As the summer heats up the electric utilities in Connecticut are offering incentives to consumers to improve the efficiency of their central air conditioning systems, as well as their furnaces. WNPR’s Nancy Cohen reports.
Consumers can get $500 if a contractor certifies that a new central air conditioning system is properly installed. And they can get another $100 for verifying that a new furnace is installed to be as energy efficient as possible. Joseph Swift of Connecticut Light and Power says the goal is to optimize the performance of heating and cooling equipment. To be eligible consumers have to verify that air ducts aren’t leaking heated air in the winter or cooled air in the summer.
“There’s been numerous studies that have pinpointed leakage and specifically duct leakage as one of the big culprits. So duct leakage can account for up to 20% loss in efficiency.”
The money for the Quality Installation and Verification Program comes from the Energy Efficiency Fund, which is funded by a monthly charge paid by electric rate payers.
