Financial Incentives for Energy Improvements
An array of government and electric-utility financial incentives may help you pay for energy-efficient new construction or for energy improvements to (and inside) your existing home.
Incentives for energy-efficiency improvements to existing properties (non-income dependent)
Income-eligible home-weatherization assistance
ENERGY STAR Homes program: promoting energy-efficiency in new construction or complete rehabs
Rebates for oil or gas home heating systems
Incentives for installing energy-efficient home-heating/water-heating systems
Note: Many of these programs operate within a narrow time window or only until a
(relatively small) pool of available money runs out. New programs may also emerge, so check this space often.
Incentives for energy-efficiency improvements to existing properties (non-income dependent)
Whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency (or call 1-800-639-6060)
A comprehensive, whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency and protecting the environment which is not based on income. New Hampshire electric companies provide incentives of 75 percent of installation costs up to $4,000 on energy-efficient home improvements for qualified households.
Eligibility is based on current heating and utility usage. To see if your home qualifies, go to your utility company’s Web site below and fill out an online application. (Have your heating and electric bills in hand.) Once you've sent in your application and it is accepted, an energy audit of your home will be scheduled. Recommendation on how to improve your home energy efficiency will be given on completion of the audit. Recommendations may include:
- Adding additional insulation to your attic, basement and walls.
- Sealing and insulating ductwork.
- Reducing air leaks and drafts by air sealing around windows, doors, plumbing and electrical penetrations.
- Lighting upgrade by installing compact fluorescent light bulbs or fixtures to upgrade lighting.
- Installing water saving devices such as faucet aerators and low flow showerheads.
To apply, contact your electric utility:
PSNH or call 1-800-662-7764
National Grid or call 1-800-639-6060
NH Electric Coop or call 1-800-698-2007
Unitil or call 1-800-933-382
Income-eligible home weatherization assistance
This program provides weatherization services and helps income-qualified customers understand their energy use with the goal of lowering energy costs. Qualified customers who receive an electric bill and live in an apartment or house, either rented or owned, can receive up to $4,000 in services.
Applications should be submitted to local utility companies at the links listed below:
New Hampshire Electric Coop income-eligible customers can get up to $3,600
in services to help lower their energy use by caulking and weather-stripping;
upgrading insulation in attics, walls, and basement ceilings; improving windows
with energy-saving storm windows; installing thermal covers on windows and
sliding-glass doors; replacing old thermostats on heating systems; and
upgrading to Energy Star appliances and/or lighting. For information, call 1-800-698-2007
PSNHPSNH offers up to $3,600 in incentives and services at no additional cost to you.
The program includes a Home Energy Rating and/or Lighting and Appliance Audit;
hot water, lighting and comfort improvements; appliance timers; and Energy Star refrigerators. For more information, call 1-800-662-7764.
Unitil program participants may receive up to $4,000 complete a Home Energy Audit and Recommendation Report. Eligible improvements include attic, wall and basement insulation;
air-sealing and weather-stripping; installed Energy Star® programmable thermostats;
hot water savings items like low-flow showerheads and aerators; replacement of an old refrigerator with a new Energy Star® refrigerator; Energy Star® light fixtures or CFL
light bulbs installed at no cost; educational materials to explain home energy use; and
health and safety materials and measures. Services are free to qualifying participants.
National Grid customers please contact your local community action agency
for more information:
Rockingham County Rockingham Community Action 1-800-639-3896
Hillsborough County Southern New Hampshire Services 1-800-322-1073
Cheshire or Sullivan County Southwestern Community Services 1-800-529-0005
Coos, Carroll, or Grafton County Tri-County Community Action 1-888-842-3835
ENERGY STAR Homes program: promoting energy-efficiency in new construction or complete rehabs
Eligible homes will receive a home energy-efficiency rating (HERS) from an energy auditor to qualify for up to $3,000 for installed efficiencies. The program provides assistance in evaluating your new home plans, air leakage testing, and incentives to install Energy Star appliances and lighting systems.
To apply, contact your utility:
National Grid or call 1-888-887-8841
NH Electric Cooperative or call 1-800-698-2007
Unitil or call 603-294-5122
PSNH or call 1-800-662-7764
Rebates for oil or gas home heating systems
Gas and oil furnaces, gas and oil burners, and indoor boiler reset controls A Mail-in rebate program to replace older, inefficient heating systems. Eligible products include Energy Star qualified gas and oil furnaces, gas and oil burners, and indoor boiler reset controls. Contact your utility below. Rebate application
National Grid Customers: 1-800-322-3223
Rebates of up to $1,300 for new energy efficient gas heating systems
$100 rebate for installation of an add on outdoor boiler reset control attached to your existing forced hot water boiler
$25 rebate each for up to two programmable Energy Star thermostats installed in your home
Unitil Customers: 1-866-933-3820
Rebates of up to $1,300 for new energy efficient gas heating systems
Incentives for installing energy-efficient home heating/water heating systems
Beginning in April 2010, New Hampshire will offer a mail-in rebate program that encourages households to replace older, inefficient hot water heaters/heating systems with new Energy Star qualified models. The program will also replace certain solar thermal products and indoor boiler reset controls that fall outside the Energy Star scope. (Advance rebate reservations are required for the solar products.)
The program will continue until funds are depleted. For more information, call Kate Vattes (Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program) at 603-271-0598.
Products eligible for replacement rebates:
- Gas condensing water heaters
- Gas storage water heaters
- Gas tankless water heaters
- Solar water heaters
- Gas & Oil furnaces
- Gas & Oil boilers
- Indoor boiler reset controls (with the replacement of an existing boiler)
Rebates for electric heating systems
Low-temperature heat pumps New Hampshire Electric Coop customers can get up to $4,000 back on the installation of an ultra-efficient low temperature heat pump. For more information, calll 1-800-698-2007
Geothermal and high-efficiency heat pump program New Hampshire Electric Coop program gives rebates up to $4,500 to residential members for replacement or new construction using geothermal high efficiency heat pumps. For more information, calll 1-800-698-2007.
PSNH’s HEATSMART program PSNH provides reduced electric rates to customers with electrically heated homes (baseboard, radiant, electric boiler, heat pump, or geothermal heat pump) when they have a secondary heat source such as a wood, coal, or pellet stove. For more information, call 1-800-662-7764.
Water-heating rebates
Natural gas water-heating-system rebates National Grid offers natural gas water heating customers rebates of up to $300 for new energy efficient gas water heating systems. Need more information? Call 1-800-292-2032.
Solar hot water rebates New Hampshire Electric Coop will offer a limited number of rebates of up to $1,500 on the installation of qualified solar hot water systems. This program is intended as a bridge to the State of New Hampshire's solar hot water rebate program, which is expected to be operational in April 2010. Need more information? Call 1-800-698-2007.
Clothes washers For a limited time, customers of NH retailers who purchase an energy-efficient Energy Star rated washing machine can receive a $50 rebate by filling out a mail-in rebate form. Clothes Washer Rebate Form
For a limited time, customers of NH retailers who purchase an energy-efficient Energy Star® rated room air conditioner between March 1 and August 31, 2010 can receive a $20 rebate by filling out a mail-in rebate form. Air Conditioner Rebate Form
Lighting rebates
For a limited time, rebate levels available for energy efficient lights and fixtures:
$1 Rebate Form (PDF) (toward CFLs)
$10 Rebate Form (PDF) (towards interior or exterior light fixtures and torchieres)
Generating electricity: N.H. Renewable Energy Rebate program
Rebates are available for residential energy systems that generate electricity from a renewable technology such as photovoltaic (solar electric) panels or wind turbines with a rated capacity of less than 5 kilowatts. The system may be either grid-connected or “off grid.” Residential rebates are calculated at $3 per watt of capacity or 50% of system costs, whichever is less, up to a maximum of $6,000.
Solar hot water rebates
New Hampshire Electric Coop will offer a limited number of rebates of up to $1,500 on the installation of qualified solar hot water systems. This program is intended as a bridge to the State of New Hampshire's solar hot water rebate program, which is expected to be operational later in 2010.
Solar heating systems
National Grid offers 15% of project costs up to $1,500 for solar thermal systems when backed up by a natural gas heater.
The State of New Hampshire will implement a mail-in rebate program to replace older, inefficient hot water heaters/heating systems with new Energy Star® qualified models, and will also replace certain solar thermal products and indoor boiler reset controls that fall outside the Energy Star® scope. (Advance rebate reservations are required for the solar thermal products.) The program begins in April, 2010, and will continue until funds are depleted.
Products eligible for replacement:
- Gas condensing water heaters
- Gas storage water heaters
- Gas tankless water heaters
- Solar water heaters
- Gas & Oil furnaces
- Gas & Oil boilers
- Indoor boiler reset controls (with the replacement of an existing boiler)
Net-Metering* for Renewable Energy Generators
*Getting credit for electricity you generate for the grid in excess of the power you purchase.
New Hampshire state rules governing net-metering Contact your electric utility for specifics
Property tax exemptions for renewable energy
Eighty-four cities and towns have adopted one or more renewable-energy property-tax exemptions based on data received from towns. Please consult local officials on current renewable energy tax exemption status for your town, or contact the Office of Energy and Planning: Eric Steltzer at 603-271-1765.
Photo credits
Money tree: Stock photo
House remodeling Brock_Builders Some rights reserved
Attic insulator: Andy Duncan. Used with permission.
Blower-door test: Andy Duncan. Used with permission.
New furnace Ardviii Some rights reserved.
Changing to compact fluorescent light bulbs The Udall Legacy Bus Tour: Views from the Road. Some rights reserved.
Solar panels: Mike Weston Some rights reserved.
