Furnaces usually last for 15 to 18 years, but if you live in Massachusetts it might be worth replacing yours regardless of how old it is. Alicia Barton, CEO of Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), announced earlier this week the agency will be starting a $30 million, five-year project to improve the efficiency, environmental impact, and cost of heating and cooling systems in homes and businesses across the state. The funding will be provided through the state’s Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) department. The head of the EEA, Matthew Beaton, explained the importance of the new initiative in a statement reported by the industry news source, achrnew.com.
“This funding will offer many Massachusetts residents access to efficient, clean options for heating and cooling which will in turn help the environment and provide consumers with the opportunity to save on energy costs,” Beaton said. “The Clean Heating and Cooling program also supports our growing clean energy industry and will help the state reach its ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals.”
The project, known as the Clean Heating and Cooling program, will be handled by MassCEC in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. Business and home owners will receive rebates from $750 to $12,500 if they install new, high-efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
There are furnaces today that run at almost perfect efficiency (97%) and the lowest level allowed by law for gas furnaces is currently 78%. A high-efficiency air conditioner can reduce your energy usage by 20 to 50%. This bottom-line benefit to consumers is one of the primary goals of the program.
“Over the life of the systems, clean energy technologies like heat pumps can result in significant energy cost savings for consumers, making them an attractive investment,” Barton said. “MassCEC is putting this funding commitment in place to allow more consumers access to these technologies to reduce their carbon footprint at lower upfront costs.?
The amount of money each rebate will be for will depend on the size, technology type, and specific system the individual chooses.
