Get Wise to ThermWise An Insider s Guide to ThermWise Rebates
Table of Contents 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Introduction FAQ Clothes Washer Gas Storage Water Heater Gas Tankless Water Heater Gas Condensing Storage Water Heater Gas Hybrid Water Heater Solar Assisted Gas Water Heater Gas Furnace Residential Gas Boiler Direct Vent Gas Fireplace Resources Glossary
An Insider s Guide to ThermWise Rebates High-efficiency natural gas appliances offer serious benefits to your customers and your business. By introducing your customers to ThermWise rebates, you can boost sales while helping households lower their monthly energy bills and reduce their environmental impact. 12% 4% Consumer Electronics 11% Other Lighting 13% Appliances Water Heating 14% Heating & Cooling 46% How does your customer s energy usage stack up? In this guidebook we ll provide you with a full rundown of available rebates and complete rebate details, plus selling points you can use to inform customers of the many benefits of energy-efficient appliances and home upgrades. About ThermWise ThermWise is a Questar Gas Program developed to help customers lower their utility bills. Appliance and weatherization rebates are available for single-family homes with one to four units and multifamily properties with five or more units. Rebates from ThermWise enable families to upgrade their homes cost-effectively, saving energy and money while increasing comfort. Contact Us Telephone: 866-699-6032 Email: Appliance@ThermWise.com Web: ThermWise.com
ThermWise Rebate Programs FAQ Why does ThermWise exist? Questar Gas started the ThermWise Rebate Programs on January 1, 2007 as a way to promote the use of energy-efficient products and practices among its customers. Why does a gas company want me to use less gas? As demand for energy rises with population, there comes a point when it makes more sense, environmentally and financially, for Questar to encourage people to use less energy than it does to produce more. How does ThermWise promote energy efficiency? The ThermWise Programs offer rebates to help offset the initial cost of energy-efficient business and home upgrades. There are also rebates available for energyefficient new construction. Where do the rebates come from? The cost of rebates is built into the Questar Gas rate. The rebates are vetted by the Utah Public Service Commission s strict cost-effectiveness tests. To pass these tests, Questar Gas must prove that the energy cost savings produced by the ThermWise Programs exceed the cost of the rebates. Are rebates the same as tax credits? Questar Gas is not a government entity, and ThermWise rebates are not related to tax credits. If you want to learn more about goverment funded energy efficiency tax credits, visit energy.utah.gov/incentives. How long will the rebates last? There is no scheduled end date for the ThermWise Programs. As long as the rebates remain cost-effective (as defined in Where do the rebates come from? ) ThermWise will keep right on rolling. Are there any deadlines for the submission of rebates? Yes, you must submit your application within a certain time frame in order to receive a rebate. The length of time, however, depends on the type of project. For instance, the deadlines for new construction are different than those for appliance rebates. Full details on submission deadlines are available at ThermWise.com. Who can participate? ThermWise rebates are open to all Residential and General Service Business Questar Gas customers. Rebates are not available for Industrial customers.
Top Tier ENERGY STAR Clothes Washer $ 50 MEF 2.6 or higher; must have gas water heat By using less water and energy and offering greater tub capacity, top tier ENERGY STAR clothes washers take efficient laundering to a whole new level. Conserves water by using up to 50% less than conventional machines Larger tub capacity means fewer loads High-velocity spin cycle extracts more water from clothing before it goes into the dryer, saving more energy by reducing drying time
High-Efficiency & ENERGY STAR Gas Storage Water Heater $ 100 EF.67 or higher OR $ 50 EF.62.66 High-efficiency gas storage water heaters easily exceed the performance of standard models by offering better insulation, heat traps and more efficient burners. Better recovery efficiency (heat transfer from energy source to water) Superior storage tank insulation Less venting and standby heat loss 2012 Questar Gas Company. All rights reserved. 0512 0112 TK_101.1
ENERGY STAR Gas Tankless Water Heater $ EF.90 or higher OR EF.82.89 By providing hot water on demand (as opposed to maintaining a tank full of hot water at all times), ENERGY STAR gas tankless water heaters achieve superior efficiency and cut water heating expenses by up to 40%. * Avoids energy loss during standby operation by heating water only when needed Models rated.90 EF or higher can save the typical family more than $75 a year on gas bills * Compact size allows for more flexible, central installations, especially in retrofit applications
High-Efficiency Gas Condensing Storage Water Heater 90% thermal efficiency (TE) or EF.90 or higher Rather than venting combustion gases directly outside, gas condensing storage water heaters provide increased performance and efficiency by utilizing flue spirals inside the tank to recapture the heat of the flue gases and provide increased water heating performance. Because the heat of the flue gases is repurposed, less heat and energy is wasted The typical family can reduce their natural gas bills by more than $72 a year * Condensing heaters can vent with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe and be a direct replacement for standard storage units, lowering installation costs
High-Efficiency Hybrid Gas Water Heater 90% thermal efficiency (TE) or EF.90 or higher Hybrid gas water heaters use a secondary heat exchanger to capture hot flue gas from the tankless unit and then reroute it back through a buffer tank to heat water using less energy. A typical family can save more than $72 a year on their gas bills * Suitable for installation anywhere a standard gas storage water heater can be installed Eliminates sudden interruptions in hot water delivery
Solar Assisted Gas Water Heater $ 750 SRCC OG-300; whole system certified; solar application required Solar water heaters can cut annual hot water costs in half by harnessing the power of the sun even on cloudy days. A conventional water heater is required as backup to ensure hot water is always available. Reduces water heating costs by $195 a year * Uses the sun s energy, a free resource, to lower energy consumption by up to 75% * Typical lifespan of the system is 20 years - much longer than standard water heaters
High-Efficiency Gas Furnace AFUE 95% or higher with an electronically commutated motor AFUE 95% or higher High-efficiency gas furnaces help maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the home while providing up to 17% greater efficiency than standard models. * AFUE 92 94.9% AFUE 90 91.9% Models with an AFUE of 95% or higher could save a typical family more than $140 a year on gas bills. Because of low exhaust temperatures, venting can be done with inexpensive PVC pipe Electronic ignition eliminates the need to have a pilot light burning constantly
High-Efficiency Residential Gas Boiler $ 600 $400 AFUE 95% or higher AFUE 85 94.9% Energy-efficient gas boilers are installed in the same location you would typically see a furnace. They achieve energy savings with high-efficiency features such as electronic ignition and new combustion technologies. Uses electronic ignition, saving energy by eliminating the need for a constant pilot light With normal use, can lower gas bills by up to $115 a year * Sealed combustion chamber reduces drafts and improves safety by using outside air to fuel the burner
Direct-Vent Gas Fireplace $ 200 AFUE 70% or higher; intermittent ignition; heat rated; thermostatically controlled with blower Energy-efficient direct-vent fireplaces can be vented directly through a wall or roof and don t require a chimney. They eliminate drafts and heat loss, and save energy by drawing combustion air from outside rather than consuming warm indoor air. Saves about $90 a year compared to conventional gas fireplaces * Thermostat maintains a comfortable set-point to avoid overheating Allows for zone heating to direct warmth to specific areas of the home
Discover More Ways to Save Handy resources to help your customers further their energy savings ThermWise.com Offers comprehensive information for your customers on ThermWise Rebate Programs and services including: ThermWise Home Energy Audit Program Customers can sign up for our In-Home Energy Audit, or take part in our Mail-In Energy Audit. With both options, they will receive a detailed energy report with suggested high-efficiency upgrades. Customers who commit to these upgrades will receive a free energy-saving item such as pipe insulation, low-flow shower head or faucet aerator. They will also receive information on cash rebates for additional energy-efficient home upgrades. To schedule an audit, call 800-695-7375 or e-mail In-HomeAudit@ThermWise.com ThermWise Builder Rebates Program Builders of new single-family (one to four units) and multifamily (five or more units) properties can receive rebates for installing high-efficiency equipment and building ENERGY STAR qualified homes. ThermWise.com/ENERGYSTARhomes Your customers can step inside an ENERGY STAR home by taking our virtual tour to discover how these homes offer exceptional value with increased efficiency, safety and comfort. ENERGYSTAR.gov The ENERGY STAR program was developed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to identify and promote energy efficiency in products, home improvements, new homes and other buildings. Energysavers.gov/tips Energy Savers provides homeowners with tips for saving energy and money at home and on the road.
Glossary Modified Energy Factor (MEF): Measure of the energy consumption of the total laundry cycle (washing and drying) Water Factor (WF): Measurement of water efficiency, calculated as gallons of water used per cubic foot of capacity Energy Factor (EF): Ratio of useful energy output from the water heater to the total amount of energy input to the unit Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE): Ratio of heat output compared to the total energy consumed, i.e., an AFUE of 90 means that 90% of the fuel is used to heat the home and 10% is exhausted Thermal Efficiency (TE): Ratio between the energy contained in delivered water and the energy consumed to heat it Solar Thermal: Harnesses solar energy for thermal heat; typically supplements heating of domestic hot water Want to get wiser to ThermWise? Call 866-699-6032 or e-mail Appliance@ThermWise.com. 2012 Questar Gas Company. All rights reserved. 0112 TK_101.1