Rebates for natural-gas heated homes

Is your home heated with natural gas? If so, it’s possible you could be eligible for rebates.

Recently we wrote about various rebates available through the Grays Harbor PUD for energy-saving measures and appliances for homes that are electrically heated. In this blog, our concentration is on folks who heat their homes with natural gas.

We talked with Kris Forck, Energy Efficiency & Conservation Analyst at Cascade Natural Gas, which serves some areas within Grays Harbor County.

NEW GAS FURNACE

The most popular rebate through the incentive program offered by Cascade Natural Gas is the one for a new natural gas furnace.

“If our customer purchases a natural gas furnace with 95 percent energy efficiency or more, they are eligible for a $400 rebate,” Kris said.

Of course there are several stipulations to receiving the rebate including that the contractor used is licensed in Washington. The utility’s website (cngc.com/energy-efficiency) has a list of eligible contractors who are licensed, bonded and insured. In addition, the simple form to fill out for the rebate (which must be accompanied by proof of purchase and installation) is also available on the website.

GAS INSERT REBATES

Cascade Natural Gas also offers rebates for gas inserts that are installed in fireplaces or stoves, Kris said. For a gas insert with 70 percent efficiency or more, a $300 rebate is possible! Again, the forms and details are available on the website.

This is the only home heat rebate that someone whose home is primarily heated by electricity could still qualify for, Kris noted.

BOILERS, WATER HEATERS

While not many people have them, condensing boilers are becoming a bit more popular. (They are used for things like radiant heat under floors.) Installing such a boiler, can also earn a homeowner a rebate of $750.

In addition, condensing tankless water heaters are also rebate eligible – at two levels. For natural gas tankless water heaters with between 87 and 92 percent energy efficiency, $250 is offered for a rebate.

For a natural gas condensing tankless water heater with 93 percent efficiency or higher, a $350 rebate is possible.

WEATHERIZATION MEASURES

Just like the PUD encourages energy conservation through weatherization, so does Cascade Natural Gas – as well as other gas companies.

“We offer weatherization or shell measures for existing homes including insulation and ductwork,” Kris said.

If a homeowner adds R-49 insulation in the attic or ceiling, they can receive a rebate of up to $1 a square foot of insulation installed.

For the floor or crawl space, the rebate for insulation that is R-30 is 75 cents a square foot. The same is true of new insulation put in external walls.

The insulation installation needs to be done by a trade ally contractor. (That is someone who has chosen to participate with CNG and has been vetted and trained.) The website includes a link to the trade ally directory, Kris said.

A flat rate of $150 is the rebate available for duct sealing. In addition, duct insulation can earn a rebate of 50 cents a linear foot for R-11 insulation.

There is also a whole-home air sealing rebate of $150 available. However that requires a pre and post blower test.

Again, it’s best to check online or call CNG to double-check the requirements before purchasing or installing.

WINDOWS

For homeowners replacing single pane windows with double pane windows with a U factor of .27 or less, rebates are available through Cascade Natural Gas for $5 a square foot of windows purchased and installed.

HOMES BUILT IN 2020, OR LATER

If you are considering buying or building a brand new home, you could also be eligible for a fairly significant rebate.

Any home built after Jan.1, 2020, that is either an ENERGY STAR certified home or a BUILT GREEN certified home, can receive a $2,000 rebate. (ENERGY STAR is a federal program through the EPA, while BUILT GREEN is a Washington State program.)

“It is the certificate that guarantees the rebate,” explained Kris. “Without it we can’t confirm the eligibility.”

So, when building a new home, it’s important to work with the contractor to build it to a certain, energy-saving level, which is higher than code, she explained.

For instance, such homes would have insulation higher than code, heating measures above and beyond and maybe even a water catchment system or the building site located with certain environmental aspects in mind.

To see what kinds of specific requirements are needed for these certificates – and thus eligible for the rebates – look up the BUILT GREEN Washington or ENERGY STAR websites.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Again, for more information about Cascade Natural Gas rebates, check out the website or call (866) 626-4479.