Home Improvements
OUC can also give you specific tips on conserving electricity and offer details on the following OUC customer rebate programs (single-family homes only):
- Window Film or Solar Screen - up to $100
Installing solar window film on pre-existing homes can help reflect the heat during hot summer days. Your cooling unit will become more efficient. Incentive Requirements: 1. Shading Coefficient (SC) of film or screen must be 0.5 or less. - High Performance Windows - $1 /sq ft up to $250
Energy-efficient windows can help minimize your heating, cooling, and lighting costs. They provide comfort and they also protect your valuables from harmful sun rays. Incentive Requirements: 1. Windows must be ENERGY STAR® rated (see www.energystar.gov). - Caulk / Weather stripping - 50 percent of cost up to $50
Properly air sealing cracks and openings in your home can significantly reduce heating and cooling costs, improve building durability, and create a healthier indoor environment. - Injected Wall Foam - $300
Air leakage and improperly installed insulation can waste 20% or more of the energy you pay to heat and cool your home.
Incentive Requirements: 1. Outside walls must be all block construction. - Ceiling Insulation Upgrade - $100
The attic is the easiest place to add insulation; it can help lower your energy costs and keep you comfortable through the seasons.
Incentive Requirements: 1. Final insulation level must be R-19 or higher to qualify. - Cool / Reflective Roof - $150
A cool/reflective roof reflects the sun's rays to help lower roof surface temperature and increase roof life. It helps lower your energy bill during the summer by preventing heat absorption.
Incentive Requirements: 1. The cool roof product must be certified and approved by the ENERGY STAR® Roof Products program and have an initial Solar Reflectance greater than or equal to 0.70 (see www.energystar.gov).
This program covers products purchased and installed on or after January 1, 2009.
OUC Building Home Improvements Brochure [PDF]
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Home Energy Fix-Up
Save on your monthly electric and water bills with OUC’s Home Energy Fix--Up program. We will arrange for a licensed, approved contractor to do the work – plus we will pay 85 percent of the total cost, not to exceed $2,000. The remaining 15 percent difference could be paid directly or over an interest-free 12 month period on your monthly utility bill. Thousands of OUC customers have taken advantage of this program since it first began in 1985.
How OUC’s Home Energy Fix-Up Program Can Help You Save
From garage to attic, we can assist you in making home improvements that will help you save money. Such as:
- Ceiling Insulation
- Duct System Repair
- Pipe Insulation
- Caulk Windows
- Caulk/Weatherstrip Doors
- Door Sweep
- Threshold Plate
- Plumbing Repairs
To qualify for this program, your total annual family income must be $35,000 or less and the OUC account must be in good credit standing. In addition, your residence must be a single family home and you must request and complete a free Residential Energy Survey.
OUC Home Energy Fix-Up Brochure [PDF]
Cooling & Heating
- Duct Repair / Replacement - Up to $150
Duct leaks make heating and cooling systems work longer and harder to maintain comfort in a home. Properly sealed ducts will lower your energy bill and improve the efficiency and performance of your central heating and cooling systems.
Incentive requirements:
- Applicable to residential improvement projects.
- Must have an existing central air conditioning system and must be 5.5 tons or less (66,000 BTUs).
- Ducts must be sealed with mastic and Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved duct tape.
Heat Pump – SEER 14 = $100/SEER 15 = $200/SEER 16+ = $300
Older central air conditioner units can be very costly to operate and maintain. New units are more efficient and use less energy while lowering your electric bill. Annual energy savings for a 15 Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) or greater unit could be up to 30 percent when compared to a 12 SEER unit.
Incentive requirements: - Applicable to residential improvements projects.
- New Heat Pump system must be rated 14 SEER or higher.
- Provide copy of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) certified efficiency data form. 4. Provide copy of invoices and model numbers for both the condenser and air handler units.
OUC Home Improvement Cooling & Heating Brochure [PDF]
Water Cistern for Irrigation
Cisterns are water tanks that collect and store rainwater from your roof. They are typically installed above or below ground and are used to supplement or replace the water supply for landscape irrigation. A cistern storage capacity ranges from 200 gallons to 10,000 gallons. They also are typically equipped with an electric pump to facilitate pressurized distribution to an automated landscape irrigation system. Cisterns are constructed of durable material, such as concrete, plastic, polyethylene or metal.
- Rebate Information
Install a rainwater cistern at your home or business and receive a rebate of $0.10 per gallon up to $1,000. - Benefits
Using a cistern to store and reuse rainwater reduces or eliminates storm water runoff from the site. It conserves water and reduces your monthly irrigation water bill.
Incentive requirements: - Applicable to Residential and Commercial Improvement projects, and New Construction projects.
- Applicable to OUC Orlando water customers only.
- Rebates apply to cistern only, no labor costs.
OUC Home Improvement Water Cistern for Irrigation [PDF]
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Toilet Voucher Incentive Program
The Toilet Replacement Voucher Incentive Program has closed indefinitely. At this time, the program is under evaluation and may reopen later in 2010, at which time the application will be available online.
The Toilet Replacement Voucher Incentive Program offers up to $125 per toilet to replace existing high-flow toilets with ultra-low-flow toilet (ULFT) models. Typical pre-1985 toilets use between 5-7 gallons per flush (gpf) and post-1985 to pre-1991 use 3.5 gpf. The ULFT uses 1.6 gallons or less per flush - a savings of more than 60% every time it is flushed.
It is possible for a family of 3 with a new ULFT to save approximately 51 gallons of water per day or 18,600 gallons per year. That could mean a possible savings of $75 or more annually in water and wastewater charges. The average lifetime for a toilet is 20-30 years. This voucher program is for point-of-purchase discount only. No rebates will be issued. Vouchers are limited and will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.