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Southwest Electric's, Take Control & Save, program encourages members to become more energy conscious and purchase ENERGY STAR® equipment to help control their electric usage.
NOTICE: Effective January 1st, 2013, all rebates are limited to "full-time" services using more than 6,000 kilowatt-hour's (kWh's) on an annual-basis. Rebates will still be available to all types of services (lake homes, shops, barns, etc.)
Overview of Rebates for Residential and Commercial Members:
- Ground-source heat pumps, new units including a loop system, $750 per ton
- Ground-source heat pumps, replacement of existing unit, $200 per ton
- Floor insulation with the installation of a ground-source heat pump, up to $500
- Mini-split (ductless) heat pumps, $150 per ton
- Dual-fuel heat pumps, $150 per ton
- ENERGY STAR® window/room air conditioner, $50
- Energy Audit, up to $500
Details of all rebates listed below:
ENERGY STAR® Window/Room Air Conditioner Rebates:
Ground-Source Heat Pump (GSHP) Rebates (what's a GSHP? click here):
An on site inspection of the GSHP is required, please contact any SWEC office to schedule; preferably before the installation.
To qualify for a rebate on a new GSHP, including a loop system, the following must be met (make sure your contractor is aware of the requirements before you purchase/install):
- Must be a new, ENERGY STAR® rated unit, with a minimum EER of 19.1
- Must be installed to a Delta T of 80 with a Manual J Load Calculation
- Electric backup heat must be separated from the unit with a separate breaker and wired to only act as second-stage supplemental heat on a two-stage thermostat or as emergency heat
- Structure must have a minimum insulation of R-38 in the ceiling and R-13 in the walls
- Structure must be on a permanent foundation
To qualify for a rebate on the replacement of an existing GSHP the following must be met:
- An efficiency gain of 3 EER over the old unit in addition to meeting the 19.1 EER
- A load calculation is not required for replacement units
A maximum of 10 tons for residential and 50 tons for commercial installations will be rebated.
Basement, Crawl Space or Slab Floor Insulation with GSHP:
- Available only to members also installing a ground-source heat pump
- Basement, crawl space or slab floor insulation in either a new or existing residence
- Insulation should comply with Dept of Energy R-Value recommendations for basement/crawl space walls of an R-10 (example)
- Slab floors should have a minimum of a 1" thick waterproof insulation board placed around the entire foundation and extend in from the perimeter a minimum of 24 inches horizontally under the slab (example)
- Installation of any insulation should include any necessary vapor barriers to prevent moisture or mold issues
- 50% of the cost for insulation measures will be rebated, up to $500 maximum
Mini-Split (ductless) Heat Pumps:
- Must be ENERGY STAR® rated with a minimum SEER rating of 16.5
- Cannot have electric resistance as the back up heat source
Dual-Fuel Heat Pump Rebates:
- Must be ENERGY STAR® rated with a minimum SEER rating of 16.5
- Propane, natural gas or fuel oil must be used as the back up heat source
For Commercial/Industrial Energy Audits please contact
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for more information.
Residential Energy Audit:
SWEC is charged $300 per audit, however, we only charge the member $100.
- Preform a blower door test - pressurizes the building to locate places of air leakage and energy loss
- Inspect rim joists, windows, doors, recessed lighting, electrical outlets and switches for air leaks
- Document of all air leaks as candidates for sealing
- Check the heating/cooling system filter and duct work
- Check the temperature setting on the water heater
- Install of a hot water pipe wrap from the top of the water heater up to 10' if accessible
- Install of a low-flow shower head with the owner's permission
- Inspect of the attic and wall insulation - determine if any additional insulation is needed
- Inspect of crawl space or basement for any energy efficiency opportunities
- Install CFL's if agreed to by home owner
Energy audit will be conducted by a certified energy auditor who will prepare a report of any items found that might need replaced or repaired. If the member makes corrective measures, SWEC will reimburse the member for 50% of the cost of the repairs made, with a cap of $500. Corrective measures include such items as labor and materials for insulation, building shell sealing, and interior duct sealing/insulation. Repair/replacement costs for HVAC equipment are not eligible for a rebate through the energy audit (even if recommended by auditor); please refer to our other rebates for HVAC system rebates.
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