The information below includes ways to get a return on your home maintenance investment. An application for the Austin Energy rebates can be found at www.powersaver.austinenergy.com, and rebates are available to Austin Energy customers even if they do not live inside the city limits. Texas Gas Service rebates are available to qualified customers living in the city limits of Austin, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Rollingwood, Sunset Valley and West Lake Hills. Applications can be found at www.texasgasservice.com.

Air Conditioning

Rebate savings: $240-$600 based on type of unit installed 

• Must be installed by a city of Austin-registered contractor
• Current system must be at least 10 years old
• Must meet city of Austin efficiency guidelines
• Post-installation inspection by Austin Energy is required

Heat Pumps/Ground Source

Rebate savings: $750-$1,250 based on type of unit installed; rebate is deducted from tax credit (see below)

• Applicable for units from 1.5-6 tons in existing and new homes
• Must be installed by a city of Austin-registered contractor
• Post-installation inspection by Austin Energy is required

Refrigerator/freezer recycling

Rebate savings: $50 per working refrigerator or freezer recycled; program expires Aug. 15

• Austin Energy will pick up the unit, recycle 98 percent of the unit materials and dispose of the leftover materials
• Refrigerator or freezer must be in the Austin Energy service area, owned by an Austin Energy customer and sized 14-27 cubic feet
• Maximum recycling of two units per utility account each year
• Austin Energy customer must be present at pickup

Swimming pool pumps

Rebate savings: $300

• Applies to variable-speed pumps on a case-by-case basis
• Must replace an existing pump or be installed in a new in-ground pool
• Must be installed by a city of Austin-registered contractor

Water heaters/heat pumps

Rebate savings: $800

• Rebate only applies to new pumps
• Minimum water storage of 40 gallons
• Available to residential and commercial properties that use electric heat

Natural gas furnace

Rebate savings: $40-$675

• Offsets cost of annual furnace check and tuneup
• Existing construction only and multi-family units do not qualify
• Contractor must complete 26-point tuneup documentation

Natural gas water heater

Rebate savings: $100-$750 Super/high-efficiency, tankless or solar with gas backup

• $100 rebate: purchase and installation of new high-efficiency gas water heater in new or existing home
• $750 rebate: purchase, install of new tankless, super high-efficiency or solar gas water heater with gas backup in new or existing home

Natural gas dryer

• $225 rebate: purchase and installation of new natural gas dryer with moisture sensor in new or existing home
• $300 rebate: installation of new natural gas dryer stub connection in laundry area of existing home where there was not one before

2016 Federal tax credits:

These tax credits generally amount to 10 percent of the new product cost, up to $500, unless otherwise indicated. The credit expires Dec. 31, and the product must be installed in an existing home and principal residence, excluding new construction or rental homes. Qualifying products generally include those items installed Jan. 1, 2011-Dec. 31, 2016. Taxpayers can submit Tax Form 5695 with their annual returns to receive the credit.

Heat pumps—$300 credit Furnaces/boilers—$150 credit; includes gas, propane, oil Central air conditioning: $300 credit Insulation: installation costs not included Roofs: credit applies to metal and asphalt reflective roofs, and limit applies to combined improvements from 2005-16 Water heaters/non-solar: $300 credit; does not include electric storage tank or electric tankless water heaters Water heaters/solar: 30 percent credit (including cost of installation); includes primary, secondary or new construction homes but not rental homes; applies to products installed between Jan. 1, 2006-Dec. 31, 2016; not available for swimming pool or hot tub heaters Windows, doors, skylights: 10 percent credit; up to $200 for windows/skylights and $500 for doors with a maximum total credit of $500