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Duct Sealing
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If your home is heated or cooled with a ducted system, it's important to make sure your ducts aren't leaking. Leaky ducts let hot or cold air escape, which wastes energy and money. Testing and sealing your ductwork can trim your energy costs, make your home more comfortable and reduce indoor air pollution.
- Save with Energy Trust cash incentives and state tax credits.
- Learn about financing options.
- Hire an Energy Trust trade ally contractor or use a non-affiliated contractor.
- Get cash back in three easy steps.
- Learn how to get the most from your heating system.
Ways to Save
Energy Trust Incentives
As of May 1, 2009, Energy Trust requires all homes with a combustion appliance inside the conditioned space—such as a gas appliance or wood-burning unit—to have a carbon monoxide detector installed by a trade ally or contractor to qualify for Energy Trust duct sealing incentives.
Duct Leakage Testing—$35
A Performance Testing Comfort Systems™ (PTCS) certified contractor will conduct a Duct Blaster test in your home to determine the amount of air leaking from your ducts. The leakage is measured in cubic feet of air leakage per minute (CFM).Duct Sealing—50 percent of cost;
Electric-heated homes: up to $400 per duct system
Gas-heated homes: up to $325 per duct systemRequirements: Minimum 150 CFM50 reduction and a minimum of 50 percent reduction in duct leakage. If your ducts are leaking, the contractor seals the leaks and conducts a second blower door test to determine the CFM reduction.
To be eligible for incentives, duct testing and sealing must be performed by a PTCS certified contractor. You must also submit a PTCS duct sealing/duct repair worksheet and a NW Duct Sealing form with pre- and post-CFM50 numbers. Participating homes are also required to meet PTCS standards of a minimum 50 percent reduction in CFM50, or the final CFM50 shall be less than 10 percent of the floor area of the conditioned space. A UL-listed carbon monoxide detector must be installed according to PTCS requirements. A complete listing of PTCS requirements is available at www.PTCSNW.com.
Multiple Improvement Bonus Package Available—For gas- and electric-heated homes, see the Home Comfort Bonus Package to learn how you can qualify for a cash-back bonus.
Tax Credits
Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit—Up to $250
Tax credit is 25 percent of eligible job cost up to $250. Duct testing and sealing must meet Oregon tax credit criteria, see Oregon Department of Energy Web site for complete details.Federal Tax Credit—not available
Financing
Need financing for your home improvement project? Energy Trust of Oregon has joined forces with Umpqua Bank to create GreenStreet Lending—an innovative alliance designed to help homeowners and small business owners access affordable financing to change the way they use energy. GreenStreet Lending offers preferred rates, no closing costs and no loan fees. Learn more at www.GreenStreetloan.com.
How To Apply for Energy Trust Incentives
Follow these easy steps to get cash back for duct testing and sealing.
Step 1 - Establish your eligibility.
Oregon residential customers who heat their homes with energy from Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural or Cascade Natural Gas are eligible to participate.
Homes that heat with oil, propane, kerosene, butane or wood can conduct their own energy audit and apply for cash rebates for installed weatherization measures through the Oregon Department of Energy's SHOW (State Home Oil Weatherization) program.
If you are eligible, schedule a FREE Home Energy Review to identify energy saving opportunities in your home. Or consider a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® assessment for comprehensive recommendations.
Step 2 - Select a qualified duct sealing contractor.
To receive an Energy Trust cash incentive, contact an Energy Trust trade ally contractor, or any other licensed contractor with a current Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license. (If you are seeking to apply for any bonus package incentives, you must use a trade ally contractor to install your measures.)
Step 3 - Sign and submit your incentive application.
Mail or fax your contractor's invoice marked "paid in full" to Energy Trust with your signed and completed incentive application (Energy Trust Form 300A) and PTCS Duct Sealing & NW Duct Sealing Form within 120 days of installation.
Mail:
Home Energy Solutions
P.O. Box 847
Portland, OR 97207
Fax:
1-866-516-7592
Please allow six to eight weeks for incentive processing and payment.
Questions? Call us at 1-866-368-7878.
How to Get the Most From Your Heating System
If you're considering a new heating system, have your contractor run a residential load calculation to determine the right size. Many heating and cooling systems are oversized to compensate for poor insulation, air leaks and leaky ducts. If you seal your ducts and insulate your home, you'll be able to install a smaller, more efficient heating system when it comes time for replacement.Energy Trust of Oregon does not pay incentives for energy-efficiency improvements that are mandated for building code compliance, such as remodeling, renovation or new additions to the home.
