One thing we hear all the time from customers is how confusing it is to figure out which rebates they can get from CPS Energy or from the manufacturer. The bottom line is it IS confusing. There’s a lot of insider language and numbers involved in the process. So over the next couple of blogs, we’re going to break down the rebate process for you – and try to do it in plain English.
We’ll start with the air conditioning and air duct rebates available from CPS Energy.
First off, you will see these two codes over and over: SEER and EER. SEER stands for “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.” It represents how efficiently your new AC unit cools your house. EER stands for “Energy Efficiency Ratio” and shows how efficiently your new AC unit heats your home. Higher SEER and EER numbers mean more efficiency and higher rebates.
A 15.0 SEER AC unit is the lowest that qualifies for a rebate from CPS Energy. With a 15.0 SEER unit, you will get a $110 rebate per ton. One ton of an AC unit cools approximately 500 square feet. So if you have a 2,000 sq. ft. home, you’d need a four ton AC unit. That means you would get a $440 rebate from CPS Energy.
As you go up in SEER and EER ratings, the rebates go up. For instance, if you buy a 17.0 SEER/13.0 EER unit, the rebate is $225 per ton. Using the same 2,000 sq. ft. home example as above, your rebate would be $900.
That’s a lot of numbers, but hopefully the examples help those numbers make sense.
As for air ducts, they are the arteries of the air conditioning system. If they can’t deliver the air, that brand new energy-efficient AC unit is not able to do its job. Air loss is actually the most common problem with air conditioning in San Antonio. People are cooling their attics instead of their home. The good news is air duct rebates are a little easier to understand. Basically, if you get your air ducts replaced, you are eligible for up to $4,000 back, based on your situation. You can also get more rebates if you replace your air ducts AND buy a new energy-efficient AC unit.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call Champion Home Services at 210.787.2823. Next time, we’ll talk about appliance rebates.
