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saging on local radio stations several
weeks a year for the last several years.
Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley Oil & Energy Council
(HVOEC) launched the Upgrade &
Save Hudson Valley rebate program in
2016. The program currently offers
rebates of up to $1,250 per home:
$750 for efficiency upgrades of oilheat
furnaces or boilers and $500 for
safety upgrades of underground or
aboveground storage tanks to new
aboveground tanks. In previous years
HVOEC offered $500 for equipment
upgrades and $250 for storage tanks.
As of August 31, 2018, HVOEC has
remitted $132,000 to 264 homeowners
since its inception. That represents
202 boiler/furnace/burner upgrades
and 66 storage tank replacements.
The rebate program has been successful
in substantially reducing fuel consumption:
on average, boiler efficiency
increased from an AFUE of 75.72% to
85.35% and furnaces from 75.04% to
83.56%. These changes represent a
reduction of approximately 19,448 gallons
of heating oil per year.
In 2017, HVOEC partnered with
Upstate New York Energy Association
(UNYEA) to develop the OilheatNY.com
energy efficiency, education, training,
and outreach program. This multidimensional
consumer program promoting
energy efficiency, equipment
upgrades and Upgrade & Save rebates
included a new consumer website,
and a brand new multi-media communications
campaign that directed
consumers to “upgrade your lifestyle”
and reminded them that “the answer
is oilheat” to their heating and environmental
concerns. These messages
were disseminated via radio advertising;
digital display and search engine
marketing, realty professional outreach,
an ongoing web presence optimization
campaign including monthly
blogs and social media updates, dealer
training, consumer newsletters, insert
slips and bill inserts, and prewritten
content for dealers to use as needed.
As part of its requirements under
the Association charter and the NORA
authorization Act, HVOEC provides
consumer information on oilheat and
Bioheat® fuel on its website.
NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina did extensive outreach
to Contractors, Home Inspectors
and Building Professionals. Social Media
used included Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube, and Google.
North Carolina approved $70K for
heating oil equipment rebates of
$1,000 per unit ($500 to home owner
& $500 to HVAC contractor). The Committee
approved approximately $25K
for new heating oil above ground tank
rebates of $500 per tank. Approved
mass marketing pamphlet mailed to
every HVAC licensed contractor in the
State with the rebate information.
Committee approved Thermo Pride Oil
Unit donations to seven Community
Colleges and provided Oil Heat training
to HVAC technicians as needed.
NCPCM launched the Upgrade &
Save North Carolina rebate program
in 2016. The program currently offers
rebates of up to $1,000 per home:
$500 for efficiency upgrades of oilheat
furnaces, boilers or water heaters;
$500 to HVAC contractors to reduce
the consumer costs of installation,
and $500 for the replacement of an
aboveground or underground storage
tank with a new aboveground tank.
As of August 31, 2018, NCPCM has
remitted $94,000 to 119 homeowners
since its inception. That represents 71
boiler/furnace/water heater upgrades
and 48 storage tank replacements.
The rebate program has been successful
in substantially reducing fuel consumption:
on average, boiler efficiency
increased from an AFUE of 87% to 96%
and furnaces from 77.42% to 86.94%.
These changes represent a reduction
of approximately 6,430 gallons of
heating oil per year.
As part of its requirements under
the organization charter and the NORA
authorization Act, NCPCM educates
and communicates with homeowners
through its consumer-facing website
at NCOilheat.com, which was updated
to a device responsive format in 2015.
The site is easy to navigate, whether
accessed from a smartphone or a
desktop computer. This site also provides
information on NORA education
& training programs, state of emergency
& HOS waivers, storage tank
information, and the Upgrade & Save
rebate program.
OHIO
As part of its requirements under
the organization charter and the NORA
authorization Act, Ohio Petroleum
Marketers and Convenience Store Association
(OPMCA) educates and communicates
with homeowners through
its consumer-facing website at
OhioOilheatCouncil.org or OhioOilheat.
com, which was updated to a device
responsive format in 2017. The site is
easy to navigate, whether accessed
from a smartphone or a desktop
computer. This site also provides
information on NORA education &
training programs and local, federal
and association rebate and assistance
programs.