What is the Get Energy Smart Retrofit Program?

• The Get Energy Smart Retrofit Program is a program being implemented by Sarasota County and the cities of Sarasota, North Port and Venice to help local homeowners reduce the up front cost of cost saving energy efficiency measures for their homes.
• The program aims to increase the energy efficiency of existing homes in Sarasota County through incentives such as free energy saving kits and rebates and low-income loans on home energy retrofit strategies.
• Eligible home energy retrofit strategies include energy audits, lighting retrofits, ENERGY STAR® appliances, ceiling fans, windows and doors, insulation, duct repair and sealing, high efficiency air conditioners and heat pumps, solar attic fans, radiant roof barriers, solar and gas tankless water heaters.
• The program is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program using funds allocated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Who Is Eligible?
If you are interested in participating in the Get Energy Smart Retrofit Program, your home must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Owner occupied as primary residence
• Located in one of the following (subject to funding limitations):
  • Unincorporated Sarasota County
  • City of Sarasota
  • City of North Port
  • City of Venice
• Has not previously been the subject of an application to the Get Energy Smart Retrofit Program that exceeded the rebate or loan limits

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What energy improvements are eligible under the program?
Eligible home energy retrofit strategies include energy audits, lighting retrofits, ENERGY STAR® appliances, ceiling fans, windows and doors, insulation, duct repair and sealing, high efficiency air conditioners and heat pumps, solar attic fans, radiant roof barriers, solar and gas tankless water heaters.

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Which energy improvement categories require a comprehensive home energy audit?
The following energy improvement categories require a comprehensive home energy audit: Central A/C or heat pump, radiant roof barrier and solar attic fans.

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Is there an exemption for this audit requirement?
Yes, residents with income less than 100 percent of Area Median Income are eligible for an exemption from the requirement to obtain an audit on the items listed above. Those program participants can instead request an in home energy survey and duct test from Florida Power and Light. Full details are available by clicking here.

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Why do I need to get a comprehensive Home Energy Audit to qualify for rebates on certain categories?
In order to ensure that homeowners have the information necessary to make informed choices about home energy improvements both now and into the future.

• A comprehensive home energy audit will provide a standardized evaluation of a home’s energy efficiency, comparing that home against other existing and new homes.
• It will also outline specific recommendations for saving energy and costs, with quantified projections of those savings and information on the order in which those improvements should be made.

The relationship between the possible energy improvement strategies is particularly important for a homeowner to understand.

• While a homeowner may want to upgrade to a new Air Conditioner, for example, an energy audit will determine how “leaky” the house is and make recommendations for sealing those leaks through such strategies as duct repair, new windows or added insulation before the purchase of the new air conditioning unit.
  • Once the leaks are corrected, the cooling demand for that house will be much less and therefore the size of the air conditioner that will be required could be reduced, saving money on the unit and improving indoor air quality.

The comprehensive home energy audit provides the homeowner with a path toward a much more efficient home with dramatically reduced monthly operating costs. While the audit itself does cost money, the information provided has tremendous value by outlining customized and quantified strategies that can be implemented over time to save that homeowner money.

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How do I get the rebate on the Comprehensive Home Energy Audit?
To receive the rebate on the audit you can simply submit a Rebate Request Form for the audit. You do not need to wait until the improvements are completed.

What does a “Priority Recommendation” mean and why do I have to complete one to get the full rebate amount on certain categories?
The report that will be provided following a comprehensive home energy audit will include a comprehensive list of recommendations for saving energy in that home. That list will include a subset of “Priority Recommendations” that represent the most important recommendations given an analysis of relative energy saving potential, cost/ benefit analysis and the importance of chronology in implementing these improvements.

• For example, if the ducts are leaky and there is very little insulation, those two would likely be identified as priority as they should be completed first and will result in significant savings per dollar invested compared to other items that may cost more money or may be affected by the order of implementation of other steps.

The requirement to implement a priority recommendation in order to be eligible for the full amount of the rebate on all categories is designed to encourage those energy improvements that will provide the “biggest bang for the buck” and that will affect other energy choices in the home.

If a homeowner decides to only implement a non-priority item, they are still able to receive a rebate on that item, just at half the amount given the reduced energy savings impact.

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Why should I implement home energy retrofits?
Homes are the largest energy user in the built environment in Sarasota County and most homes have significant opportunities for energy efficiency improvements. Those efficiency improvements can save you money on your monthly electric bill, reduce waste of valuable resources and improve the value of your home.

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How Do I Apply?
The program application can be completed and submitted online, by mail or with the assistance of the Program Administrator in person or on the phone. Click here for details.

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How much can I expect to pay up-front before I get my rebate?
The up-front costs will depend on the program components that are chosen.

• If you choose to do the “Do It Yourself” option, there will be no up-front cost, as the items are provided to you at no cost.
• If you choose to follow the Audit and Rebate path, you will need to pay the Participating Contractor directly for the audit, which is usually priced according to the size of the house and level of complexity of the heating and cooling system.
  • You will then choose which of the items on the audit report that you would like to implement in your home.
    • You are encouraged to get three quotes to ensure competitive prices for implementing the energy improvements and to determine a realistic budget for your project.
  • Following completion of the chosen improvements, you can submit the Rebate Request Form to request approval for eligible rebates.
  • In many cases, the rebate amounts are a percentage of the total invoice cost, ranging from 20 to 30 percent up to a maximum amount. That may help estimate what your total investment may be before getting detailed quotes.

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How long will the program last?

• Funds are available on a first come first served basis until the funds allocated for your jurisdiction are expended.
• Rebates are not guaranteed or reserved for approved applicants.
• Citizens are encouraged to apply and complete the work as soon as possible after receiving notice of approval from the Program Administrator to take advantage of the program funds.
• All funds must be expended by the end of the grant term, which is Aug. 30, 2012, but they are expected to be fully committed well before then.
• Regular updates on program status will be posted on the DwellGreen website.

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I am a contractor or Energy Rater and would like to provide services under this program. What do I need to do?

    Click here for details.

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How can I verify that a local contractor is eligible to provide services under the program?

    Click here for the list of participating contractors.

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How does the program work?

    Click here for details

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How long will it take me to get my rebate?
Following receipt of a complete Rebate Request, your rebate check should arrive within 60 days.

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Why do I have to submit a W-9 Form (Request for Taxpayer Identification and Certification)?
The Internal Revenue Service requires reporting of rebates as income if they exceed $600 in one year. Participants will be required to submit a W-9 form with their Rebate Request Form to enable that reporting. Rebates for ENERGY STAR® Appliances are exempt from this requirement and will be subtracted from the annual total rebate amount.  For more information on this requirement, please see EECBG Program Notice 10-016.

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Is there a specific list of improvements that qualify for the program?

    Full details are available in the Program Guidelines.
    A summary table is available here.

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By taking part in this local program, does that mean I can’t get a federal tax credit for any qualifying improvements?

• No, in fact the program was designed to allow homeowners to take advantage of multiple incentives that are available from federal, state and utility sources.
• It is the homeowner’s responsibility to verify that the specifications and requirements of the various programs are met and to process the appropriate paperwork, but there are complementary incentives available on several of the energy improvement categories.

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What do I do if I am not happy with the job performed by the contractor?
The Get Energy Smart Retrofit Program provides the list of Participating Contractors only as a convenience. The county and participating cities make no representation or warrantees as to the performance or abilities of the Participating Contractors.

• Homeowners are encouraged to get at least three quotes for each project and to make their own inquiries as to the reputation and reliability of a Participating Contractor before engaging their services. References are included in the application documents.
• Homeowners should satisfy themselves as to any necessary warrantees or guarantees for products or services before they are provided.
• Any disputes between the homeowner and the Participating Contractors must be resolved among those parties.
• Homeowners who have not been able to satisfactorily resolve their dispute can submit a complaint to the Get Energy Smart Retrofit Program Administrator.
  • Such complaints will be researched and documented in full.
  • If a violation of the Contractor Participation Agreement is found, the Contractor will have 30 days from the date of notification of violation to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of Sarasota County and its partners, or they will no longer be eligible to participate in the Program.

Are my local tax dollars being used to fund this program?
No, the program is being funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program using funds allocated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

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