Home Efficiency Frequently Asked Questions
Virginia Home Efficiency Rebate Program:
The following list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) is maintained by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Division of Energy. To ensure consistent and uniform answers to all general questions, this is the only mechanism by which to ask questions and receive answers about the Virginia Home Efficiency Rebate Program.
You can submit a question using this link: Homeenergyrebate@dmme.virginia.gov
Return to this web page to look for an answer. Similar questions will be combined. Please read the FAQs carefully to see if your question or one very similar to your question already has been answered.
- How do I use the online reservation form?
Answer: Answer: Consult the Online Application Tutorial, which is a link near the top of this page: http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/HomeEfficiency.shtml
- What should I do while I wait to learn whether my reservation will be approved? What should I do if my project is placed on the waiting list?
Answer: Go to the DMME web page for this program: http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/HomeEfficiency.shtml.
Carefully read and use the materials and resources:
Print the Checklist for cost documentation and contractor form to help ensure compliance with requirements to receive a rebate check
Review a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Read the terms and conditions that you agreed to when you created a project
Study the Energy Efficiency Measures and Requirements to make sure you understand what equipment, systems and services are eligible for rebates; ensure that anything you buy meets the program’s minimum efficiency standards; learn how to obtain a Manufacturer Certification Statement; and understand other requirements associated with each item
Use the FAQ link to ask questions about the Home Efficiency Rebate Program
- Replacements Only: Does my new equipment have to replace old equipment?
Answer: New energy efficient items purchased must replace existing items or systems. The purpose of the rebate program is to replace older less efficient equipment that is currently in use with new more energy efficient items.
- New Home or addition: Can a new home or addition qualify?
What about a home addition? You say that new items must replace old in order to qualify. I've just added on to my house and the new windows that I installed do not replace older ones. Do I qualify for a rebate for the new windows?
Are these funds available for new residential construction?
Can a contractor building a new house claim the rebate if he does so before selling the house?
Answer: No. This program is intended to reduce energy consumption by replacing older less efficient equipment that is in service with high-efficiency equipment, and to upgrade existing buildings to make them more energy efficient. New construction or additions to homes are not eligible to qualify for a rebate.
- Both Rebate and Tax Credit: Can I get a Virginia rebate and apply for the federal income tax credit on the same items?
If I receive a rebate from VA for a portion of the cost of new windows, can I still claim a federal tax credit? What portion of the purchase price will be used to determine my eligibility for the federal tax credit? 100% of the price? Or 100% of the price minus the VA energy efficiency rebate?
Answer: If you meet eligibility requirements and provide adequate documentation you can qualify for a Virginia Home Efficiency Rebate regardless of whether you qualify for or claim the federal income tax credit. Determination of the method of calculating the basis of a claim for the federal income tax credit is a question for your tax preparer or other tax professional.
- Rules and documentation: What documentation is required and where can I find a copy of all program rules?
How do I know what documentation is required? I read and agreed to the required documentation, but didn’t print it. It would be helpful to have a list of documentation required so that I can be prepared to submit documentation.
I just submitted my project for insulation, which I will begin shortly. Do I need to submit receipts if I do the work myself? Will I know for sure that my project will be funded?
Answer: You should access and print out requirements for documentation and other eligibility requirements on the DMME web page for this program, here: http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/HomeEfficiency.shtml.
You can be certain of getting a reserved rebate only if you satisfy all requirements of the program, including the requirements associated with the item or items you selected, and provide required documentation. Among the documents you can review and print from the web page are:
- Eligibility and other requirements for each item or measure
- A list of frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- A checklist of required documentation that includes a contractor form
- Terms and conditions
Examples of required documentation and other requirements include itemized receipts or invoices; proof (such as a specification sheet) that equipment meets or exceeds the specified minimum energy efficiency standards; manufacturer certification statements; energy auditor certification number (if an auditor rebate is requested).
Some rebates are based on documented equipment and labor or installation costs. Labor provided by the applicant is not an eligible cost.
- Invalid Email Format Error:
When I went to the log-in screen and entered my email address it gave me this message: Invalid Email Format. My email is (applicant’s email contained a hyphen in the domain name).
My email address is (applicant’s mail box ending in .edu). I signed up for the residential energy rebate email alert several weeks ago using my email address.
Answer: Security settings in the online application that rejected some mailboxes have now been modified. Mailboxes with special characters no longer are being rejected as invalid. Mailboxes ending in “edu” also are accepted now. For more information, see the appropriate section in the Online Application Tutorial, at: http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/HomeEfficiency.shtml.
- Why is my account locked?
What does this mean: Your account has been locked. Please contact your system administrator to unlock it?
Answer: After a number of unsuccessful attempts to login, the user account is locked. To unlock your account, use the reset password feature below the log-in boxes on the online application. To get to the online application, click on the first link on this page: http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/HomeEfficiency.shtml. For more information, see the appropriate section in the Online Application Tutorial:
http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/HomeEfficiency.shtml
- Why is my login attempt unsuccessful?
When I try to log in I get this error: “Your login attempt was not successful. Please try again.”
Answer: You are trying to log in before you create a user account. For more information, see the appropriate section in the Online Application Tutorial.
- What does “Invalid User Name” mean?
Why do I get this message: “Invalid User Name.”
Answer: This message is displayed when you try to change your password, but never had an account to change. For more information, see the appropriate section in the Online Application Tutorial: http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/HomeEfficiency.shtml
- Do I need to get an energy audit done in order to be eligible to receive a rebate under this program?
Answer: No, an energy audit is optional, not mandatory, and is at the property owner's discretion. If you decide to get an energy audit performed, please see the eligibility requirements outlined in the Home Efficiency Measures and Requirements and the Checklist of Cost Documentation information - (Word), (PDF) found elsewhere on this webpage. Here is more information on energy audits, what they are, their benefits and how to locate an auditor: http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DE/ARRA-Public/EnergyAudit.shtml
- How can I print the bar-coded form I need to redeem my rebate? It did not print when I completed the on-line redemption process and now I don't know how to find the form.
Instructions for printing rebate form
- Log into the DMME website with your email address and password (https://epm.virginiainteractive.org/HERebate)
- When you login, you will see your project(s) listed
- If you have already completed the process of entering the costs for your items, your project should have a status of “Payment Pending”.
- Click the “View PDF” link. This should open your bar-coded form for you to print.
- It’s been a while since I sent my rebate redemption claim and paperwork into your office, and our application status remains “payment pending”. When can we expect to receive our rebate check?
Answer: Once we receive your paperwork, it is reviewed for completeness. If you are missing any documents, we send you an email requesting that you provide the missing information and instructions on how to send it to our office. Sometimes our emails are picked up by your computer’s spam filter so you don’t receive the email. Please check your spam or junk mailboxes occasionally to see if any emails from “dmme.virginia.gov” addresses have been blocked. Once the missing documents are received, we will process your claim. You will receive an email from us after your claim has been scanned that will tell you that your rebate claim has been approved for payment. The status of your application will then change from “payment pending” to “closed”. You should receive your rebate check about 2 weeks after you receive that email.
- Can I get an extension on my original deadline date for my replacement windows project if there is a contractor backlog?
Answer: DMME considered that some projects would take longer than other projects when the agency established the 60-day performance period. However, DMME will consider requests for reasonable extensions for projects on a case-by-case basis if the applicant can provide an email from the contractor to support the need for additional time.
- Are any businesses or organizations not eligible for rebates?
Answer: None of the funds provided under this program derived from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 may be used for or in relation to: Casinos or other gambling establishments, aquariums, zoos, golf courses, or swimming pools.
The Home Efficiency Rebate Program is not offering rebates to commercial facilities, only Virginia homeowners.
- Waiting List -- What does that mean?
Answer: The good news for applicants who are on the waiting list is that many if not most of you have a good chance of being approved for a rebate reservation. The bad news is that you will have to wait to learn whether and when your reservation will be approved. If you are near the top of the waiting list, you will learn relatively quickly whether your reservation will be approved. If you are near the bottom of the waiting list, you might have to wait 2 or 3 months for approval notification.
Applications were placed on the waiting list in the order in which they were received. You can determine your ranking on the waiting list by subtracting the current first wait-listed project number from your project number. The first wait-listed project number will be provided on this webpage once applicants begin to be put on this list.
Here is how requests for rebate reservations on the waiting list can be approved. Even though all available funds have been reserved, applicants often redeem a lower amount of funds than their reservation allows. Other applicants with approved reservations are expected to redeem no rebate amount at all. Each of these events makes additional funds available and allows us to approve requests on the wait list.
Please do not call or send an email to ask about your place on the waiting list or to ask us to predict whether or when there will be enough funds to approve your reservation request. The Division of Energy receives a high volume of calls and emails for assistance to complete work on and redeem approved reservations. The more we can focus on this work, the faster more funds become available for applicants on the wait list. Distracting us from this work will only increase your wait time.
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