Florida homeowners can soon cash in on up to $14K in energy rebates. How to cash in

After rejecting about $377 million in energy-efficiency rebates that would have saved Floridians thousands as part of President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis has had a change of heart.

In February, the Orlando Sentinel reported that DeSantis was attempting to reclaim some of the federal funds he rejected. Now, state energy officials are gearing up to determine how the state will implement Florida's Whole Homes and HEAR programs — two ways Florida homeowners will be able to cash in on up to $14,000 in rebates.

Here is what to know about these new Florida energy rebates.

Who is eligible for the new Florida energy rebates?

Florida will receive $346 million to help Florida homeowners reduce energy costs by improving their homes' energy efficiency through qualified energy efficiency upgrades, retrofits and appliances, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' (FDACS).

Florida will have two unique energy efficiency-related programs that will provide single- and multi-family households with discounts for efficiency upgrades, and provide low- and moderate-income households with additional rebates.

The Florida's Whole Home Rebates (HOMES) program is available for any single- and multi-family households. The Florida's Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program is available exclusively for households that make less than 150% of the area median income.

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Florida's Whole Home Rebates (HOMES) program

The HOMES program will provide rebates for energy-efficient retrofits that range between $2,000-$4,000 for individual households and between $2,000-$4,000 per dwelling for multi-family buildings.

The value of rebates someone could receive would depend on the amount of energy savings achieved by the retrofits. Rebate amounts could double for retrofits of low- and moderate-income homes, according to the FDACS.

Florida's Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program

The HEARS program would provide rebates of up to $14,000 for the purchase of high-efficiency equipment. To be eligible for the program, household incomes must be less than 150% of the area median income.

What if I recently updated my home?

The FDACS says that anyone who began energy upgrades or retrofits to their home on or after Aug. 16, 2022, may be eligible for reimbursement under the HOMES program.

To check eligibility, the state is required to follow checklists for modeled and measured program paths:

Modeled path

• The retrofit began on or after Aug. 16, 2022.
• A home assessment was conducted prior to the retrofit that recorded each of the following:
  • Dwelling type
  • Performance or efficiency of the dwelling unit and its components, materials (such as insulation), and systems
  • Existing equipment, materials, or systems to be replaced.
• The contractor identified the new equipment, systems, or materials proposed for installation and modeled the energy savings based on those measures.
• Prior to initiating the retrofit, the contractor produced an energy savings estimate using a DOE-approved modeling software consistent with BPI 2400 and based on an energy savings model calibrated to the dwelling unit's historical energy use.
• The modeled energy savings estimate met or exceeded 20 percent of the total dwelling unit's energy use.
• The contractor obtained written acknowledgment from the consumer of the proposed project's estimated impact on household energy costs and consumption, including an estimate in dollars of the energy savings in the first year based on current utility rates at the dwelling unit.
• The contractor obtained written acknowledgment from the consumer of the remaining payment amount they will owe after applying the Home Efficiency rebate.
• The contractor provided the total cost of all upgrades within a completed project invoice inclusive of any rebated amount.
• The retrofit included at least one major upgrade as defined in the Program Requirements and Application Instructions, Section 2.1.
• Did not include generation technologies.
• Collected all data required in the Data & Tools Requirements Guide

Measured path

• The retrofit began on or after Aug. 16, 2022.
• A home assessment was conducted prior to the retrofit that recorded each of the following:
  • Dwelling type
  • Performance or efficiency of the dwelling unit and its components, materials (such as insulation), and systems
  • Existing equipment, materials, or systems to be replaced.
• The contractor identified the new equipment, systems, or materials proposed for installation and modeled the energy savings based on those measures.

Measured energy savings at each site must be calculated in a manner that:

• Used a DOE-approved open-source advanced measuring and verification software before and after implementation of home energy upgrades.
• Estimated energy savings based on data collected in the home assessment.
• For purposes of the rebate threshold, the defined, calculated and reported energy savings as kilowatt-hour or kilowatt-hour equivalent as defined in the Program Requirements and Application Instructions Section 2.1.
• Calculated actual home- or portfolio-level savings no less than nine months after the final installation in the home or portfolio. If measuring energy savings less than 12 months post-installation, the calculation must include at least one peak energy season or both peak seasons if in a dual-peaking climate.
• Achieved actual measured energy savings of at least 15 percent.
• Collected all data and information required in the Data & Tools Requirements Guide.
• Did not include generation technologies

What happens next?

Here are the next steps the state has to follow before it can begin to implement the programs:

• Hold a public input session, as required by federal law.
• Finalize and submit the program application to the U.S. Department of Energy.
• U.S. Department of Energy approves programs and awards funds to start programs.
• Develop and implement programs.
• Launch programs, making rebate opportunities to Florida households.

Florida's Home Energy Rebate programs will run through 2032 or until all funds are used, whichever is earlier.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida homeowners can soon cash in on up to $14K in energy rebates. How to cash in