Central Alabama Cooperative Rebates and Home Performance with Energy Star

The AlabamaWISE program is now available to help customers of Central Alabama Coop save energy while improving year-round comfort and healthy indoor environment with the Home Performance with Energy Star program.

Home Performance with Energy Star is a whole-house approach to energy-related home improvements to optimize and balance the heating and cooling system with the building enclosure — windows, insulation, air sealing, hot water heater, crawl space and attic design.

Central Alabama Cooperative offers rebates for heat pump systems and water heaters and AlabamaWISE helps homeowners make the most of utility rebates to maximize savings with the Home Performance with Energy Star Program. Participating contractors are certified heating, air conditioning, insulation, and remodeling contractors with specialized training in building science, so they understand the complex interaction between all the systems in your home.

A low-cost comprehensive home evaluation is available to CAEC members for only $100 (a $400 value). The Coop’s energy specialist, Derek Blankenship, will perform an advanced energy audit to the member’s home. The advanced diagnostic evaluation includes a blower door test to identify energy waste though air leaks and an a thermal scan with infrared camera to spot missing insulation. A written report is provided to guide homeowners in making home energy upgrades.

A participating AlabamaWISE contractor will review your energy assessment with you and suggest a package of cost-effective home energy improvements to maximize year-round comfort. This often includes sealing the duct system, air sealing the attic access and adding insulation before carefully calculating the replacement heat-pump system. This comprehensive approach will ensure the best humidity control for your home, a critical part of indoor comfort.

Mobile homes will benefit most with the AlabamaWISE Home Performance with Energy Star because duct leakage and insulation improvements are essential to lowering monthly electric bills. Some AlabamaWISE contractors have many years experience in the Weatherization Assistance Program and are experts in energy and comfort upgrades to mobile homes.

Central Alabama Coop also offers low-cost loans through Regions Bank with 4.99% rate to install your Home Performance with Energy Star improvements up to $10,000. Loans up to $20,000 are available at 6.99% for installations with heat pumps. AlabamaWISE also has low cost loans for efficiency and solar from 6% to 9.99%.

Qualifying Home Performance with Energy Star Projects:

• Heat pump purchase and installation
• Heat pump tune-up
• Duct repair or replacement
• Attic, floor, perimeter or exterior wall insulation (foam or cellulose only)
• Air sealing
• Heat pump water heater purchase and installaiton
• Water heater blanket and pipe insulation
• Attic ventilation
• Insulated doors
• Energy-efficient windows
• Window tinting
• Programmable thermostats
• Mobile home skirting

Additional information for loans: Minimum FICO score of 625, 90-day approval period (work must be complete within 90 days of loan approval), No prepayment penalty, Can finance up to 100% of installation costs (up to the maximum loan amount). Financing available only for qualifying projects performed by licensed contractors. Payment made directly to contractor(s).

Central Alabama Coop Heat Pump Rebates

• Air Source15 SEER- $150/ton16 SEER or greater- $200/ton
• Dual Fuel15 SEER- $300/ton16 SEER or greater- $350/ton
• Geothermal17.1 EER or greater- $600/ton

Manufactured Homes:

• Air Source15 SEER – $150/ton16 SEER or greater – $200/ton
• Dual Fuel15 SEER – $300/ton16 SEER or greater – $350/ton

Additional Requirements:

• Home Performance with Energy Star Contractors are licensed in their trade and certified by NATE, BPI or RESNET.
• A Manual J load calculation must be performed on the home and a copy must be turned in to CAEC (this ensures that the heat pump will be properly sized for the home)
• For manufactured homes, an inspection of skirting must be completed by CAEC

Get started now by speaking with an AlabamaWISE program advisor at 256-539-6272