A new $4.3 billion federal rebate program is being touted by HVAC manufacturers and environmentalists alike as a big step toward energy savings and reduced carbon emissions.
The High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate program, or HEEHR, will offer point-of-sale rebates to low- and moderate-income households for the purchase of specific Energy Star-rated electric appliances, including up to $8,000 for a heat pump for home heating and cooling. HEEHR also provides for rebates for the electrical work, such as panel upgrades and new wiring, that some homes may need to accommodate such appliances.