HVAC Rebates
Energy-efficient improvements to your home or business can be expensive. To help offset the cost of upgrades, Orlando home and business owners can take advantage of a Florida tax credit for air conditioners, as well as rebates on water heaters and chillers. Here are a few of the programs that are offered.
Del-Air Heating and Air Conditioning offers this information as a public service but cannot be responsible for any of the content. Utility programs change without warning and you must verify the program is active with the associated utility or government agency.
Duke Energy
To qualify for residential energy improvement rebates from Duke Energy, homeowners must first have a home energy checkup. After you have the energy checkup and a licensed and insured AC contractor (Del-Air Heating and Air Conditioning is licensed and insured) has made the improvements, single-family homes are eligible for the following rebates:
- Attic insulation: Up to $800 to bring R-value to 38 (Savings depend on your current R-value.)
- Heat pump and AC units: $300 for heat pump replacement, $150 for installation of a heat pump with a minimum rating of 14 SEER and 8.2 HSPF, $100 for installation of AC system minimum 16 SEER
- Duct repair: $40 toward a duct test, up to $200 toward the cost of duct repair
Orlando Utility Commission (OUC)
The OUC runs a Florida HVAC rebate program for residential property owners. You can qualify for a rebate between $90 and $1,630 for a new residential heat pump that is 15 SEER or higher. OUC offers additional rebates:
- Insulation: $0.10 a square foot
- Duct repair or replacement: 100% of the cost up to $100
- ENERGY STAR heat pump water heater: 100% up to $500
- Solar thermal water heater: 100% of cost up to $900
- Low-flow toilets: 100% up to $100
- AC proper sizing: $90 if you have Manual J calculations performed and qualify for either the insulation, duct repair/replacement, or heat pump AC rebate
Florida Public Utilities Company (FPUC)
Both home and business owners can lower their costs with the energy-efficiency rebates offered through the Florida Public Utilities Company:
- Commercial gas water heaters: Tank $1,000 to $2,000, tankless $2,000-$2,500
- Commercial AC/heat pump units: $25 to $100, must be SEER =>15
- Commercial chiller: Up to $175 per kilowatt
- Residential gas water heaters: $350 to $550 tank, $550 to $675 tankless
- Residential gas furnace: $500 to $725
- Residential heat pump or central AC: $25 to $100, must upgrade to 15 SEER or higher
Renewable Credits from ENERGY STAR for Geothermal Heat Pumps
Homeowners can take advantage of a renewable credit from ENERGY STAR for a geothermal heat pump. The credit applies to existing homes (primary and secondary) as well as new construction. Rentals do not qualify for the credit, which expires on Dec. 31, 2023. The credit amount depends on when you installed your geothermal heat pump:
- Installed by Dec. 31, 2019: 30%
- Installed between Dec. 31, 2019, and Jan. 1, 2023: 26%
- Installed between Dec. 31, 2022, and Jan. 1, 2024: 22%
Tax Credit for Primary Residence
ENERGY STAR also offers a tax credit for HVAC equipment for primary residences, but you’ll have to take advantage of it quickly. If you act before Dec. 31, 2021, you can get the credit on the following HVAC equipment:
- Air source heat pumps: $300 on split systems (HSPF => 8.5, SEER =>15, EER =>12.5) and packaged systems (HSPF => 8, SEER => 14, EER => 12)
- Central AC systems: $300 on split systems (SEER => 16, EER => 13) and packaged systems (SEER => 14, EER => 12)
- Gas, propane, or oil furnace: $150, Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) => 95
- Electric heat pump water heater: $300, must have Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) of => 2.2
- Gas, oil, propane water heater: $300, must have UEF of => 0.82
- Adding insulation: 10% of cost up to $500 (does not include installation)
State of Florida Property Tax Exemption
Through 2037, Florida property owners who install a geothermal heat pump system or solar water heater can receive a property tax exemption on the added value. The 100% residential exemption applies to equipment installed after Jan. 1, 2013. The 80% nonresidential exemption applies to equipment installed after Jan. 1, 2018.
Del-Air Heating and Air Conditioning has provided superior installation and repair services for HVAC, water heaters since 1983. If you’re in the market for a new HVAC system, heat pump, or water heater, learning about Florida state rebate for air conditioners and other incentives will pay dividends now and in the future.