Heat Pumps tax credits and incentives

Heat Pumps - namely Geothermal Heat Pumps- are a recognized energy-efficient alternative. Many States support geothermal heat pumps installation through rebates, tax incentives and other grants.

See:

US incentives for Heat Pumps
UK incentives for Heat Pumps
Canada
Australia

US Federal and US States Incentives for Ground Heat Pumps

There are tax credits with no upper limit through 2016 for geothermal heat pumps associated with existing and new homes.

The eligible criteria involves some technical parameters associated with the types of loop, and the minimal efficiency values for the system:

Geothermal Closed Loop with a EER >= 14.1 and a COP >= 3.3
Geothermal Open Loop with a EER >= 16.2 and a COP >= 3.6
Geothermal Direct Expansion with a EER >= 15 and a COP >= 3.5

Note:

The Efficiency of Heat Pumps units are measured using EER (Energy Efficient Ratio) and COP (Coefficient of Performance).
Closed loop, Open Loop and Direct Expansion heat pump systems classification is closely related with the different types of heat exchangers used by geothermal heat pumps. See: Types of geothermal heat pumps.

For more detailed information, see:

Federal Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE)
Ground Heat Pumps: US Federal and US States Incentives
Solar incentives in USA

UK Incentives for Ground Heat Pumps

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) funded a specific program (Low Carbon Buildings Program) that provides grants to help with the costs of installing ground source heat pumps (and other technologies). See on this matter: Housing and Buildings Energy Savings Trust.

CANADA Incentives for Ground Heat Pumps

There are some, few, incentives for Ground Heat Pumps in some municipalities and states (British Columbia - Energy Conservation, New Brunswick...).

For information on incentives and rebates involving Ground Heat Pumps and renewables in your region, check out the Incentives and Rebates database on the Office of Energy Efficiency web site: Canadian Incentives and Rebates for Alternative Energies.

AUSTRALIA Incentives for Ground Heat Pumps

There are some, few, state incentives available for heat pumps. Rebates are currently available in Queensland, Victoria and some parts of NSW and SA. Most of current incentives involve the solar technologies: the Photovoltaic Rebate Program (PVRP) and the Renewable Remote Power Generation Program (RRPGP).

For information on Australian energy efficiency incentives, see the following governmental sites:

- Australian Greenhouse Office AGO
- Environment ACT Government Environment ACT
- New South Wales, Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability DEUS
- Northern Territory, Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines Dept of Energy - make the switch
- Queensland Environmental Protection Agency EPA
- South Australia, Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, Energy SA
- Tasmania, Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, DIER
- Victoria, Sustainable Energy Authority Victoria, SEAV
- Western Australia, Sustainable Energy Development Office