How to get double insulation incentives
Starting July 1st, the Energy Trust of Oregon expanded eligibility for the Savings Within Reach Program (SWR), offering increased incentives for moderate-income people and people affected by COVID-19. The increased incentives for people affected by COVID are set to expire at the end of 2020.
Article at a Glance
What incentives are available?
Overview of Cash incentives
Savings Within Reach (SWR) provides increased incentives to install insulation, HVAC, and heat pump water heaters. Here’s an overview of the most generous incentives for homeowners who qualify.
| Meaure | Standard Incentive | Increased Incentive |
|---|---|---|
| Attic Insulation | $0.25 / SQ FT | $0.50 / SQ FT |
| Ductless Heat Pump | $500 | $1,000 |
| Heat Pump | $700 | $1,000 |
| Gas Furnace | $0 | $550 |
Click here for a full list of incentives and requirements for Savings Within Reach, or click here to dive deeper into the standard Energy Trust of Oregon residential incentives.
what does this look in practice?
This summer, if your upper floor gets noticeably hotter than the main floor of your home, you could even out the temperatures by adding attic insulation and installing a ductless heat pump. Through SWR, you’d get back $1,500 instead of $750 to do the job and make your upstairs much more livable (assumes a 1K square foot attic).
What’s more, you could finance the insulation and ductless heat pump project with a low-interest loan from Craft3, then pay the loan back directly on your energy bill. This makes repayment easy, and because the project will bring your energy bills down, you’ll see savings that help to offset the cost of doing the project in the first place.
Learn more about ductless heat pumps, insulation in Portland, or insulation in Bend, Oregon.
Who is eligible?
You can get the increased incentives if you meet certain income qualifications, and through the end of 2020, you can also get the incentives if you experienced an employment disruption due to COVID-19.
Here’s a snapshot:
To show an employment disruption related to COVID-19, Energy Trust of Oregon asks whether you are or were eligible for a federal, state, local, or community-based assistance program. Examples of assistance programs include but are not limited to the Oregon Department of Employment’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) Benefits and the federal CAREs Act.
Income qualifications are based on household size. For example, if you live in a three-person household, your household must come in less than $83,945. A four-person household has a maximum income of $99,934.
Learn more about the eligibility requirements for the Savings Within Reach program.
How do I get started?
The first step is to schedule an estimate. Your consultant will help you establish eligibility and process your application. You’re welcome to give us a call at 541.330.8767 or self-schedule an appointment online:
We handle the paperwork for you, but if you’d like to see what the paperwork looks like, here are the application forms:
This is a great time to do a project, especially if you now qualify for incentives that you won’t be able to access at the end of the year.