Weatherization Rebates

Insulation Rebate Form
PTCS Duct Sealing Form
Window Rebate Form
PTCS Air Sealing Rebate Form

All weatherization rebates are for homes with permanently installed electric heat.


Weatherization upgrades can significantly reduce the amount of energy needed to heat (and cool) your home. OPALCO is offering incentives for insulation upgrades, duct sealing ,window replacement and air sealing. Rebates are available to OPALCO residential members; structures must be in a habitable condition with a permanently installed electric heat source. See the rebate forms (above and below) for detailed eligibility requirements.

 

INSULATION UPGRADES

Having trouble keeping your home warm in the winter? The problem is likely in your walls, floor and ceiling. Prior to 1980, Washington state building code did not require adequate levels of insulation, compared to today’s standards. For example, adding 1,500 square feet of R-49 insulation to an un-insulated attic could qualify for a rebate of $1,275. The energy savings could be as much as 1,200 kWh/year – or about $90/year.

Rebates range from $0.05 – $0.85/square foot depending on R-value and application. See Insulation Rebate Form for details. Contractors must follow BPA Weatherization Specifications. Washington State Energy Code for new construction is: Attic: R38-49; Walls: R21; Floors: R30

More information on insulation:

Federal Tax Credits available for insulation:

Federal tax credits are changing – check out this article.

DUCT SEALING

According to ENERGY STAR, sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of a house’s heating and cooling system by 20% or more. Leaving ducts unsealed and uninsulated lets conditioned air leak into unconditioned spaces, which wastes energy and creates the potential for hot and cold spots in the home.

OPALCO offers rebates on duct sealing performed by a Performance Tested Comfort Systems (PTCS) contractor. Rebates are $400 (new construction and manufactured homes) or $500 (single family existing residence).  Please see the PTCS Duct Sealing Form for details. This is the contractor required form:  PTCS Duct Sealing Form

WINDOW REPLACEMENT

While window replacement is not the most cost-effective weatherization measure in the toolbox, new energy efficient windows can reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home – and can bring other benefits such as increased comfort and home value. Before replacing windows, it is most prudent to make sure your home is well insulated and sealed.

OPALCO is offering a rebate of $6/square foot on window replacement. Existing windows must be single pane or double pane with metal frames. Replacement windows must have a NFRC U-Factor of 0.30 or lower (0.35 or lower for glass doors). New windows cannot be larger than existing; no new or added windows. Please see Window Rebate Form for eligibility details. Contractors must follow BPA Weatherization Specifications.

Check out the Efficient Windows Collaborative - a great resource for figuring out what kind of windows make most sense in our climate zone.  For example, a low U factor is important but a higher SHGC (solar heat gain coefficient) makes sense to allow for solar heat gain in the winter months.  A lot of companies market windows that have both low U-factor and Low SHGC to cover all the climate zones with one Energy Star qualified product.

AIR SEALING

While usually considered a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project, when done by a professional the results are measurable and rebates are available. Indoor air quality becomes a concern when you start to tighten the infiltration of outside air into your home. Also, gas fueled appliances and fireplaces have the potential to back-draft if their normal air supply is cut off. To qualify for the OPALCO rebate, air sealing must be performed by a Performance Tested Comfort Systems (PTCS) contractor. The rebate amount depends on the size of your home and reduction of air infiltration achieved. Amounts can be  anywhere from $30 – $200. Please see the PTCS Air Sealing Rebate Form for eligibility details. Contractors must follow the PTCS Air Sealing Specifications and fill out the PTCS Contractor Air Sealing Worksheet.

Everything you ever wanted to know about air sealing can be found in this document from the US Department of Energy –  Retrofit Techniques and Technologies: Air Sealing

DID YOU KNOW that OPALCO can arrange a Home Snapshot Energy Assessment to help you choose the energy efficiency improvements that will bring you the greatest savings in kWh and dollars?

For more information, contact us.