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Delaware energy rebate programs: easy-to-understand guide

Ready to love your home again? Make your house more comfortable and efficient—and use rebates to save!

Ready to love your home again? Make your house more comfortable and efficient—and use rebates to save!

Looking for a guide on Delaware energy rebates for home efficiency upgrades? 

Well, look no further! You’ve stumbled upon the perfect corner of the internet today.

(Congrats on your win! Researching can stop here.)

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If this is your first time here, let us introduce ourselves: We’re Sealed, and we specialize in making homes in Delaware (and beyond!) more energy efficient and comfortable—no matter the weather.

Plus, we help homeowners get powerful energy upgrades, including high-performance insulation, air sealing, and heat pump systems, at no upfront cost. Discover how.

This guide to Delaware home energy rebates can help you save on project costs for essential efficiency improvements like insulation, air sealing, heat pump HVAC, water heater upgrades, and more. 

Delaware may be one of the smallest states in the US, but this guide is not short of ways to save on home energy improvements. Use the list below to jump ahead to the programs you’re interested in.

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Average energy prices in Delaware—and how rebates can help

Delaware’s average electricity costs, as of January 2023, are slightly higher than the national U.S. average for the same time period. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), your region of the Northeast pays about $0.19 per kilowatt hour (kwh) or about $0.03 cents more than the national average. (1) Ouch!

And natural gas? Well, those costs fluctuate a bit more unpredictably. But on average, folks in your area are paying about $1.63 per therm. (2)

For the most accurate energy costs, check your bill or updated BLS data (of course). But no matter what you pay, cutting energy waste in Delaware is a good thing

And it’s likely that your house is wasting energy—and in places that you can’t easily see. 

But you knew that already, right? That’s why you’re here!

The best way to mitigate ever-increasing energy costs is to make the most efficient use of your energy as possible via home energy upgrades.

In our experience as home energy experts, Delaware residents can significantly reduce their home’s energy waste through three key upgrades:

  1. High-performance insulation (especially in the attic and around your foundation)
  2. Whole-home air sealing
  3. Heat pump HVAC upgrades

The great news here is federal tax credits, state, and local energy rebates can help make these upgrades more affordable. (Yes, even your utility wants you to save energy. It benefits them, too!)

Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through what’s available in Delaware!

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Energize Delaware Rebates

Energize Delaware, in partnership with selected Delaware utilities, offers residential rebates through two Home Performance with ENERGY STAR programs. 

The programs are centered around increasing comfort and energy efficiency, taking on a whole-home approach. (That’s what we love to see, if you ask us!)

Plus, income-qualifying homeowners are eligible for increased rebates. 

The following utilities participate in the Energize Delaware programs:

Here’s a quick look at rebates available through Energize Delaware, but we’ll cover a few rebates of note individually below.

  • Air sealing
  • Air source heat pumps
  • Ductless mini-split heat pumps
  • Duct sealing
  • Attic insulation
  • Foundation insulation
  • Wall insulation
  • Heat pump water heaters
  • Dehumidifier
  • Smart thermostats

Energize Delaware heat pump rebates

Heat pump rebates are available to current Delmarva Power customers for air-source heat pumps and ductless mini-split heat pumps. 

And it’s important to know that low-income homeowners are eligible for higher rebate amounts

Rebates are based on the efficiency of the system and homeowners must complete a whole-home energy audit with an approved contractor to be eligible for the rebates.

With Sealed, you can get a heat pump professionally installed (and use your Delmarva Power rebate) with zero upfront cost.

Plus, Sealed will do all the work to make sure you have a professional energy audit with an approved contractor. Learn more.

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Energize Delaware weatherization, insulation, and air sealing rebates

The Home Performance with Energy Star and Assisted Home Performance with Energy Star programs provide rebates for weatherization and air sealing. 

Rebates are capped at 75% of the cost of the work and improvements must be installed by program-approved contractors. Homeowners must complete an energy audit for this rebate, too. 

You could cut up to 50% of your energy use when getting high-performance insulation, professional air sealing, and heat pump HVAC upgrades with Sealed. Learn how.

You could cut up to 50% of your energy use when getting high-performance insulation, professional air sealing, and heat pump HVAC upgrades with Sealed.

Energize Delaware dehumidifier rebate

Delmarva Power customers also have access to a rebate for ENERGY STAR certified dehumidifiers

By the way, if you have a humidity concern in your house, professional air sealing and insulation can restore healthy airflow and reduce excess moisture through your home. 

Check out How to fix a stuffy house or Why is my house so humid? to learn more!

Energize Delaware thermostat rebates

Homeowners have access to rebates for an ENERGY STAR certified thermostat upgrade through the Energize Delaware program.

Smart thermostats are little geniuses. If you don’t have one already, don’t put this upgrade off any longer! The Nest Learning Smart Thermostat alone can save 10% to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling energy. (3)

Learn how smart thermostats can help cut energy usage in our Ultimate Guide to Smart Thermostats.

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The Nest Learning Smart Thermostat alone can save 10% to 12% on heating and 15% on cooling energy.

Nest Study

Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation (DEMEC) rebates

The DEMEC includes all utility customers of the town of Clayton, city of Lewes, town of Middletown, city of Milford, New Castle Municipal, Newark City, city of Seaford, and town of Smyrna. 

(Whew—try to say that five times fast!)

Residential rebates are offered through Efficiency Smart, incentivizing homeowners to install ENERGY STAR certified home appliances. 

Here’s a quick look at DEMEC rebates that are available to Delaware homeowners—we’ll cover a couple individuals below.

  • Air source heat pumps
  • Cold-climate air source heat pumps
  • Heat pump water heaters
  • Smart thermostats
  • Dehumidifier
  • Air purifier
  • Clothes washer and dryer
  • Refrigerator
  • Window air conditioners
  • ENERGY STAR certified pool pumps

Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation (DEMEC) heat pump rebates

According to the EIA, 51% of your home’s energy consumption is for heating and cooling alone. Heat pumps can help cut that energy waste!

According to the EIA, 51% of your home’s energy consumption is for heating and cooling alone. Heat pumps can help cut that energy waste!

U.S. Energy Information Administration

DEMEC offers rebates for air source heat pumps and cold-climate air source heat pumps, basing the rebates on the efficiency of the system you install. 

81% of people who’ve made the upgrade say their home comfort has improved by replacing their fossil fuel heaters with heat pumps. (4)

If you’re eligible to get your heat pump with Sealed, you’ll get white-glove heat pump installation service—and the rebates you’re eligible for, too. 

We match you with certified contractors to complete the work, and if your home needs it, we’ll optimize your heat pump performance with air sealing and insulation in places you need it most. All at zero upfront cost! Learn more.

81% say their home comfort has improved by replacing their fossil fuel heaters with heat pumps.

Cool Products 2022 consumer analysis

Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation (DEMEC) HVAC rebates

Homeowners are eligible for rebates when they upgrade their central air conditioning or window air conditioning. The updated equipment must meet certain efficiency standards and be ENERGY STAR certified. 

Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation (DEMEC) water heater rebates

DEMEC offers $300 off the installation of an ENERGY STAR certified electric heat pump water heater. Homeowners are limited to one electric heat pump water heater rebate every year.

Did you know that heat pump water heaters are—by far—the most energy efficient way to get your daily hot shower in? It’s true. 

They blow tankless water heaters, well, out of the water in overall efficiency. (Pun obviously intended.) Learn all about it in our Ultimate Guide to Heat Pump Water Heaters.

Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation (DEMEC) appliance rebates

DEMEC offers incentives for ENERGY STAR certified clothes washers and dryers, pool pumps, dehumidifiers, and smart thermostats. 

There’s also an incentive for recycling your old refrigerator and freezer. Three cheers for recycling—go you! 

(Want to know for sure which upgrades are best for your house? Schedule a call with a Sealed home comfort expert. It’s 100% free to get professional advice.) 

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Take advantage of Delaware energy rebates with Sealed

Researching financial incentives for home weatherization can be… well, not a fun task. And don’t even get us started on finding and vetting reliable contractors for quotes.

Good thing you found us! We came up with a better way.

Sealed can make home energy upgrades easy. 

If your house qualifies to work with Sealed, we project manage your comfort and energy upgrades from start to finish—that way, you can get back to enjoying life in your home. Not working on it or worrying about it.

So, what do you get when you choose to work with Sealed?

  • Rebate research? Check.
  • Vetting and securing a local expert contractor that qualifies? Check.
  • Negotiating your project costs—getting you the best price for the highest quality work? Check.
  • Hassle-free, white-glove installation and clean up? Double-check.
  • An energy-savings guarantee? Check, check, check!

And yes—what you’ve heard is true. If you don’t save energy? We take the hit. Learn how it works.

Interested? See if your house qualifies in 2 minutes. 

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March 31, 2023