Upgrading your home heating and cooling equipment with more energy-efficient products is a decision that is so smart that it deserves to be rewarded for doing so! Not only is upgrading to energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment a great way to start saving money each month on energy bills but their energy efficiency is also great for the environment.
That is why energy companies offer financial incentives like rebates to homeowners for making the smart financial and economical decision to install new products like smart, programmable thermostats, energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and more. In the past, these have been a great way to help homeowners balance the sticker shock that sometimes comes with installing new equipment so they can start saving more in the long run.
While energy companies are offering these rebates and rewards again this year, you might find that it is going to be a little trickier to get rebates, particularly on programmable thermostat rebates, this year. However, this isn’t due to slow-moving energy companies or anything like that. It has to do more with the current material shortage impacting the HVAC industry.
Here is why programmable thermostats in particular are one of the best energy rebates you can invest in, why getting your rebate might not be as straightforward, and what you can do to work around any holdups.
Why programmable thermostats are worth it
Programmable thermostats give you a significant advantage over traditional thermostats in the amount of control you have over your temperature control. Many smart thermostats can connect with your smart device or phone to let you change the temperature and control your thermostat from anywhere you have an internet connection. But, there is more to it than that. After all, there is that “programmable” part in “programmable thermostat.”
Programmable thermostats can be programmed with custom schedules, letting them adjust themselves without you ever having to push a button. This feature is incredibly useful for dropping the thermostat during times when you aren’t home or are sleeping and don’t need the AC or furnace running at full strength. This gives your system a chance to reduce the strain of constantly running without creating the other strain of regularly turning it on and off.
The result of running your system when you need to and letting it rest when you don’t can result in saving as much as 10% per year on your energy bills. For a relatively low investment, programmable thermostat savings can quickly start adding up and recoup your investment in no time, not to mention the rebates available to programmable thermostat installers.
What is the issue with programmable thermostat installation?
As the world continues to recover from the Coronavirus pandemic, there has been a fallout material shortage that has impacted businesses and industries of all shapes and sizes. One of the materials that have become the scarcest because of its high demand is semiconductor microchips.
These kinds of microchips are used in all sorts of products, from your electric toothbrush, new cars, game consoles, phones, and most importantly (as you might have already guessed) programmable thermostats. So, with these precious microchips in high demand and low supply, the production of all of these products and more has become limited and hard to get for buyers.
So, the long and short of the matter is this: if you want a programmable thermostat in 2021 it is going to take longer than normal to get one. This also means, if you are one of many who are looking to upgrade your home with more energy-efficient equipment so you can take advantage of long-term savings and rebates, it’s going to require some planning
How to make sure you get your programmable thermostat rebates in time
Most rebates are accepted up to 60 days after installation with deadlines towards the end of the year. So, to make sure you get your programmable thermostat rebates in on time, you will need to account for potential delays that may occur in actually getting it installed.
The solution? Prepare, plan ahead, and get your order for a new programmable thermostat in as soon as you can! Getting your name in at the front of the line will put you in a better position to get your installation done as soon as possible and have plenty of time to submit your rebate application and enjoy your reward for smart homeownership.
At Hoosier Indoor Air, we are doing everything we can to help prepare our customers for the material shortage currently affecting the heating and cooling industry by encouraging our customers to schedule their seasonal maintenance, inspections, and new installations as soon as they can.
If you want to learn more about the benefits of programmable thermostats or schedule an appointment, call 317-466-7437 or book a time online.
