Heating and Cooling Your Home
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Heating and Cooling Your Home

Nov 11, 2023

For most homes, the largest energy costs come from heating and cooling. Installing energy-efficient space and water heating solutions, turning down your thermostat, doing regular maintenance, and sealing air gaps are great ways to save you money on your bills and improve the comfort of your home.

Discounts and rebates are available to City Light customers for qualified heating and cooling solutions.

Energy-efficient heat pumps are electric heating and cooling systems that can keep you comfortable at a fraction of the lifetime energy cost of standard systems. They have many benefits:

Learn more about energy-efficient heat pumps to see if this solution is right for you. A contractor can help you explore options and may be able to receive an instant discount depending on the model installed.

When your contractor purchases a high-efficiency heat pump they can receive an instant discount that they are able to pass on to you in their bid. Contractor instant discounts are available only through participating distributors. Do-it-yourself installations are not eligible for a heat pump rebate.

*Heat pumps with dual ratings for both SEER/HSPF and SEER2/HSPF2, and with an invoice date between January 1, 2023 and June 30, 2023, will follow Table 1 criteria and rebate levels.

**Heat pumps with dual ratings for both SEER/HSPF and SEER2/HSPF2, and an invoice date between July 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023, will follow Table 2 criteria and rebate levels.

For more information, please see AHRI or ask your contractor.

To get started with upgrading your heating and cooling system, contact a qualified installer or contractor. We recommend getting at least three bids to ensure you are receiving the best quality and price. Be sure to ask your contractor about a City Light discount on your project.

Heat pump water heaters (HPWH), also known as hybrid heat pump water heaters, are the most efficient water heaters available. They help you save energy and lower your bills, and best of all for City Light customers, they are powered by our clean, carbon-neutral, electricity. To assist customers with lowering the cost of buying a heat pump water heater, we provide three ways to receive financial incentives (pick one).

When your contractor purchases a qualified HPWH from a participating distributor, they can receive an instant discount of $500 that they are able to pass on to you in their bid.

To get started with upgrading your old water heater, contact a qualified installer or contractor. We recommend getting at least three bids to help ensure you receive the best quality and price. Be sure to ask your contractor about a City Light discount on your project.

If you choose to purchase and install a qualified HPWH from The Home Depot or Lowe's, you can download an instant $500 digital coupon for use at the store.

If you choose to purchase and install a qualified hybrid HPWH yourself from a supplier other than The Home Depot or Lowe's, you can apply for a $500 rebate directly from City Light.

How to qualify:

How to qualify:

How to qualify:

Don't have an electric water heater and want to switch to all electric? Contact a qualified installer to determine if converting to electric is possible, and be sure to ask about instant discounts available to them for qualified products.

About Heat Pump Water Heaters

Heat pump water heaters, also known as hybrid water heaters, move heat from the surrounding air to the water tank instead of generating heat directly and are 2 - 3 times more energy-efficient than conventional water heaters.

Benefits

Choosing the Right Size Tank

A properly sized hybrid heat pump water is more likely to meet your expectations of performance and savings. In order to choose the right size water heater, you'll need to think about the amount of hot water you need during peak usage.

Considerations

The number of people and the ages of any children in the household, along with their typical usage patterns, will allow you to choose the HPWH that provides enough hot water to meet demand during peak usage without reverting to its less-efficient backup mode.

For additional questions about energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions, contact an Energy Advisor.

If you are a Seattle resident with an oil furnace interested in converting to an electric heat pump, you may be eligible for an additional rebate from the Seattle Office of Environment and Sustainability.

Learn More

Income-eligible customers may qualify for a free heating and cooling system and insulation upgrades through the City of Seattle's HomeWise Program.

Learn More

If you need to finance your new heating and cooling system, you may qualify for a low-interest loan with convenient payment plans.

Learn More

Program your thermostat Maintain equipment Install aerators and efficient showerheads Weatherize your home Insulate your home Invest in energy-efficient windows Go All-Electric Lower heating costs by 25-50% Improved air quality and health Ultra-quiet fans evenly circulate air Heat or cool individual rooms Built-in air conditioner included Units are easy to control via wireless remote Table 1. For products with HSPF and SEER ratings* Size SEER HSPF Rebate per home Size SEER2 HSPF2 Rebate per home (pick one) Homeowner working with Contractor Homeowner DIY installation(instant discount) Homeowner DIY installation(rebate form) The Home Depot Lowe's How to qualify: How to qualify: How to qualify: About Heat Pump Water Heaters Benefits Are the most energy-efficient Save you energy and money Provide you with smart programming options Help dehumidify damp spaces Choosing the Right Size Tank Considerations Consecutive 10-minute showers Appropriate hybrid tank size contact an Energy Advisor oil furnace converting to an electric heat pump additional rebate free heating and cooling system and insulation upgrades low-interest loan