Apr 26 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Christina Kauffman The York Dispatch, Pa.



The federal economic stimulus bill is funding a new round of rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient heating equipment to replace older units.

The program, being administered by the state's Department of Environmental Protection, provides rebates of between $100 and $500 per appliance for boilers, furnaces or water heaters with an efficiency rating equal to or greater than the national Energy Star criteria.

The program began last week and continues until the fund --$11 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -- is empty.

Pennsylvania residents can reserve a  refund on the program's website, which shows the amount of funds remaining on a real-time graphic. As of Monday morning, the fund was 95 percent full.

After reserving a rebate online, residents are given 30 days to submit documentation of purchase and installation. Rebates checks are then mailed to the consumer.

Installation rules: The installation must be made by a state-registered HVAC contractor, and there are many listed for the York area on a state Web site.

Arctic Aire Inc, 1571 W. Philadelphia St., is among the registered contractors.

Owner Stephen Sipe said buying a new Energy Star-certified furnace can save about 25 percent on a homeowner's annual heating bill.

"There are a lot of old, inefficient units in York County," he said. "And you're not only going to save on gas, but the amount of electricity to run them."

The more efficient unit costs about

$500 more than a less efficient one; the rebate program covers between $200 and $300 of the extra cost.

Savings: Nelson Adams, director of sales and marketing at Spring Garden Township-based Williams Service Co., said he hasn't yet seen an increase in business as a result of the program, but rebate and tax credit programs typically result in more calls.

According to Energy Star, a resident could save more than $900 a year by upgrading to a more energy-efficient furnace and water heater.

Adams said energy-efficient units are typically more expensive. And while they're better for the environment, some people might not want to spend the extra money up front for savings in the long run, he said.

"If you're planning on living in your home for a long period of time, these things certainly will benefit you," he said. "If you're moving in five years, it's probably not something that will be helpful."

A gas water heater with an Energy Factor efficiency rating of 0.67 is about $1,200, compared to about $1,000 for a popular model that's not as efficient, he said.

The rebate for the efficient model is only $100, so the homeowner still paid a net of $100 more for a model that will probably only save between $3 and $5 per month for an average family, he said.

"It adds up, but it takes a while before you start to reap the benefits," he said.

The rebates are as follows:

--Boilers, gas or oil: $250 for Energy Star-rated unit, $500 for a unit with a 90 percent efficiency rating.

--Furnaces, gas or oil: $200 for Energy Star-rated unit, $300 for a gas unit with an efficiency rating of 95 percent or an oil unit rated at 90 percent.

--Water heaters, gas: $100 for a unit with an Energy Factor of at least 0.67, $200 for an Energy Star-rated unit.

The DEP estimated the rebate program could help 33,000 households become more energy efficient.

-- Reach Christina Kauffman at 505-5436, ckauffman@yorkdispatch.com, or follow her on Twitter at @dispatchbizwiz.

Saving money on utilities

What: Rebates of between $100 and $500 per appliance for boilers, furnaces or water heaters with an efficiency rating equal to or greater than the national Energy Star criteria.

When: Units must be purchased on or after April 21. The program ends when the fund is empty.

How: Reserve a refund on the program's website, www.paheatingrebates.com. Those without Internet access can call 877-592-2061. After reserving a rebate online, residents are given 30 days to submit documentation of purchase and installation.

A list of eligible products and rebate amounts can be found at www.energysavers.gov/financial/rebates/pdfs/rebate_summary_PA.pdf .

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Met-Ed also recently announced some programs to help people save electricity. Programs are:

--Home Energy Analyzer: Visit the company's website at www.energysavepa.com  for an interactive tool that provides customized energy-efficiency tips and information based on an individual home's age and characteristics.

Customers who complete the online energy audit will receive a free energy conservation kit containing four compact fluorescent light bulbs, four faucet aerators, two smart power strips and two LED night lights.

--Appliance Turn-In Program: Customers will receive rebates of $35 for turning in older, inefficient refrigerators and freezers.

--Appliance Rebate Program: Customers can apply for rebates of between $10 to $75 on Energy Star-qualified clothes washers, refrigerator-freezers, chest freezers, room air conditioners and dehumidifiers. For information, customers can call 1-866-498-1409 or visit www.energysavepa.com.

--Compact fluorescent light bulbs: Discounts of $1 per CFL are available at many retail stores. A list of retailers is available at www.energysavepa.com.

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