After a successful pilot initiative earlier this year, the City of Lincoln is expanding it’s Heat Pump Incentive Program.
The program, launched in January, supplied 329 Lincoln homeowners with heat pumps which are shown to help homeowners save on energy costs and reduce individual greenhouse gas emissions.
Funded with $625,000 from the City’s biennial budget, a “second round” of the program includes higher incentives for residents replacing air conditioners rather than existing heat pumps, and now includes mini-split heat pumps, which are ductless and work well in older homes.
Homeowners in Lincoln can receive incentives up to $3,800 for heat pump installation. The updated incentive structure includes $500 to replace a heat pump at least five years old or $1,500 to replace an air conditioner. Low- to moderate-income residents may receive up to $3,000 per household, and all incentives can be combined with an LES $800 incentive.
City Councilman Bennie Shobe says the first phase was so successful, that he encouraged the Council to add $125,000 to the City budget (to arrive at that total of $625K) to support the incentives. According to Shobe, heat pumps administered through the program in the first year reduced the community’s greenhouse gas emissions by over 250 metric tons, which is equivalent to over 580,000 miles driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle.
“Numbers like this demonstrate how energy-efficient heat pumps help clean our air and support our community’s health. As we roll out the program’s second phase, I look forward to making Lincoln even more affordable, equitable, and climate-smart by making heat pumps more accessible to all,” Shobe said.
Lincoln’s Chief Sustainability Officer Kim Morrow said the proliferation of heat-pump technology is apart of the City’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.
“What makes this program truly easy is that residents don’t have to navigate the process alone. Once you select a participating HVAC contractor, they will handle the paperwork and apply for the incentives on your behalf. The financial credits are directly applied to your invoice, making participation as seamless as possible,” said Jessica Kneifl, LES Energy Services Specialist.
For more information on heat pump incentives and the LES Sustainable Energy Program, visit lincoln.ne.gov/HeatPump, LES.com/SEP or email SEP@les.com.