a heat pump water heater (he has the necessary space for it). Hoping that the HEERA rebates will, in fact, be retroactively applied (since renters can also use them). Still coming in around 9K when all is said and done---not too bad for new high-efficiency HVAC and water heaters with 10 year warranties.
I'm attaching the HEERA information for low to moderate income people (as well as a search tool to see if you're low to moderate income).
]https://assets.ctfassets.net/v4qx5q5o44nj/7LiHS6hhVKaIdph8bdVV8b/fbac70d0d6e74ce7a467ad526d47af29/HEEHRA_factsheet.pdf
https://ami-lookup-tool.fanniemae.com/amilookuptool/

Kaleva
(39,069 posts)The heat exchanger cracked on the 20 plus year old furnace in the small house in town. My cost will be about $1400. That's for the furnace, which I already bought, and extra materials needed.
Delarage
(2,389 posts)I'll mess with lots of stuff--I do a lot on my vehicles/houses--but there is a lot I could mess up and a lot of danger in this type of work. I'll let the pros handle that.
Freddie
(9,809 posts)Were replacing our separate gas heat and AC with a heat pump and have been researching all the rebates. Since the AC still works we can wait til late summer if needed. Replacing original systems on 25 year old house.
Delarage
(2,389 posts)I think the longer you wait, the more clear the guidelines will become. Glad you can hang in there a bit!
cachukis
(2,971 posts)We live in Florida and allowed for a more comfortable home for less energy.
Will insist in our next upgrade. We downsized to a condo.