Program Name

Description

Hudson Light and Power

Summary: Hudson Light and Power offers an account credit of $500 for the installation of a high-efficiency heat pump. HLP has doubled this incentive to $1,000 for the first 100 HeatSmart participants.

Eligibility: All Hudson Light and Power customers that heat with any fuel type are eligible to receive this rebate. Only HeatSmart Hudson-Stow participants are eligible to receive the larger incentive. All equipment offered by our HeatSmart installers will qualify.

Learn more and download your application here: http://www.hudsonlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/HeatSmart.pdf

Application Process: To access the expanded HeatSmart Hudson Light and Power rebate for heat pump purchases, you must participate in the HeatSmart program by signing up on the HeatSmartHS.org website and getting a visit from our selected Installers. Once they have visited and given you a proposal, you are of course free to shop around. When your heat pump(s) have been installed, you can request a HeatSmart Participant certificate from our coaches, and apply for your rebate.

Obtaining the HeatSmart HLPD rebate is a straightforward process:

1) Sign up for HeatSmart Hudson-Stow and get a site visit from one of our selected installers, Boucher Energy Systems or Bill Wenzel Heating and Air Conditioning

2) Sign a contract for a qualified heat pump system.

3) Reserve your HeatSmart HLPD Rebate. To do so, you will need to:

• Obtain a HeatSmart certificate of participation. If you are not contacted by one of the HeatSmart coaches within a few days of signing your contract, reach out to to request a certificate. The coaches will verify that you participated in the HeatSmart program and provide you with a certificate unique to your project.
• Fill out and submit the “HeatSmart Funds Reservation” application (see Page 2) to HLPD. In addition to completing the application, you will need to provide both a copy of your signed contract and the certificate provided by one of the HeatSmart coaches.

4) Submit your HeatSmart HLPD Rebate Application. To do so you will need to fill out and submit the “HeatSmart Rebate Application” (see Page 3) to HLPD. In addition to completing the application, you will need to also provide a sales receipt from your installer as well as the AHRI-certificate for the model installed to verify its eligibility.

Home MVP Pilot Program

Summary: The Home Energy Market Value Performance (Home MVP) Pilot Program is a new pathway from the Dept. of Energy Resources (DOER) that provides incentives and access to financing (see below) to participating homeowners based on the level of energy reductions received. The size of the incentive is dependent on a number of factors, including how much energy you used before installing a heat pump and any energy efficiency upgrades you complete at the same time. The incentive will go directly to Boucher or Wenzel, though our installers have agreed to pass a portion of this incentive onto HeatSmart customers as a credit towards the cost of your project, minus the cost of the additional work needed to process the incentive. Regardless of the size of incentive you receive, participating in the MVP program will give you access to 0% financing up to the cost of your project minus any incentives received.

While the size of the incentive is dependent on your specific home, DOER has provided examples of actual projects processed through the Home MVP program relevant to HeatSmart Hudson-Stow and the incentives received. View these examples here. A rough estimate of the Home MVP incentive (subject to review and approval from the MVP program administrators) can be provided in a Home MVP scorecard, which will be developed upon signing a contract or upon request if you are expecting to move forward. Speak with your installer to get an estimate of what the incentive amount will be, and learn more about the Home MVP process here.

Eligibility: All residents of Massachusetts are eligible to participate in the MVP Program, regardless of whether you participate in HeatSmart or not. If you're interested in the MVP program, speak to Boucher when they reach out to you to schedule a site visit and they will make sure to collect all of the information needed to begin moving you through the program during your visit.

Alternative Energy Certificates (AECs)

Summary: As a clean heating and cooling (or "renewable thermal") technology, heat pumps receive certificates from the state that must be purchased by Massachusetts utilities to meet a state compliance requirement under the Alternative Portfolio Standard. (If you're familiar with SRECs from solar PV, think of these as SRECs for heat pumps!)

The value of each certificate fluctuates based on supply and demand, and the number of certificates your system will receive is dependent on a number of factors, including: (1) size of your home, (2) the efficiency of your home (e.g. HERS Rating of <50), and (3) whether the heat pump system serves as your sole source of heat or not.

Eligibility: All residents of Massachusetts who install qualifying heat pump systems can register them under the APS. For your system to qualify, it must serve at least 90% of the heating load of your home, with 50% more certificates awarded if your system serves as your sole source of heating with no backup

Federal Investment Tax Credit

Eligible technologies: Ground source heat pump or solar hot water

Homeowners can claim a federal tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of a solar hot water or ground source heat pump system (excluding cost of ductwork modifications). The tax credit which is similar to that offered for solar electricity will decline to 26% in 2020 and every year after that until disappearing entirely in 2022. If you are unable to claim the full credit in a year, you may roll it over into a future year while the credit is still available.

Consult a tax professional if you have any questions or concerns.

Grant for Low and Moderate Income Homeowners

HeatSmart Hudson-Stow is providing a grant of $300 to the first 10 income-eligible families that sign a contract through HeatSmart Hudson-Stow. Read more about HeatSmart Hudson-Stow's additional support and eligibility here.

Program Name

Description

Home MVP Pilot Program

Summary: Homeowners that participate in the Home MVP Pilot Program (discussed above) can receive financing for heat pump systems and other eligible energy efficiency upgrades. This loan, supported by the Dept. of Energy Resources and offered by a select number of local lenders is offered at 0% interest over 7 years. The maximum amount that can be financed under this loan is the lesser of $25,000 or the value of all eligible improvements minus the cost of any incentives received.

Eligibility: All residents of Massachusetts are eligible to participate in the MVP Program. A variety of energy efficiency improvements beyond heat pumps are eligible to be financed under this loan with the exception of anything related to fossil fuel equipment. If you're interested in the MVP program, speak to Boucher when they reach out to you to schedule a site visit!