How to Take Advantage of APS Rebates

If you are considering installing heating / air conditioning in Arizona, then you should know about the great federal, state, and local rebates and subsidies that are available right now. For example, the Arizona Public Service (or APS) offers rebates which enable you to recover between 30% and 50% of your cost. Besides these APS rebates, you can also qualify for a 30% tax credit with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Here are some of the programs which APS makes available to help you make your home more energy-efficient. The APS Duct Test and Seal Program sponsors up to $250 in order to test and to seal your duct work. Additionally, you can co-op from 30% to 50% of the cost of replacing standard heating and air conditioning equipment with high-efficiency geothermal heating and air conditioning alternatives. Besides the APS, the Salt River Project (or SRP) also sponsors programs to help you make your home more energy-efficient, including the SRP Duct Test and Seal Program which also sponsors up to $250 for testing and sealing your duct work, and which makes tax credits of up to $1500 available for installing new geothermal heating and air conditioning technology. Besides the government-sponsored rebates and tax credits, geothermal heating and air conditioning can save you between 30% and 60% on heating and cooling bills by retrofitting existing heating and air conditioning equipment. It's a win - win proposition!

The reason for these government-sponsored rebates and tax credits is that a recent APS study in conjunction with Phoenix air conditioning contractors found that in Arizona as much as a third of the airflow in heating and cooling systems leaks through the ducts, which causes a corresponding reduction in system capacity and comfort. On average about 15% of cooling capacity is lost due to leakage through the ducts; and this impact is the most severe in attic ducts where summer temperatures exceed 140簞. In the desert climate of Arizona an average of 50% of annual energy bills is spent on running air conditioning and heating systems. By fixing duct leaks you can save over $200 in annual energy costs, while at the same time improving your home's comfort. To test duct leakage a flow hood is used to take a return CFM reading together with 3 supply readings, which determine what the actual air flow is. From this information it is possible to calculate how much air is being moved and how much is being lost, as well as what improvement can be made in the system. Since all homes are different, some installations can be improved whereas others cannot.

To take advantage of APS and SRP rebates and tax credits you should contact a Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified contractor to assess your particular situation, and to advise you about what options are available. By having an APS qualified contractor test your duct system and repair any leaks, you will be able to use energy more efficiently, thus saving money while making your home more comfortable. And, APS will reimburse you up to $250 for this testing and repairing.