HeatSmart CNY is now offering even more funding for cold climate air source heat pumps and heat pump water heaters to low & moderate income customers!
Income limits for eligibility will decrease with the Assisted Home Performance income limits to 80% at the end of the month. One more reason more money is needed for these households. If you’ve been considering switching to a heat pump, be sure to get your applications in for assistance before the end of the month to take advantage of highest incentives!
If you have already gotten approval for projects with lesser amounts ($2000 for Assisted Home Performance, $350 for heat pump water heater), they’re expecting to only pay out those amounts. Please note that these increases only pertain to projects through the HeatSmart CNY program, in Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego & Madison counties.
The amount of the Affordability Grant is now:
o $7,500 for a ground source heat pump system;
o $5,000 for a cold-climate air source heat pump system;
o $750 for a heat pump water heater.
***If this is something that is of interest to you, please submit your documentation via email to Lindsay Speer (lindsay@heatsmartcny.org) AND Chris Carrick (ccarrick@cnyrpdb.org) using the instructions below.***
Rules and Requirements
· The HeatSmart CNY campaign can provide funding in the form of Affordability Grants to low-to-moderate income customers to help cover the cost of installing a ground source heat pump system, air source heat pump system, or heat pump water heater.
· Any customer that meets the criteria for the NYSERDA Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program or EMPOWER+ Program and enrolls with HeatSmart CNY (heatsmartcny.org/enroll) is eligible for an Affordability Grant. Current income eligibility levels can be found on the HeatSmart CNY website at HeatSmartCNY.org/incentives.
o HeatSmart CNY covers Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego Counties.
· Affordability Grants can be used in conjunction with any NYSERDA incentives, NYS Clean Heat rebates, and Finger Lakes Climate Fund assistance that the customer may be eligible to receive, with the following exception:
o Affordability Grants may not be used in conjunction with NYSERDA Heat Pump Demonstration Study program funds unless it is for a ground source heat pump system or a particularly extenuating circumstance, at the discretion of the HeatSmart CNY campaign.
· The amount of any Affordability Grant(s) shall be reduced so that, when combined with other incentives or rebates, the total shall not exceed the total cost of the project.
· Affordability Grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.
· A customer who installs more than one system may receive multiple Affordability Grants (i.e., a customer who installs a “whole house” cold-climate air source heat pump system and a heat pump water heater may receive $5,750).
· All installations and equipment must conform to NYSERDA and utility program standards and requirements.
Procedure to Reserve an Affordability Grant
In order to reserve Affordability Grant funds for a customer prior to installation, the Installer must submit the following items to Lindsay Speer (lindsay@allianceforagreeneconomy.org) and Chris Carrick (ccarrick@cnyrpdb.org):
1. A PDF copy of the email or letter from EFS or Clear Result, as appropriate, confirming the customer’s eligibility for Empower, Assisted Home Performance, or EMPOWER+ Program; and
2. A PDF copy of the customer proposal that breaks out project costs by technology type.
Upon review of these documents above, and a determination that total installation costs are reasonable, the CNYRPDB will provide a written confirmation that Affordability Grant funds will be reserved for 90 days. After 90 days, the CNYRPDB reserves the right to redistribute Affordability Grant funds to other customers.
Procedure to Receive Reimbursement
The CNYRPDB issues checks on a monthly basis, typically in the middle of the month, and will only process payment once it receives funds from NYSERDA. Installers should expect a delay of approximately 6-8 weeks from the time that the required documentation is submitted to the CNYRPDB.
In order to receive reimbursement for a reserved Affordability Grant, the Installer must complete the installation and submit the following items to Lindsay Speer and Chris Carrick within 60 days of project completion:
1. A PDF copy of the customer’s final Invoice showing that the Affordability Grant was applied to the amount due from the customer. The Invoice must be signed by the customer.
2. A photograph showing the equipment installed at the customer’s property.
3. An Invoice from the Installer on the Installer’s letterhead to the CNYRPDB which includes the customer’s name, NYSERDA customer number, amount of reimbursement requested, and date work was completed.
