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•    2009 Energy Efficiency Events Calendar 

Home Improvement Incentives Eligibility and Guidelines

The following incentives are available for residential energy efficiency measures. Space heating and weatherization offers apply to residential homeowners in Washington and Idaho who heat their homes primarily with Avista electricity or natural gas.  Water heating offers apply to customers heating with Avista electric or natural gas.  Conversion offers apply to Avista electric heat customers only.  Please see description below for complete incentive requirements.

High Efficiency Equipment Incentives

Natural Gas Furnace/Boiler
A $400 incentive is available for installation of a high efficiency natural gas furnace of 90% AFUE (heating efficiency) or greater, or a natural gas boiler of 90% AFUE or greater.

Air Source Heat Pump
A $400 incentive is available for installation of a high efficiency heat pump of 8.5 HSPF (heating efficiency) or greater (7.7 HSPF and 13.0 SEER for manufactured homes. Please make a note on rebate form to indicate manufactured home.) HSPF verification requires an ARI certificate.

Ground Source Heat Pump
A $1500 incentive is available for installation of a high efficiency ground source heat pump of 13.6 HSPF (heating efficiency) or higher.  A comparable Coefficient of Perfomance rating would be a 3.5 COP or higher.  This may not be combined with any other high efficiency incentives.

Variable Speed Motor
A $100 incentive is available for installation of a primary heating system that incorporates a variable speed motor.  This incentive may be combined with a high efficiency incentive.

Central Air Conditioner
A $350 incentive is available for replacing an old but functioning central air conditioning system with a new high efficient model of 14.0 SEER or better.  Central air conditioning in this case is defined as a ducted air conditioning system of 1.5 tons (18,000 BTUs) cooling or higher, conditioning at least 75% of the home.  This incentive may not be combined with heat pump or variable speed motor incentives.  SEER verification requires an ARI Certificate.

Water Heater
A $50 incentive is available for installation of an electric water heater (tank type) of 0.93 EF (efficiency) or greater; a natural gas water heater (tank type) of 0.60 EF or greater for 50-gallon, 0.62 EF or greater for 40-gallon.  A $200 incentive is available for installation of a natural gas instantaneous model (tankless) of 0.82 EF or greater.

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Conversions from Electric Straight Resistance

Electric to Natural Gas Heat
A $1,000 incentive is available to Avista electric customers who replace electric as their primary heat (i.e. electric forced air furnace or electric baseboard heat) with a central natural gas heating system. This incentive may be claimed in addition to the high-efficient natural gas furnace incentive. A $500 incentive is available to replace Avista electric heat with a natural gas wall heater.

Electric to Heat Pump
A $1,000 incentive is available to Avista electric customers who replace electric as their primary heat (i.e. electric forced air furnace or electric baseboard heat) with a heat pump (either air source or ground source). This incentive may not be combined with the electric to natural gas heat incentive.

Electric to Natural Gas Water
A $250 incentive is available to Avista electric customers who replace an electric water heater with a new natural gas water heater.  This incentive may be claimed in addition to the high-efficient natural gas water heater incentive.

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Weatherization for Avista electric / natural gas heated homes

Ceiling and Attic Insulation
Ceiling/Attic (both fitted/batt type and blown-in):
A 25 cents per square foot incentive is available for the addition of new insulation that increases the R-Value by R-10 or greater. Homes are eligible if the existing insulation is less than R-19 for attics.  Insulation must be installed only where such cavities separate conditioned from unconditioned areas of the residence. (Any insulation installed outside the cavity, such as siding applications, does not meet incentive requirements.)

Floor and Wall Insulation
Floor and Wall Insulation (both fitted/batt type and blown-in):
A 50 cent per square foot incentive is available for the addition of new insulation that increases the R-Value by R-10 or greater. Homes are eligible if the existing insulation is less than R-5 for walls and R-5 in floors.  Insulation must be installed only where such cavities separate conditioned from unconditioned areas of the residence. (Any insulation installed outside the cavity, such as siding applications, does not meet incentive requirements.)

Windows**
A $3.00 incentive, per square foot of qualifying windows installed, is available to customers who heat primarily with Avista electric or natural gas for the upgrade of windows with a u-factor of .35 or lower (the lower the u-factor, the more efficient the window).  Windows must be rated by a recognized organization such as the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) or Department of Energy (DOE).

**Both the invoice and incentive form(s) must show square footage,
u-factor, and costs.

HOME IMPROVEMENT INCENTIVES Additional Conditions:

• The incentives listed are applicable to existing single and multifamily residences (up to a fourplex), including manufactured and modular homes.
• Incentives are not available for seasonal or recreational homes; they must be a primary living residence.
• Homeowners are responsible for complying with all applicable codes and regulations.
• Homeowners installing both a high efficient natural gas furnace and high efficient heat pump are eligible for both high efficiency incentives.
• Homeowners converting from electric heat may only receive one conversion incentive (either electric to heat pump or electric to natural gas).
• Incentives shall not exceed 50% of the actual measure cost.
• Verification of efficiencies for space and water heating equipment are according to the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Associations (GAMA) Consumers' Directory of Certified Efficiency Ratings.
• Incentives are paid directly to the homeowner.
• Incentives must be submitted within 90 days of completion of energy efficiency measure.
• Avista reserves the right to inspect energy efficiency measures prior to payment and will coordinate inspection as applicable.
• Allow 6 to 8 weeks for processing and payment of incentive.

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Rooftop Dampers

Open wood fireplaces are an inefficient way to heat. Inside air is pulled up the chimney and out of the home. Even when not in use, fireplaces may experience heat loss due to loose dampers. Utilizing your wood fireplace sparingly and closing the chimney damper when not in use will help save energy. (Note: Fireplace inserts are more efficiently designed to avoid this effect.)

A more efficient way to close off your chimney when not in use is with a Rooftop Damper. Customers who heat primarily with Avista electric or natural gas and have a wood burning fireplace may receive up to $100 for the installation of a rooftop damper. For safety reasons, fireplaces must be wood-burning only and have no other combustion devices utilizing the chimney for exhaust. Rooftop dampers should never be used with natural gas fireplaces. Natural gas inserts, wood inserts and wood pellet stoves do not qualify, they are already designed to heat efficiently. Rooftop dampers should not be installed where installation would be against building code requirements or unsafe. Customers are responsible for complying with applicable codes. Anytime combustion devices are present in the home it is recommended to install carbon monoxide detectors (CO monitors). 

•    Fireplace Damper Incentive Agreement Form
•    Fireplace Damper FAQ's

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