Residential Energy Programs
The City of Tallahassee Utilities has many Energy Smart Plus saving programs designed to help you save energy and money as well protect and improve our environment. We also have specific, low-income programs and programs that include renters and owner occupied mobile homes.
- Ceiling Insulation Rebates
- Energy Star Appliance Rebates
- Energy Star Air Conditioning/Heat Pump Rebates
- Energy Star Certified New Home Rebates
- Natural Gas Appliance Rebates Residential New and Existing Homes
- Natural Gas Rebates for Commercial Builders - Water Heaters and Piping Allowance
- Solar Water Heater Rebates
- Solar Net Metering Program
- Low Interest Loans for Energy Efficiency
Find out more about any program by calling Energy Services at 891-4YOU (4968) then pressing 42 or by making a request online.
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
Ceiling Insulation 80 percent Rebate
Keep the cool air in with new ceiling insulation. This is the rebirth of the popular insulation program, that was available from 1983-1996. We've improved the program with higher insulation target levels: R38 if you heat with a natural gas furnace, oil furnace or electric heat pump; R49 if you heat with a central electric resistance furnace. This program pays 80% of installation costs up to a maximum City contribution of $400. The first step for this rebate is to call Energy Services to schedule a free energy audit or call 891-4YOU (4968) and then press 42.
Energy Star Appliances - Existing and New Homes
- Energy Star Appliance Rebate Form for Existing Homes (PDF)
- Energy Star Appliance Rebate Form for New Homes (PDF)
ENERGY STAR Refrigerators -- $75 Rebate
- ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use high efficiency compressors, improved insulation and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms to improve energy efficiency.
- ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models use at 15% less energy than required by current federal standards and 40% less energy that the conventional models sold in 2001.
- Many ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator models include automatic ice-maker and through the-door ice dispensers. Qualified models are also available with top, bottom, and side-by-side freezers.
ENERGY STAR Freezers -- $40 Rebate
- ENERGY STAR qualified freezers models use at least 10% less energy than required by current federal standards.
- Qualified freezer models are available in three configurations:
- upright freezers with automatic defrost
- upright freezers with manual defrost
- chest freezer with manual defrost only
ENERGY STAR Clothes Washers -- $100 Rebate
- ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers use about 40% less energy than standard washers and 55% less water.
- ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers come in two designs that save water and energy: Front- load
- Redesigned top-load
- ENERGY STAR washers have no central agitator!
- Front-loaders tumble clothes through a small amount of water instead of rubbing clothes against an agitator in a full tub.
- Advanced top-loaders use sophisticated wash systems to flip or spin clothes through a reduced stream of water.
- Both designs greatly reduce the gallons of hot water used in the wash cycle, and the energy used to heat it.
- ENERGY STAR washers have high spin speeds.
Energy Efficient AC and Heat Pump Rebates - Existing and New Homes
As much as half or more of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling. With smart purchase rebates for selecting higher efficiency central air conditioners and heat pumps.
Central Air Conditioner - $100 or $350 Rebate
- $100 rebate for high efficiency AC equipment rated Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) 14 and Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) 12 or higher
- Compared to a new SEER 13 unit, a SEER 14 air conditioner should reduce cooling costs by 7%.
- $350 rebate for ENERGY STAR qualified equipment rated SEER 15 and EER 12.5 or higher
- Compared to a new SEER 13 unit, a SEER 15 air conditioner should reduce cooling costs by 13%.
- Compared to an old SEER 10 unit (typical efficiency throughout the 90's) a SEER 15 air conditioner should reduce cooling costs by 33%.
Central Heat Pump - $100 or $350 Rebate
- $100 rebate for high efficiency heat pump equipment rated SEER 14 and EER 12 and Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) 8.5 or higher
- Compared to a new SEER 13/HSPF 7.7 unit, a SEER 14/HSPF 8.5 heat pump should reduce cooling costs by 7% and reduce heating costs by 9%.
- $350 rebate for ENERGY STAR qualified equipment rated SEER 15 and EER and HSPF 8.5 or higher.
- Compared to a new SEER 13/HSPF 7.7 unit, a SEER 15/HSPF 8.5 heat pump should reduce cooling costs by 13% and reduce heating costs by 9%.
- Compared to an old SEER 10/HSPF 6.8 unit (typical throughout the 90's) a SEER 15/HSPF 8.5 heat pump should reduce cooling costs by 33%, and reduce heating costs by 20%.
Rebate for Energy Star Certified New Homes
An Energy Star qualified new home performs better for the homeowner and the environment thanks to a variety of energy-efficient features. Home buyers enjoy better performance, greater comfort, and lower utility bills.
- $1/square foot up to $2,000 incentive for ENERGY STAR qualified new homes.
- Qualifying housing types include single-family detached, single-family attached, low-rise multifamily, and existing-home renovations.
- To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These homes are a least 15% more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code, and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30% more efficient than standard homes.
- The qualifying home's HERS Index is certified to the statewide database maintained by the Florida Solar Energy Center.
For homebuilders, achieving ENERGY STAR is a major rung on the ladder toward Green Building certification under nationally recognized programs like Florida Green Building Coalition or LEED For Homes. ENERGY STAR for new homes involves eight elements:
- The homebuilder signs a Memorandum of Understanding EPA as an ENERGY STAR partner.
- The home must achieve a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index of 85 or less, confirmed by an independent HERS Rater.
- The home must meet the ENERGY STAR home tightness standard as measured by a whole-house blower door test.
- The home must meet the ENERGY STAR duct tightness standard as measured by blower test.
- The home must pass a mid-construction "thermal bypass test" tightness against for air leakage and heat transfer.
- The builder must meet ENERGY STAR requirements chosen from at least one of three categories: a) HVAC sizing, b) window efficiency specifications, and/or c) appliance efficiency specification.
- If installing an electric heat pump, an "adaptive" thermostat must be installed. This type of thermostat moderates the usage of supplemental electric strip heating.
- For purposes of ENERGY STAR qualification, the HERS Index must be calculated in accordance with guidelines that limit applicable point-values of compact fluorescent lamps and backup electric generators.
$450 Solar Domestic Water Heating Rebate
This program promotes clean, green solar technology. On a south-facing rooftop with good sun exposure, a solar water heater provides about 70 percent of a family's hot water needs. Local installed costs are around $5,000 for a freeze-protected system that can withstand Tallahassee's winter low temperatures. Low interest loans are available in addition to rebates. These rebates are not available for pool heating systems.