Oregon Rental Home Heat Pump Program

woman relaxing in rental home with new heat pump

Author: Bill Hoelzer / Read Time: Five Minutes

Do you own a rental property in Oregon? This is the time to make an investment that saves energy and significantly increases the value of your property.

What incentives are available?

Let’s just say that the Oregon Department of Energy had to clarify that under certain circumstances, the “incentive cannot exceed 100% of the cost of the upgrade”. We’re talking about some serious funding.

If you have a rental that you want to improve, start by giving us a call at 541.330.8767, or send us a message:

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GreenSavers is one of a handful of contractors approved by the Oregon Department of Energy to help landlords take advantage of this program.

Overview: Oregon Rental Home Heat Pump Program

In 2022, the Oregon Legislature passed SB 1536, which gave $15 million to the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) to help property owners install heat pumps in their rental properties.

Specifically, you can get up to $7,000 in rebates for a new heat pump and up to $4,000 more for related upgrades from the ODOE.

Here’ the thing:

Don’t wait. We’ve seen big incentives before, and they don’t last long. If you’re serious about improving your rental property, stop reading, and give us a call: 541.330.8767.

How do I get a rebate?

To get your rebate, contact GreenSavers or another contractor approved by ODOE to install your heat pump. ODOE sends the rebate to the contractor, who passes the rebate on to you as a discount on your project..

That’s one of the best parts about the program - You don’t have to pay the full price upfront and wait for a refund. You get the discount right after the installation - no waiting required.

How much can I get?

The amount of incentives you can receive varies depending on the income level of the tenant and the efficiency of the heat pump. Higher incentives are available for low to moderate income households (LMI) and higher efficiency heat pumps.

Maximum Rebates for Residential Tenancy

Incentive Capped at 60% of What You Pay to Buy and Install a Heat Pump

  
    Less Efficient
    More Efficient
  
     Not LMI
     $2,000
     $3,000
  
     LMI
     $4,000
     $5,000

Maximum Rebates for Manufactured Home or Recreational Vehicle

Incentive Capped at 80% of What You Pay to Buy and Install a Heat Pump

  
    Less Efficient
    More Efficient
  
     Not LMI
     $2,000
     4,000
  
     LMI
     $5,000
     $7,000

Maximum Rebate for Other Upgrades That Support the Heat Pump Installation

Incentive Capped at 60% of What You Pay to Buy and Install a Heat Pump

  
     Not LMI
     $2,000
  
     LMI
     $4,000

We can also help you find other ways to save money, such as getting a federal tax credit or an incentive from Energy Trust of Oregon. You can combine the rebates from this program with other incentives from ODOE, the Energy Trust of Oregon, or other organizations.

The final rebate amount will depend on the other funding sources that are available at the time of installation and rebate request. ODOE will not pay more than 100% of the total installation cost.

How can I claim the LMI rebate?

The program makes it easier for Oregonians with lower incomes to get reliable heating and cooling at home. If your tenant’s household earns a low or moderate income, you can get a rebate that pays for up to 60 or 80% of the cost of installing a heat pump, depending on the efficiency of the system. There are a few different ways to see if you are eligible:

The tenant qualifies for certain programs from Oregon Housing and Community Services. Form for Option One / En Español)
The tenant qualifies for certain programs from Oregon Health Authority or Oregon Department of Human Services. Form for Option Two / En Español
The tenant can how that their household income falls within the limits. The household must submit an Oregon Department of Revenue tax transcript for each person who files taxes and stays at the household address. Form for Option Three / En Español
The owner demonstrates that they are part of the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) for the home where they plan to install the heat pump.

Odds and Ends

We’ve outlined the main things to know about the Oregon Rental Home Heat Pump Program. Here are a few odds and ends that the program wants participants to know.

First, you have to work with an approved contractor like GreenSavers.

To get a rebate for installing a heat pump in your rented home or RV in Oregon, you need to hire a contractor who is approved by the ODOE. The contractor will apply for the rebate on your behalf and pass on the savings to you. The contractor must get approval from the ODOE before starting the installation.

Second, the heat pump must meet minimum standards of energy efficiency.

The systems have to follow the federal rules and standards for efficiency, as well as other technical and program criteria. For details, you can check out the Oregon Secretary of State Administrative Rules for the Oregon Rental Home Heat Pump Program.

The Bottom Line - Oregon Rental Home Heat Pump Program

If you own a rental property in Oregon and are interested in upgrading the heating or cooling system, give GreenSavers a call at 541.330.8767.

We’ll give you a breakdown of the estimated costs and incentives. We currently have strong incentives from the the Oregon Rental Home Heat Pump Program, but the incentives won’t last.