Energy.gov

The WISE Home Energy Program provides up to $750 in energy efficiency rebates for homeowners in Cullman, Madison, Jefferson, Shelby, Morgan, Limestone and Lawrence counties. A $350 rebate is available to homeowners who install efficiency measures that result in an energy savings of at least 20% post energy audit, and an additional $400 rebate is available for eligible project improvements. Only single-family, owner occupied homes are eligible to participate in the WISE Home Energy program.

Wiregrass Electric Cooperative is a consumer-owned electric utility serving over 20,000 consumers in the "Wiregrass" area of southeast Alabama. Through the H2O plus program, qualified Wiregrass customers are eligible to receive a free high-efficiency water heater. In order to participate in this program, the applicant must agree to have a Load Management Device installed on the water heater (at no cost to the member). The application form and more program details are located on the program web site.

This statute allows individual taxpayers a deduction for the purchase and installation of a wood-burning heating system. The deduction is equal to the total cost of purchase and installation for the conversion from gas or electricity to wood when the system is used as the primary energy source for heating a home. The deduction must be taken for the taxable year during which the conversion was completed. Note that this incentive is for the conversion of an existing system and not for the first-time installation of a wood-burning system.

Alabama Gas Corporation (Alagasco) offers various rebates to its residential customers who replace older furnaces, water heaters, cooktops, ranges and clothes dryers with new, efficient equipment. All equipment requirements must be met in order to receive rebates. Separate incentives are also available for converting the fuel source of this equipment. Please visit program web site to access rebate forms and application instructions. Customers must include a signed and completed rebate form, proof of purchase and proof of installation.

Alabama Power offers low-interest loans to residential customers to purchase and install new heat pumps and a variety of weatherization measures. The loans require no money down and can be used to finance an air source, geothermal or dual-fuel heat pump. The loans can also be used to cover associated water heating costs and wiring installations. The weatherization measures eligible for loans include insulation, storm windows and doors, double-pane windows, attic ventilation, humidifiers and dehumidifiers.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is now offering an energy efficiency and renewable energy revolving loan fund called AlabamaSAVES. The funds are available to businesses and industries located in Alabama for retrofitting existing facilities. A variety of technologies are eligible; see the [https://dl.dropbox.com/s/4da0nh883z22c0q/AlabamaSAVES-TechnicalGuide.pdf program technical guide] for details.

Through a public-private partnership with PowerSouth, Alabama's Local Government Energy Loan Program offers zero-interest loans to local governments, K-12 schools, and public colleges and universities for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements that will eventually have a payback through utility savings. Under the program, municipal and county governments, and colleges and universities may borrow up to $350,000 for eligible projects, and K-12 schools may receive up to $350,000 per campus or $500,000 per school system for eligible projects.

In May 2006 the governor of Alabama issued Executive Order 33 mandating that state departments and agencies encourage and promote the conservation of energy in state-owned buildings.In November 2011, the governor of Alabama issued Executive Order 25 extending the energy standards for state agencies end goal from Fiscal Year 2010 to Fiscal Year 2015. The initiative aims to reduce energy consumption by 10% in all conditioned, state-owned facilities by the end of Fiscal Year 2008, 20% by Fiscal Year 2010, and 30% by Fiscal Year 2015 (as compared to 2005 levels).

Cullman Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Electric Cooperative, has two loan programs. One is the [http://www.cullmanec.com/default.aspx?id=144 Energy Conservation Loan Program], which provides members a loan for insulation or storm windows. Maximum loan is $2,000, payable up to 60 months at a rate of 11%. A list of approved contractors is provided on the web site.

Cullman Electric Cooperative offers rebates to residential customers that make certain energy efficiency improvements to newly constructed, all electric homes. Up to $200 is available per home. Qualifying homes must have electric water heatng, clothes drying, cooking, and a heat pump. A $100 rebate is available to customers who purchase an efficient water heater. These rebates may be received in conjunction with each other. See the program web site or contact Cullman Electric Cooperative for more information about this incentive program.