Home Performance with Energy Star

Home Performance with Energy Star is a national program designed to bring your home up to Energy Star standards. Our rebates and loan program can help finance the efficiency upgrades. You will also receive a FREE energy efficiency score certificate for participating in the program!

Rebates

Up to $1,200 for approved energy efficiency upgrades plus up to $1,600 for an efficient air conditioner or heat pump. You might also be eligible for a Federal tax credit.

Loans

You can get a low interest loan for most of the energy efficiency improvements suggested in the assessment.

Participation steps

Hire one of our certified contractors and they will walk you through the steps for participation

Eligibility

• Home Performance rebates and loans are only available for qualified Columbia Water & Light residential electric customers and are not available for newly constructed homes.
• A duplex or a condominium could be eligible if it has three major walls exposed to outside conditions and more than 900 square feet of attic space. If the unit’s size ranges from 700 to 899 square feet, the customer is eligible for all the Home Performance rebates if an efficient air conditioner or heat pump is installed.
• Customers must have an initial and a post assessment by a certified contractor. Utility usage data must be supplied by the customer.
• Rebate qualifying improvements must be listed on the certified contractor’s summary report. Improvements completed before the initial assessment are not eligible for a rebate.
• Home Performance program parameters must be followed to qualify for rebates and a loan. Rebates and loans are subject to funding availability.

Energy Assessment Requirement

Participating local contractors are certified by the Building Performance Institute to evaluate the energy efficiency of your home. Their “whole-house” approach uses recognized building science concepts of inspecting and testing to identify and evaluate energy-efficient improvements. The cost of the assessment can range from $200 to $400 so it is important to get estimates before deciding which contractor to use. The cost of the assessment can be financed with our low-interest loan program. Download the list of Certified Home Performance Contractors in our area.

How do I know if I would benefit from this program?

To see if this program could help you, complete the Home Energy Yardstick assessment which is listed under the Home Improvement section at www.energystar.gov. If you have a score of 5 or less, your home could benefit from the Home Performance program.

Common recommendations

Sealing Air Leaks: Many air leaks in homes are fairly obvious, such as around windows, doors, and electrical outlets. But others, like those in attics, around chimneys, and through recessed lighting fixtures, are often the more significant sources of energy loss in a home.

Adding Insulation: Many homes built before 1985 are not well-insulated. Your Certified Home Performance Contractor will check the levels in your walls, floors, attic and rim joists.

Sealing Duct Work: Many homes have leaky duct work and poor air flow, resulting in stuffy and uncomfortable rooms. Your Certified Home Performance Contractor may recommend sealing and/or insulating your home’s ductwork along with balancing the duct system to optimize air flow.

Improving Heating and Cooling Systems: If your furnace or air conditioner is more than 10 years old, it’s probably time to replace it with a more efficient unit that is properly sized for your home.

Program policies

Click here to download the Home Performance with Energy Star program policies.

This program falls under City of Columbia Ordinance - Chapter 27, Section 27-166