Energize CT: Everything You Need to Know!

Connecticut is a state committed to green energy and energy efficiency. In fact, the state has ambitious goals to reach zero-carbon emissions by 2040 and has decided to address the issue of dirty energy and high energy consumption through multiple approaches. Connecticut, therefore, invests in green energy generation, modernizing its grid so that less energy is wasted and more energy can reach CT homes, and offering various energy rebates to residents in order to make their homes more energy-efficient. 

In this article, we will explore various rebates, loans, and services offered in Connecticut. We will look at them in more detail and make suggestions for a home energy audit, which is the first step to improving your home energy efficiency. The rebates we will be covering are applicable to energy-efficient lighting, ASHPs, heat pumps, central heating, and air conditioning systems. They also cover efficient water heaters and more. Let’s dive in. 

What is Energize CT?

Among all these efforts to make the state of Connecticut greener, Energize CT surfaces as the most powerful program out there. Energize CT is a statewide initiative to help the state reach its carbon targets in time. This initiative brings together state agencies, utility companies, and different organizations dealing with energy efficiency. The initiative helps both Connecticut residents and businesses as they prepare for the installation of different energy efficiency measures and head on their way to saving on their energy costs. 

The Energize CT initiative deals with keeping CT residents and business owners well-informed, believing that an educated decision is good. This way, CT residents can be informed about different home energy solutions, can schedule their home energy audit, decide which home upgrades they would like, and be able to seek incentives that will give them the most money return for every dollar they invest. As making a home energy efficient can cost a lot, these rebates and rebates are crucial in making home upgrades and doing so in time – increasing the value of your home, making significant annual savings, and enjoying other benefits, such as a healthier home. 

Available Energize CT Rebates in 2024

One of the key benefits of the Energize CT initiative is the strong collaboration of all the partners making up the initiative. This way, you have all the information you need in one place and are likely to get the information you need and bring the best decision in a short time. The initiative offers a wide range of incentives and rebates so that there are several ways that CT homeowners can save money when working on reducing their energy usage and making their homes more efficient. A portion of the money is returned, reducing the ROI time and making adding value to your home a fast and easy process. 

Energize CT incentives are available for a number of home energy improvements. Among these are: 

• Energy-efficient lighting, 
• Air source heat pumps (ASHPs), 
• Geothermal pumps (heat pumps), 
• Central heating, 
• Air conditioning, and 
• Water-heating units. 

These rebates are available to all Connecticut residents and businesses. The most important thing is to be informed about the Energize CT rebates, know how to qualify, and what technologies qualify for these rebates. With this in mind, it is easy to invest in reducing the cost of running your household and business and start making your annual savings this year. 

Energy-Efficient Lighting

Energy-efficient lighting is an important aspect of the energy efficiency of your home. As around 30% of the total energy usage in any home goes for the lights themselves, making a switch to energy-efficient lightbulbs can significantly reduce your energy bills. Lighting is, in fact, one of the first things we consider when performing an energy audit – although lights do not consume a lot of power per bulb, it is necessary to note that we should consider how many light fixtures an average home has and understand that this is where savings can be made. 

Switching from an incandescent to an LED light can help you save 85-90% of the energy used on lights – effectively bringing your electric bill down by around 27% in the best case. Homeowners who make the switch can also enjoy the advantage of having a more permanent light bulb, which gives off a higher quality of light, and that upgrades like this can also improve one’s health and eyesight – as long-term exposure to low-quality lights – such as incandescent light – can damage your eyesight. 

Air Source Heat Pumps

ASHPs are currently the most efficient heating and cooling solution there is. For each 1kWh of electricity they use, you will be able to get as much as 6kWh of heat – this is thanks to their efficient technology, which functions on the basis of a reverse fridge – the heat is extracted from one medium (AIR), and is given off to another medium (WATER), which is then circulated through your home to heat it. During the summer, this same highly efficient setup can be used to cool your home. 

In addition to this, more expensive but more temperature-stable, water-source heat pumps can cool your home by using almost no electricity. Still, the setup and the need to dig two wells (at least), may pose costs too high for an average home, even with incentives included. Installing a heat pump can increase your home value in several ways – through reducing the heating and cooling costs, and helping you make significant savings year after year. On the other hand, these devices can also provide residential hot water and comfort that is difficult to beat – all you need to do is turn the pump on before the winter, and you are good to go in the next several months. 

Geothermal Heat Pumps

This kind of heat pump or ground-source heat pump is very similar to air or water-source heat pump but uses geothermal energy as the heat source. These pumps may be recommended after your home energy audit, especially if you have a large home and need a high-capacity solution for keeping your home warm. They are also a recommendation for Connecticut businesses, as the higher investment value makes sense in a business context, considering how much money can be saved. 

Central Heating & Air Conditioning Systems

Under the Energize CT initiative, rebates are also available for central heating and air-conditioning systems. Both heating and cooling systems can cost a lot, and this is especially true for efficient models. However, the savings you will be able to make with efficient units may still take over a decade to pay off the unit, so opting for Connecticut energy rebates and incentives can help significantly reduce the overall cost of the investment. For comparison, using Federal ITC with solar panels can bring the payback time down from 8 to 5 years. 

Water Heating Units

Any form of heating requires a lot of energy, so investing in these solutions after your lights have been taken care of can help you save a lot of money. Water heating units are also very inefficient, so switching to energy-efficient solutions can help you reduce your energy bill and the overall cost of running your household. Energize Connecticut offers incentives and rebates for heat pump water heaters, as well as tankless water heaters, where you will be able to save and enjoy the benefits of an efficient installation. 

Energize CT Loans

Energize CT loans are available for a number of technologies and can help you reduce the initial costs, reduce the installation costs, and bring down the ROI time, depending on the percentage of the cost that the loan will cover. You should always consider the possibility of combined incentives, as this kind of Energize CT rebate can help increase your savings with more than one technology being used to increase the value of your home and its efficiency. As the funds may be limited, please act quickly and do not despair that you’ve missed a window to invest – the next one is coming next year. The Energize CT loans include the following: 

• Heating loan programs, 
• Solar panel loans, and 
• Smart E-loans. 

Heating Loan Programs

Heating loan programs are a special kind of incentives that are supposed to help CT homeowners make a switch from old and outdated heating solutions to more efficient solutions for heating their homes, such as heat pumps, more efficient gas heaters, tankless water heaters, and even solar collectors, in combination with other heating solutions. 

To apply for a heating loan, you should work with a participating contractor. This way, a professional will be able to assess your current heating system and see whether a new installation or repairs of the existing heating system will make more sense in your case. The contractor will, if they deem that repairs are not viable, be able to guide you through the application process and will be able to assist you with any questions you may have. 

Solar Panel Loans

Solar panel loans, on the other hand, do not provide funding for repairs and installation of heating solutions but rather provide funding for installing solar panels – that will produce electricity for your home and will help you have the added advantage of lower electric bills. Homeowners in CT will, therefore, get these upgrades at a lower cost, which can be especially useful in off-grid applications with a solar battery or in areas where net metering is available, both with or without a solar battery. 

To apply for these incentives and make significant savings even during the installation process, you should be able to work with a participating contractor who will guide you through the application process and who will be able to suggest the right solar panel system size for you. They will be able to assess your electricity needs and usage and will be able to suggest a specific system based on your home orientation, local shading elements, and even your energy use spikes. 

Smart E-Loan

Smart E-loan, on the other hand, can help you reach a higher level of savings by investing in a number of smart (and more basic) solutions, such as new windows, doors, insulation, smart thermostats, smart heating, and cooling, as well as the repairs and upgrades to the existing systems. To apply for these loans and upgrades, you should be able to work with a participating contractor. Only this way will you be able to consider all the factors important in making your Connecticut home more efficient and will be given access to the financing needed to help you reach your goals. 

Energize CT On-Site Services

Energize CT on-site services provide residents of Connecticut with a chance to access professional, personalized energy consultations. This way, you will be given help in assessing your property, its current efficiency level and will be given professional advice on how to improve the efficiency of your home. You will also be able to access the information on financing that is available to you, as well as the estimated savings you will be able to make. 

One of the best features of Energize CT On-Site Services is their visits to your home by a certified participating professional. This program called the Home Energy Solutions (HES) Program, is the best there is – a professional will visit your home, inspect for areas where energy is being wasted, and will be able to recommend immediate solutions. They can perform minor fixes, such as switching lightbulbs, at no additional cost. 

Solar Incentive Programs

Under Energize CT, there are solar incentive programs as well. One of the primary ones is the Residential Solar Investment Program (RSIP), carried out by the Connecticut Green Bank. This program offers financial incentives to homeowners who install solar PV systems in their homes. The incentives are provided in the form of performance-based incentives (PBIs), or upfront rebates. The rebates depend on the size and capacity of the system installed. 

In addition to these, there are also other programs that are supposed to help you transition to clean energy. The Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE), Investment Tax Credit (ITC), and many more are available. Always find a certified, participating professional to help you with the application and assessment for the best results. 

FAQs

Conclusion

The state of Connecticut has made big strides toward greening its economy and its energy sector. With a lot of promised savings and efficiency improvements in the grid, the state encourages both residents and businesses operating in Connecticut to seek out for these savings to ensure that the transition is quick and smooth. Needless to say, some of the money goes unused, so being smart about what kind of funding to apply for and how to do it is necessary to ensure success and access to this program. 

Updated on 05-22-23