By Sally Robertson, co-creator of EnergyFundsForAll.org
Installing more energy-efficient appliances can save you money on your energy bills, but those purchases can be costly.
Starting in December, you can get big rebates on certain appliances and other energy-efficiency work.
For income-qualified residents, some upgrades could be completely free.
The Energy Saver North Carolina program (EnergySaverNC.org) administered by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality has been expanding gradually statewide and is coming to Hyde County in December.
It was funded by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and is intended to benefit low- and moderate-income renters and homeowners. Income qualification is based on household size and percentage of area median income.
Energy Saver NC offers rebates in two ways. HEAR (Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates) offers rebates on appliances like HVAC heat pumps, water heaters, electric ranges and washer/dryers, as well as on insulation, air sealing, wiring and electrical panels.
In Hyde County, a two-person household, for example, qualifies for a rebate as high as 100% if their income is below $48,900, and an up to 50% rebate if their income is below $104,200.
The 100% rebate is not guaranteed to be no-cost, because there are caps on certain items.
For example, the maximum rebate on an electric heat pump is $8,000.
A household may claim rebates for multiple purchases; the maximum total rebate value per household is $14,000.
A great feature of the program is that you don’t have to lay out the money for these purchases and wait to get your rebate.
Your contractor will deduct the amount of the rebate from your bill.
Helping You Get Access to Energy Funding
The second part of the program is HOMES (Homeowners Managing Efficiency Savings), which provides rebates on energy-efficient appliances and other work in your home that reduces overall energy usage by at least 20%.
HOMES starts you off with a free energy audit (a $500 value) and has potential savings up to $16,000. The same income qualification guidelines are used.
HEAR rebates are not available retroactively; you must wait to get program approval before installing upgrades.
In very limited cases, HOMES rebates may be retroactive.
Check the Energy Saver NC FAQ page to learn whether you can get a HOMES rebate for work you have already done.
The program is looking for more contractors who want to help their communities get access to these funds.
As of this writing, the closest approved company to Ocracoke is All Weather Mechanical in Jacksonville.
If you know other contractors, ask them to apply on the Energy Saver NC website.
You can learn more about both programs and apply now at EnergySaverNC.org.
Rebates are given on a first-come, first-served basis.
They will be available until 2031 or until funds run out. So the time is now to make those home improvements you’ve been hoping to do.
Energy Funds for All is a guide to help NC and SC residents find funding for home and community energy projects.
We checked with a solar provider up the beach and they told us that Tideland does not yet support the desirable interface with home solar. Their estimate to install solar on our roof was, predictably, not in our price range. Are there people on Ocracoke/Hyde County seeking to make this more advantageous for consumers? I walk around the island and see a number of beautiful arrays of solar panels on neighbors’ rooves, but I don’t know how this works practically and with respect to Tideland.
Just a thought. Thank you.
EnergySaverNC.org link does not work.
Thanks. Just redid them.
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