What once was an inviting $1,500 tax credit is now a return to the traditional selling methods of explaining features and benefits of high efficiency products to homeowners. While it may be necessary to shift gears to a new selling strategy, some things still remain the same.

When the U.S. government offered up to $1,500 in tax credits for higher efficiency appliances, HVAC contractors got their foot in the doors of consumers who might not normally have considered buying high-end. Since the tax credits were reduced in 2011, the same selling opportunities have dried up too — or have they?

For the time being, the 25C residential energy tax credit has officially expired. Since many HVAC residential contractors used the tax credit as a selling tool, there has been a lot of discussion about how the expiration will affect the industry, and if there is any hope for an extension of the credit.

Not all energy-efficient HVAC equipment qualifies for tax credits, but there are four renewable energy product categories that do — geothermal heat pumps, small wind turbines, solar energy systems, and fuel cells. Though some seem beyond HVAC, they each have the potential to bring new revenue streams to contractors.

Building owners, designers, and contractors considering a geothermal heat pump system may now determine the associated federal tax credits, using Carrier’s new white paper, “Geothermal Heat Pump Systems and Federal Tax Incentives.”

Rep. Jim Gerlach, R-Pa., recently visited DiFilippo’s Service Co. in Paoli, Pa., to better understand the concerns of small-business owners in his district.