ENERGY STAR® Home Production Rises

Across the nation, 98 manufactured housing plants are now actively building ENERGY STAR homes, and despite the current market challenges, ENERGY STAR market share continues to grow. Part of what is driving interest in ENERGY STAR is the increasing number of opportunities for rebates and tax incentives. In the past few months, several programs have been launched, expanding the sphere of incentives.

In North and South Carolina, there are two new initiatives:

1. SBRA has partnered with Progress Energy Carolinas to provide retailers and community owners up to $700 per home equipped with high efficiency cooling equipment. Modular and manufactured homes in North and South Carolina are eligible for the rebate. This incentive can be combined with the $500 rebate available for North Carolina manufactured home sellers through the state’s Upgrade & Save program, bringing the possible total retailer incentive to $1,200 per home.

2. ENERGY STAR manufactured home buyers in South Carolina are eligible for a $750 state income tax credit and elimination of the sales tax on homes purchased after July 1, 2009.

Plus, customers connected to Progress Energy or Duke Energy electric service in the Carolinas qualify for a 5% discount on their monthly electric bill for as long as they live in the home. SBRA is negotiating with Duke Energy to provide rebates for ENERGY STAR homes in their area next year. Duke Energy is currently evaluating the program for their service areas in North and South Carolina and in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

In California, beginning January 1, 2010, new ENERGY STAR manufactured homes sold and connected to Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) service will qualify for a $500 per home rebate paid to the home seller, either the retailer or community owner. SBRA is discussing the addition of modular homes to the PG&E program. SBRA expects the rebate program in Southern California Edison’s service area will resume in 2010.

Rebate programs will continue in 2010 in Nevada for areas served by NV Energy and in California for homes connected to Sierra Pacific Power. This program, administered by SBRA, includes both manufactured and modular homes. The Tennessee Valley Authority program also will continue through 2010 and covers Tennessee and parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia.

Welcome New Manufactured Housing Plants

SBRA welcomes these plants to the ENERGY STAR Manufactured Homes program: