What is Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®?

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, brought to you by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and New Jersey's Clean Energy Program, offers "whole house' solutions to  reduce both your energy costs and carbon footprint.  Learn how to save up to 30% on energy costs and increase the comfort, safety, and durability of your home. 

For the past several years New Jersey's Clean Energy Program-Home Performance with ENERGY STAR has been helping natural gas and electric utility customers significantly reduce their utility bills. Now the program is also offering incentives to all electric customers throughout New Jersey and to oil and propane heat customers.  These expanded incentives have been made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.**

Per the Board Order dated June 21, 2010, the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®  Program has developed two funding cycles for the remainder of 2010 to ensure sufficient funds are available until the end of the year. The first funding cycle will open July 29, 2010, and will run thru September 30, 2010, or while funding lasts. The second funding cycle will open October 1, 2010, and will run thru December 31, 2010, or while funding lasts. Effective on the opening date of each funding cycle, contractors will be limited to submitting no more than five projects per business day.

*Note: Amount to be determined based on total available funding.

Note: On Monday, July 26^th EFS will once again start accepting loan applications.

Weekly updates regarding current commitments and available funding will be posted on the website every Monday by 12 P.M.

Home Performance Weekly Funding Cycle 1 Status Report as of August 27, 2010

Additional changes to the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program include:

• For projects with an estimated total energy savings between 5% and 25%, there is a maximum cash rebate of $1,300 or low interest loan at 5.99%.
• For projects with an estimated total energy savings of 25% or more, there is a maximum cash rebate of $3,000 and a 0% interest loan.

Incentive levels for projects submitted on or before May 7th that have been deemed complete are eligible for incentive levels available at the time the projects were submitted.

Submitted projects pending loan documents will be granted a grace period of 30 days from the received date. 

**Contractors performing ARRA projects are not subject to the Davis-Bacon Act and are not required to provide certified payroll data to the Program.  However, the contractors are required to fill out two additional forms: 1. ARRA Historic Site Notification and 2. ARRA Project Reporting Form.

More about Home Performance with ENERGY STAR:

Specially trained and certified technicians will assess your home from top to bottom, testing:

• Heating and cooling equipment
• Insulation Levels
• Air sealing opportunities
• Windows and doors
• Appliances and lighting  

The assessment includes a visual inspection of your house as well as combustion appliance testing and could take up to three hours.  To schedule your home assessment, contact one of our participating, certified contractors.   Should you have any questions regarding the program or to find out the status of your home in the process, please call 866-NJSMART. 

Your contractor will identify any potential health and safety issues during the initial assessment.  They will need to be addressed before any energy efficiency improvements can be made through the program.

After the assessment, you will receive a report listing recommended measures, along with financial incentives available to help you pay for the recommended improvement work. 

Program details and incentives are subject to change without notice.  Commitments not to exceed budget.

Federal Tax Credits are now available for energy efficient home improvements.

Participating contractors in the New Jersey Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program are independent home improvement contractors who have been accredited and certified by the Building Performance Institute.  The contractors who participate in the program warrant their own work and may charge different fees for services they provide, including the home assessment if additional testing is included.  It is generally accepted practice to contact several contractors before selecting one.  Neither the NJ Board of Public Utilities, New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program nor its contractors, warrant the products or services of participating contractors.

In order to qualify for incentives within the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR  Program, work must be completed by one of the certified Home Performance Contractors listed in the NJCEP Trade Ally Database.