Home Heating & Cooling
Replace your home’s old heating, cooling, or water heating system with a more efficient model and start saving today.
Your home's heating, cooling, and water heating systems use a lot of energy. In fact, these systems generally make up the majority of your monthly energy bills. Take advantage of DCSEU rebates to upgrade to more efficient central air conditioning, heat pumps, and heat pump water heaters.
After August 20, 2021, in line with District policy and the Clean Energy DC Plan, the DCSEU will no longer offer rebates for residential natural gas equipment in the Efficient Products program. This includes rebates for residential gas dryers, furnaces, boilers, and water heaters. To help residents make the transition to efficient electric heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, the DCSEU has increased rebates for the most efficient heat pumps and heat pump water heaters.
How to Replace Your Old Heating or Cooling System
Your choice of heating and cooling systems affects your energy bill. If you need to replace an old or failing heating or cooling system, or are ready to upgrade, we recommend that you:
1. Find a Contractor.
A DC-licensed HVAC contractor can help you and make sure your choices are eligible for rebates.
2. Choose Efficiency.
The DCSEU offers rebates on over 300 models of energy efficient heating and cooling systems.
3. Get a Rebate.
DCSEU rebates help offset the increased cost of high-efficiency heating & cooling systems.
Tips for Cooling Down This Summer
Before you upgrade your cooling equipment, consider the most cost-effective way to save money and energy on cooling–reducing your air conditioning needs. This can be done in several ways:
|
What You Can Do |
How it Will Help |
How Expensive Is It? |
|---|---|---|
|
Delay heat-producing tasks |
Wait to do any dishwashing, baking, or laundry, until the cooler evening or early morning hours. |
No cost |
|
Keep cool air in & hot air out |
When it’s cooler outside than inside, open your windows. When it’s warmer outside than inside, close your windows and draw window coverings against direct sunlight. |
No cost |
|
Use energy-efficient light bulbs, such as CFLs or LEDs |
Incandescent light bulbs lose 90% of their energy as heat. |
$ |
|
Use fans (ceiling, table, floor, or wall-mounted) |
Fans circulate air in a room, creating a wind-chill effect that makes you more comfortable in hot weather. |
$$ |
|
Use bath fans |
Removes heat and moisture generated by showers. |
$$ |
|
Plant shade trees |
Planting leafy shade trees on the east and west sides of your home will block heat and sunlight. |
$$ |
|
Install and use a whole house fans |
Pulls air in through windows and exhausts warm air from the attic and roof. |
$$$ |
|
Insulate and air seal |
Prevents heat from entering your house. |
$$$$ |
What is a Zoned HVAC System?
Zoned Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems use a network of thermostats that control temperatures in different areas of the house. System zoning allows you to save money by running temperature-controlled air to those rooms only when necessary.
Why Zones?
- Increase your comfort by regulating the temperature of individual rooms - different areas of a home have different temperature needs, depending on occupancy and use.
- Save money on your energy bills - by heating only the parts of the home that need it, instead of the whole house.
Adding zones when you need to update an old heating system can give additional energy savings. Ask a contractor whether zoning is a good option to save energy in your home.
Get Started
Rebates
Please note that all heating and cooling equipment (including water heaters) must be installed by a DC-licensed contractor in order to qualify for rebates. Contractors must have a valid DC Master Ref/AC license to offer cooling rebates or a valid DC Master Plumbing license to offer water heating rebates. In order to verify your contractor’s license we require the following Department of Buildings (DOB formerly DCRA) Permits. Mechanical permits are required for heat pump and air conditioning rebates and plubming permits are required for water heating rebates.
|
Qualifying Product |
Qualified Source |
Qualifying Efficiency Level |
Previous Rebate |
Current Rebate (Until Septemebr 30, 2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Water Heater Electric Heat Pumps - Integrated
|
|
Tier 1 |
N/A |
$300
|
|
Tier 2 |
||||
|
Tier 3 |
$600
|
|||
|
Tier 4 |
||||
|
Air Source Heat Pumps
|
SEER ≥ 16 |
$300 |
$375 |
|
|
SEER ≥ 18 |
$575 |
$700 |
||
|
Variable Speed (Ductless) Mini-Split Heat Pumps |
SEER ≥ 18 |
$300 |
$375 |
|
|
SEER ≥ 20 |
$575 |
$700 |
||
|
Central Air Conditioners
|
SEER ≥ 16 EER≥ 13 |
$200 |
$250 | |
|
SEER ≥ 18 EER ≥ 13 |
$300 | $375 | ||
| Variable Speed Mini-Split Air Conditioners | AHRI |
SEER ≥ 18 EER ≥ 12.5 |
$100 | $125 |
|
Smart Thermostat (Read More) |
ENERGY STAR Ceritfied |
Up to $50 |
Up to $50 |
*Disclaimer: The DCSEU website has the most up-to-date rebate information. Please refer back to this table or DCSEU rebate applications for accurate rebate amounts.
Eligibility
- Equipment must be purchased new and installed by a licensed contractor between 10/1/22-09/30/23.
- Equipment must be installed in residential households of 4 units or less.
- Rebates for products installed after 09/30/23 are subject to change.
- Equipment model numbers must meet ENERGY STAR specifications (for Smart Thermostats & Electric water heaters) or CEE Tier1 or Tier 2 specifications for Heat Pumps, Central Air Conditioners, and Variable Speed Mini-Split Air Conditioners
- Limit one product per utility account per fiscal year.
- Application and any required additional documentation must be filled out completely, truthfully, and accurately. These materials must be submitted within 30 days of the installation date and postmarked by 09/30/23 to qualify for a rebate.
For more information, contact us at 202-479-2222 or [email protected].