Rebates are Back!
But not for long
It seems everyone breathed a sigh of relief when the federal government reintroduced its ecoENERGY rebates on home comfort equipment in July. When combined with Ontario Power Authority rebates, you could be looking at over $1,000 back in the bank when you upgrade your furnace and air conditioner.
It’s a pretty sweet deal but a temporary one. This iteration of the ecoENERGY program runs until March 31, 2012 and I think it will likely be the last time these rebates will be available. The program was first launched to entice homeowners to upgrade to high-efficiency equipment to save energy and be more environmentally responsible.
Now that mid-efficiency equipment is no longer available, and high-efficiency furnaces and air conditioners are the norm, there’s less of an urgency or need to get people to upgrade.
That’s not to say the government will never offer rebates again – you’ll probably see them offered on equipment like heat pumps and alternative energy solutions.
My advice? If you’re in the market for a new furnace and air conditioner, NOW is the time to buy. You might not get another chance to take advantage of these great government rebates.
Roger Grochmal, P.Eng.
President & CBO
AtlasCare
