Western Washington homeowners can now get new utility rebates on energy efficient water and space heating equipment and home improvements, increasing the number of ways residents can both save energy and money and benefit the environment. Puget Sound Energy will offer seven new rebates for both electric and natural gas customers who upgrade starting Jan. 1.
“PSE listened to what our customers wanted and retooled our energy efficient equipment rebates to better reflect the changing marketplace,” said Cal Shirley, PSE vice president of Energy Efficiency Services. “Our customers now have more ways they can save energy, money and the environment.”
The utility offers a wide array of rebates and incentives for home improvements and equipment that reduce energy use and lower bills, and many of these same measures could also qualify for as much as $1,500 in federal tax credits and $100 from Washington state’s appliance rebate program for energy efficient clothes washers.
“Puget Sound Energy’s expanding array of energy efficiency rebates will lower families’ utility bills, reduce the need for expensive new generation and transmission, and cut pollution,” said NW Energy Coalition executive director Sara Patton. “PSE again demonstrates its regional leadership in providing clean energy solutions to its customers.”
In addition to saving money through rebates, lower bills and tax credits, customers can lower their carbon footprint by using less energy and support the local jobs that service energy conservation programs like these.
The added rebates in 2010 for PSE customers include:
• Electric ENERGY STAR – qualified geothermal heat pump: $1,500
• Conversion from electric forced-air-furnace to high-efficiency heat pump: $1,000
• Natural gas ENERGY STAR-qualified boiler: $350
• Electric ENERGY STAR-qualified heat pump water heater: $250
• Electric waste water heat recovery: $250
• Natural gas ENERGY STAR-qualified tankless water heaters: $150-200
• High-efficiency electric storage water heater: $50
Also in 2010, PSE will continue to offer residential customers numerous other rebates on energy-efficient appliances, equipment and upgrades, including discounts on compact fluorescent lighting, free duct sealing, up to $3,950 to convert from PSE electric heat to natural gas, up to $1,600 for insulation installation, $800 for ductless heat pumps, up to $500 for qualifying windows, $250 for natural gas furnaces, and rebates for efficient water heaters, boilers and heat pumps, and many others offers. The utility hopes to add to their growing list of options for customers in spring 2010, as well.
In 2008-09, PSE conservation programs saved customers enough energy to supply 23,000 local homes with electricity and 4,000 with natural gas for a year. The environmental benefit of their energy savings is the same as taking 38,000 cars off the road for a year and the programs also supported 450 new jobs for contractors and utility employees, among others, in Western Washington.
For more information about PSE’s rebates, residential energy efficiency programs and ways to take control of home energy use, call a PSE Energy Adviser at 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit PSE.com.
This is a press release from Puget Sound Energy’s Web site.
