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Delaware

Delaware

Incentives/Policies for Renewables & Efficiency

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Home Performance with Energy Star Loans   

Last DSIRE Review: 03/23/2012
Program Overview:
State: Delaware
Incentive Type: State Loan Program
Eligible Efficiency Technologies: Clothes Washers, Dishwasher, Refrigerators, Dehumidifiers, Water Heaters, Lighting, Furnaces , Boilers, Heat pumps, Central Air conditioners, Duct/Air sealing, Building Insulation, Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building, Custom/Others pending approval, Room Air Conditioners, Tankless Water Heaters, Heat Pump Water Heaters
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind, Fuel Cells, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
Applicable Sectors: Residential
Amount:Loans from $1,000 - $20,000
Maximum Incentive:Maximum loan of $20,000
Terms:Interest rate of 6.99% for Standard Path improvements; 3.99% for Performance Path improvements; terms of up to 10 years with no pre-payment penalty.
Funding Source:American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
Web Site: http://www.energizedelaware.org/Home-Performance-with-Energy-Star...
Summary:
The current round of funding for the Home Performance with Energy Star program has been exhausted, please reference program web site for future funding information.
 
The Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) is now offering rebates and loans for residents that make qualifying energy efficiency improvements as part of the Home Performance with Energy Star program. In order to qualify for incentives, the applicant must be the registered owner of a separately metered, single-family detached or attached residence where the equipment is installed. Attached units include duplexes, townhouses, and condos. Multi-family residential, commercial, and newly constructed buildings are not eligible for incentives under this program.

The program offers several different incentive paths to qualifying homeowners. The standard measures path offers rebates for specific energy efficiency measures such as home insulation, windows, doors, air sealing, and water heaters. The performance measure path offers progressively increasing incentives based on the level of energy consumption reduction, starting with a minimum energy consumption reduction of 20%. The high introductory performance rebate levels currently offered are scheduled to expire March 31, 2012. Prescriptive incentives are also available for heating and cooling measures.

Unsecured loans ranging from $1,000 - $20,000 with terms of up to 10 years are now available to finance up to 100% of the remaining costs of improvements. Interest rates are set at 3.99% for performance measure path improvements and 6.99% for standard measure path improvements. Renewable energy projects may also be financed through the program as long as the participant finances at least $500 worth of other qualifying improvements. All renewable energy measures must meet the eligibility standards of the Delaware Green Energy Incentives programs.* Energy savings associated with renewable energy installations is not included in the calculation of savings for Performance Path measures.

The first step to participating in the program is to have an energy audit performed by a program-approved contractor. Based on the results of the energy audit, the contractor will provide the homeowner with a series of energy savings recommendations, but it is up to the homeowner to decide which upgrades they would like completed.** The contractor then completes the selected improvements and submits a completed final application for incentives on behalf of the homeowner. If improvements totaling more than $500 are made within 6 months of the energy audit, the homeowner also qualifies for a rebate of $250 against the cost of the energy audit. The program will only provide incentives for improvements made on or after August 18, 2010.

Please see the program web site or contact an SEU representative for further program information. The Delaware SEU is a non-profit organization created by the state of Delaware to foster a sustainable energy future for the state through conservation, efficiencies and the use of renewable energy sources.

 

*The list of eligible renewable energy technologies corresponds to those eligible for Green Energy Program incentives.

**The list of eligible energy efficiency improvements above is a list of possible improvements that may be identified in the required energy audit. In practice, eligible improvements are "custom" in nature, and depend on the results of the energy audit and the wishes of the homeowner.


 
Contact:
  Program Information - Home Performance with Energy Star
Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility
Phone: (877) 624-4448
Web Site: http://www.energizedelaware.org/
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Disclaimer: The information presented on the DSIRE web site provides an unofficial overview of financial incentives and other policies. It does not constitute professional tax advice or other professional financial guidance, and it should not be used as the only source of information when making purchasing decisions, investment decisions or tax decisions, or when executing other binding agreements. Please refer to the individual contact provided below each summary to verify that a specific financial incentive or other policy applies to your project.

While the DSIRE staff strives to provide the best information possible, the DSIRE staff, the N.C. Solar Center, N.C. State University and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. make no representations or warranties, either express or implied, concerning the accuracy, completeness, reliability or suitability of the information. The DSIRE staff, the N.C. Solar Center, N.C. State University and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. disclaim all liability of any kind arising out of your use or misuse of the information contained or referenced on DSIRE Web pages.

Copyright 2012 - 2013 North Carolina State University, under NREL Subcontract No. XEU-0-99515-01. Permission granted only for personal or educational use, or for use by or on behalf of the U.S. government. North Carolina State University prohibits the unauthorized display, reproduction, sale, and/or distribution of all or portions of the content of the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) without prior, written consent.