Stay Warm, Save Money with LIPA’s Efficient Furnace Fan Rebate

Uniondale, NY— With the winter heating season fast approaching, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) is encouraging its customers to take advantage of the LIPA Efficient Furnace Fan Program. This program offers savings with new oil, gas or propane heating systems.

LIPA is offering $200 rebates on new furnaces with electronically commutated motors (ECM). An ECM is an energy-efficient motor which can adjust its speed to ensure the best possible performance of a furnace. In addition, ECM motors are significantly quieter and less expensive to operate than conventional furnace motors.

“Replacing an old furnace with a new, high-efficiency unit will save a homeowner energy and money while preserving the environment and lowering Long Island’s carbon footprint,” said LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law. “In addition, if this new furnace has an ECM motor, the owner may save up to three hundred dollars per year and be eligible for a LIPA rebate.”

Furnaces with ECM motors benefit from lower operating costs. It is possible to save $40-$300 per year, based on the home owners’ usage. The ECM motor offers additional benefits, such as, reducing stale air in the home, lessening the drying effects of indoor air during the winter, moderating temperature fluctuation and enjoying a quieter-running system.

The Efficiency Furnace Program is available to LIPA residential customers using a participating contractor to replace the furnace. All rebate applications must be received within 60 days of installation and contain all required documentation.

“With temperatures falling and heating systems soon to be running, it's the ideal time for Long Islanders to take control of their electric bills,” said Law. “In addition to taking advantage of the ECM furnace rebate I encourage LIPA customers to visit our Web site, www.lipower.org/efficiency. LIPA provides a broad array of energy efficiency programs, and we will continue to work towards providing our customers with the information and tools they will need to control their energy costs.”

Build on the savings of an energy-efficient furnace and attain an even greater impact on your energy bills using a “whole-house approach”. By combining proper equipment maintenance with appropriate insulation, weather stripping, and thermostat settings, you can further cut your energy use for heating and reduce environmental emissions.

To learn more about LIPA’s ECM Program and to see a list of participating LIPA contractors, visit LIPA’s Web site at http://www.lipower.org/efficiency/furnace.html , or call LIPA's InfoLine at 1-800-692-2626.

Recommendations to get more from your winter energy dollars:

Residential thermostats should be set at 68 to 72 degrees for 8 hours a day. By doing this during the day while at work or at night, the savings could be as much as 10% on energy costs. Every degree a thermostat is lowered could save approximately 3% on energy costs. Installing a programmable thermostat is an excellent way to cut heating bills. A programmable thermostat can be pre-set to lower the temperature when sleeping or at work. The energy savings will offset the cost of a basic unit in less than a year.
Eliminate wasted energy. Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms. Turn off kitchen and bath-ventilating fans after they've done their job. These fans can blow out a house full of heated air if inadvertently left on.
Keep the cold air out and the warm air in by winterizing windows with weather stripping and caulking.
During the winter season, change heating system filters at least once a month. A well-maintained heating system will save money and increase a home's comfort level.
Crawl spaces should be inspected regularly to ensure that they have a sufficient amount of dry insulation. When insulation gets wet, its effectiveness is significantly reduced. Find the source of the moisture and replace any damaged insulation.
Everyone enjoys the coziness of a crackling fire on a cold winter day, but heat may be escaping if the fireplace is not airtight. Have the fireplace checked for heat efficiency.
Turn down the water heater's thermostat. On average, most homes keep the water heater temperature higher than necessary.
Insulate the water heater if possible. The cost of insulating your water heater is eclipsed by the amount of energy and money that can be saved.

LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric provider, owns the retail electric Transmission and Distribution System on Long Island and provides electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. LIPA is the 2nd largest municipal electric utility in the nation in terms of electric revenues, 3rd largest in terms of customers served and the 7th largest in terms of electricity delivered. In 2010, LIPA outperformed all other overhead electric utilities in New York State for frequency of service interruptions, and ranked second for duration of service interruptions. LIPA does not provide natural gas service or own any on-island generating assets. More information about LIPA can be found online at: http://www.lipower.org.

Media Contact Information
Mark Gross
Phone - (516) 719-9892
Media Pager - (516) 229-7248
media.relations@lipower.org

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