Incentives & Financing
Leveraging Incentives & Financing with ZEN
A key element of managing the cost of the energy transformation proposed through the Zero Energy Now program includes driving down the project cost by leveraging available incentives and tax credits. ZEN is unique in its capacity to combine the multiple incentives and tax credits that are currently available. Because ZEN projects are comprehensive in nature, they provide an opportunity to take advantage of compounded rebates – from Efficiency Vermont, from the state of Vermont, from your local utility – and from the Federal government, mostly in the form of tax credits. This combination of tax credits and outright rebates can reduce the overall cost of the project by tens of thousands of dollars!
Connecting with various financing options – sometimes through specialized loans or interest rate buy-downs – can be remarkably effective in reducing cash flow obligations associated with the project, so that post-project costs – including energy and financing – often will closely match pre-project energy costs alone. Project contractors or coordinators can work closely with homeowners to develop the best project that is within their means.
Incentives
Because incentives available through Efficiency Vermont and Vermont’s utilities are so substantial at this time, Zero Energy Now’s own incentive offering is focused entirely on undertaking the analysis required to complete a ZEN project.
In order to obtain the ZEN incentive of either $600 or, if you qualify as low or moderate income, $1,200, you must commit to undertaking and completing a ZEN project. To qualify for ZEN, the project must be projected to:
- Achieve a weatherization improvement of at least 10%, and
- Achieve a reduction in fossil fuel use of at least 50%, through a combination of weatherization, electrification and/or renewable energy.
You will receive the incentive payment as soon as you sign a contract for the project with a ZEN Contractor, or sign a Statement of Commitment to complete a project with a ZEN Coordinator.
NOTE!!! See Special Offer Below!
| Current Incentives: | All Incomes | Low & Moderate Income |
|---|
| Zero Energy Now: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analysis | $600 | $1200 |
| Efficiency Vermont: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Weatherization | (Up to) $4000 Rebate | (Up to) $9500 Rebate |
| Heat Pumps: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mini Splits | $375/ Outdoor Unit (Discount) | $575/Outdoor Unit (Discount) |
| Ducted | $1200-$2200 Discount | $1400-$2400 Discount |
| Air to Water | $1000/ton up to 6 tons (Reb.) | Up to $6000 +$500 (Reb.) |
| Ground Source | $2100/ton up to 10 tons (Reb.) | Up to $21,000 +$500 (Reb.) |
| Domestic Hot Water: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Heat Pump DHW | $600/unit (Discount or Reb.) | $1000/unit (Discount or Reb.) |
| Pellet Furnaces & Boilers: | ||
|---|---|---|
| $6000 (Rebate) | $6000 (Rebate) |
| Wood Stoves: | ||
|---|---|---|
| $400 | $400 |
| Appliances: | |
|---|---|
| See Efficiency Vermont Website |
| Vermont Gas &/or Burlington Electric Department Customers: | |
|---|---|
| Incentives similar- see their respective websites for details! |
| Federal Tax Credits: | |
|---|---|
| All Residential Energy tax credits for installations after December 31, 2025 were eliminated by Congress. |
Special Zero Energy Now Offer!
For a short time, we will be offering the incentive for undertaking the ZEN analysis – whether or not you commit to undertaking a ZEN project at this time!
If you are just interested in learning how this program works, and how it can help you to minimize or even eliminate fossil fuels in your home in a way that you personally can afford, we will give you $600 towards the cost of your energy audit and ZEN analysis! If you are income qualified, we will give you $1,200 dollars towards the cost of your energy audit and ZEN analysis!
For more information, fill out the form below, or call us at 657-489-2186!
Apply for Financing
The ZEN team will put you in contact with the best financing options available through local banks and other institutions.
Two low interest financing opportunities are especially designed to accommodate and expedite energy-related projects:
The Home Energy Loan, sponsored through Efficiency Vermont, offers low interest loans up to $25,000. These loans, offered through Efficiency Vermont’s Efficiency Excellence Network contractors, are especially easy to apply for, and are available to homeowners at all income levels.
VHFA’S Weatherization Repayment Assistance Program (WRAP) offers on-bill financing through Vermont utilities. It is available to low and moderate income homeowners, and, in some cases, renters, and does not require a credit check – only 12 months of positive utility bill payment. The loan obligation is attached to the house and its utility account, not to the homeowner. It therefore may be a good option for people who are uncertain about how long they will be staying in their current home, as the loan can be either paid off at sale of the home or transferred to the new owner. Participating utilities include the following:
- Burlington Electric Department
- Green Mountain Power
- Ludlow Electric
- Vermont Electric Coop
- VGS
The above loans are not available for installing solar photovoltaic electric systems, but may be applied towards weatherization, heat pumps, domestic hot water, and advanced wood heating systems.
Cornerstone Housing Partners (formerly NeighborWorks of Western Vermont) offers its Statewide Energy Loan to homeowners throughout Vermont. These loans of up to $40,000 with a term of 5, 10, or 15 years, are available for all energy-related projects, including renewables such as solar, and can also be used for necessary home repairs or asbestos abatement. Cornerstone also offers the Home Energy Loan featured above through Efficiency Vermont.
Other institutions, with a particular focus on energy-related home improvement projects, offer a variety of financing strategies to meet your needs. These institutions include:
- EastRise Credit Union
- Green Mountain Credit Union
- Mascoma Bank
- Vermont Federal Credit Union
- National Bank of Middlebury
These institutions – and possibly others in state that you may be familiar with – are eager to help you meet your goals of fossil-free living!
It is important to note that incentive opportunities and financing options are always changing. The ZEN team does its best to stay abreast of this everchanging landscape to provide you with the best strategies to get your ZEN project paid for and deliver to you the best possible savings!
