What is HeatSmart?
HeatSmart is a NYSERDA funded community outreach program that connects you to local heating and cooling and energy efficiency experts who offer the latest clean energy technologies. We bring the experts to you at events and by signing up. If you’re considering a new heating or cooling system for your home or business or making it more energy efficient, sign up today!
How does HeatSmart work?
HeatSmart works first and foremost by educating the public about sustainable heating and cooling systems through our workshops, tabling events, and our website. If you sign up for the HeatSmart, we will connect you with one of our vetted installer partners and offer help along every step of the way by making sure you are taken care of and letting you know about incentives and tax credits. HeatSmart is funded solely through grants and donations. Our services are completely free and without obligation.
Can I sign up?
You can sign up with HeatSmart Southern Tier If you own a home or business in the following NYS counties:
- Broome
- Chenango
- Delaware
- Tioga
If you live elsewhere, sign up and we’ll do our best to direct you to another HeatSmart program.
Sign up for HeatSmart here!
Incentives (updated Summer 2024)
HeatSmart seeks to help you through every step of the way of getting a heat pump installed in your home. We start below by listing incentives available to all and finish with extra help for low-to-moderate income households.
If you’re having trouble understanding the precise eligibility and application processes for these programs, our HeatSmart representatives would be more than happy to help walk you through it. Sign up today to learn more about the incentives and tax credits available to you!
Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHP)
NYSEG Rebates: $1,500 per 10,000 btu/h for whole home systems.
Typical range of heating demand 25,000-60,000 btu/h
Federal Tax Credit: 30% of project costs
State Tax Credit: 25% of project costs up to $5,000
Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP)
NYSEG Rebates: $500 per outdoor unit for supplemental systems.
$800-1200 per 10,000 Btu/h for whole home systems.
Typical home needs 25,000-60,000 btu/h (depending on size and insulation)
Federal Tax Credit: 30% of project costs up to $2000
Heat Pump Water Heaters
NYSEG Rebates: $700 per unit
Federal Tax Credit: 30% of project costs up to $2000
*These may be subject to increase thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act
Low-to-Moderate Income Programs
New York State has two excellent income-qualified programs through NYSERDA to help people reduce their energy usage, improve their homes, and save money. Eligibility for the programs is determined by income level (of the homeowner if owner-occupied, or of the tenant if a rental) and each program can help with different improvements to increase your home’s comfortability.
Assisted Home Performance (AHP): program is available to households below 80% area median income and provides a discount covering 100% of the cost of eligible energy efficiency improvements up to $5,000 per project for single-family homes or $12,500 for 2-4 family homes. Please see the income eligibility chart on the right to see if you’re eligible, however these income limits may be subject to change.
EmPower New York: provides no-cost energy efficiency solutions to income-eligible New Yorkers. Applicable for families below 60% state median income. EmPower provides up to $10,000 for a range of energy saving measures: insulation, air sealing, heating and cooling, appliances, LED lighting. The upgrades will be paid for with no-cost to the resident. Please see the income eligibility chart on the right to see if you’re eligible, however these income limits may be subject to change.
Learn About HeatSmart Technologies
Heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer.
During the heating season, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house and during the cooling season, heat pumps move heat from your cool house into the warm outdoors. Because they move heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide equivalent space conditioning at as little as one quarter of the cost of operating conventional heating or cooling appliances.
Air Source Heat Pumps
The most common type of heat pump is the air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between your house and the outside air.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if you heat with electricity, a heat pump can trim the amount of electricity you use for heating by as much as 30% to 40%. High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer months.
For homes without ducts, air source heat pumps are also available in a ductless version called a mini-split heat pump. In addition, a special type of air-source heat pump called a “reverse cycle chiller” generates hot and cold water rather than air, allowing it to be used with radiant floor heating systems in heating mode.
Ground Source Heat Pumps
Ground-source (geothermal) heat pumps achieve higher efficiencies by transferring heat between your house and the ground or a nearby water source. Although they cost more to install, geothermal heat pumps have low operating costs because they take advantage of relatively constant ground or water temperatures.
Whether a geothermal heat pump is appropriate for you will depend on the size of your lot, the subsoil, and the landscape. Ground-source or water-source heat pumps can be used in even more extreme climates than air-source heat pumps, and customer satisfaction with the systems is very high. To watch an instructional video about how ground-source geothermal systems work, click here.
HeatSmart Installer Partners
When you sign up through HeatSmart, you will be connected with one of our thoroughly vetted installer partners.
Offers: Insulation, air sealing, HVAC services, energy audits.
The Insulation Man is a full-service home performance contractor that has been in business since 1989. They are licensed and certified to provide a wide range of services, including insulation installation, air sealing, HVAC services, and energy audits that help New York homeowners and businesses solve issues concerning moisture, heat loss, and indoor air quality.
Phone number: 607-775-3035
Offers: Geothermal Heat Pumps, Air Source Heat Pumps, and Aeroseal duct sealing.
Dailey Electric is our geothermal installer partner. They specialize in Electric, Geothermal and HVAC installations for new construction, remodels and retro-fit applications. They serve Broome, Chenango, and Tioga County.
Phone number: 315-531-8108
Offers: Air Source Heat Pumps
Air Source LLC is one of our vetted partners that focuses on air source heat pumps. They are a Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Contractor Elite. They serve Broome, Chenango, and Tioga County.
Phone number: 607-316-4799
Offers: Ground Source Heat Pumps, Air Source Heat Pumps, Ventilation Systems, HVAC Design/Build, Efficiency Upgrades
NP Environmental is a design build residential and commercial sustainable technologies HVAC company that was started in 2004. NP installs Air and Ground Source heat pumps for residents in Broome, Chenango, Delaware, and Tioga County.
Phone number: 315-841-8730
Offers: Air Source Heat Pumps
RYCOR HVAC was established in 2006 and has been serving the Capital Region and Hudson Valley ever since. They are a Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Contractor Elite. They serve Delaware County for HSST but also work with HeatSmart Capital Region!
Phone number: 845-742-5110
