Natural Gas Incentives
Wondering why or how to switch to natural gas? Not only is natural gas more efficient and cost-effective than electricity, but there are plenty of cost savings to be had from rebates, tax credits, and other financing options.
Financing options: There are a lot of costs associated with switching to gas – not only buying the appliances, but also installation of the service line, meter, and regulator. In some cases, a gas company will be able to help you manage these costs. If you are using a Washington Gas Participating Heating Contractor for your installation service, all costs can be financed with approved credit (contractor provides financing).
There are various other energy-efficiency financing programs, such as home improvement loans, refinancing, and home energy ratings. Check these sites to see if you might qualify for any.
Washington Gas rebates: Washington gas also provides various rebates to help our customers get started on making their homes natural gas friendly. In Virginia, for instance, we provide cash rebates on the purchase and maintenance of certain hot water heaters, boilers, and furnaces.
Tax credits and incentives: Certain natural gas products qualify for federal tax credits as Part II of IRS form 5695, the “Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit.” You can get tax credits for the products listed here at 30 percent of the cost through 2016. There is no upper limit.
Manufacturer rebates: Many appliance manufacturers offer rebates and other incentives to easy the consumer’s burden (and, of course, drum up some business). Some examples are Trane which offers up to $1250 Instant Rebate and Carrier, which offers up to $1350 with its Cool Cash promotion.
Manufacturers also commonly offer financing options, such as 0% financing for three years. Ask your contractor about these possibilities. But take heed of one word of caution: to take advantage of some of these possibilities, you may have to replace your entire HVAC system instead of just one appliance, like a furnace.
Local rebates: City and state rebate programs exist to help consumers at a local level. Check for info on your state in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.
There are many options out there to help you upgrade the energy-efficiency of your home in an affordable way. Natural gas can be a part of that equation.
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