Applicable Building Stock

CMLP’s heat pump rebates are available for heat pumps installed in existing buildings, and/or newly constructed additions to existing buildings. They are not available for heat pumps installed before the date a Permanent Certificate of Occupancy was issued for a newly constructed home or before the date a building inspection approval was issued for a newly constructed outbuilding.

Equipment must be used to supplement or replace oil, propane, or electric baseboard (resistance) heating systems or pre-existing heat pumps that functioned as the existing primary heating system. Households whose primary heating fuel is/was natural gas are not eligible for CMLP’s heat pump rebates, but may apply for similar rebates through Mass Save. 

Home Energy Assessment Requirement

If a home was built before 2008, a no-cost home energy assessment within the last three years or scheduled within six months after project completion is required. Outbuildings listed in the “Outbuildings” section of the property record in the Town of Concord’s online assessment database are exempt from the home energy assessment requirement. A completed Energy Saver Home Loan Program decarbonization plan is an acceptable substitute for a completed home energy assessment. If a home in which a heat pump is being installed is also being renovated such that the structure is intact, but some or all wall studs are exposed, the following requirements apply:

• When a HERS rating is required by building code for the home being renovated, a final HERS rating report substitutes for a home energy assessment.
• If the building code does not call for a HERS rating for the home being renovated, a home energy assessment is required.

Completed Home Energy Assessment: If you believe you had an assessment in the last three years through CMLP, but do not know the date, contact Energy New England, CMLP’s assessment provider, at 1-888-772-4242 or hea@ene.org for assistance.

Scheduling a No-Cost Home Energy Assessment: Visit our Home Energy Assessments webpage for instructions on scheduling an assessment.

Decarbonization Plan: Households participating in the Energy Saver Home Loan Program receive a decarbonization plan subsequent to an assessment of their home by an Energy Service Provider. The decarbonization plan can be uploaded with the heat pump rebate application to fulfill the home energy assessment requirement. 

Final HERS Rating Report: When a final HERS rating report substitutes for a home energy assessment, enter the date of the final HERS rating report in the heat pump rebate application.

CMLP strongly recommends that priority weatherization recommendations from the home energy assessment or decarbonization plan be implemented before, or in coordination with, the installation of the heat pump. A tight, well-insulated home optimizes heat pump performance, and may allow for a smaller heat pump to be installed, saving you money upfront and on your monthly utility bills. CMLP’s weatherization rebates help you increase your home’s efficiency and prepare for a new heating system.

Optional Project Pre-Approval 

Homeowners and contractors who wish to verify rebate eligibility prior to system installation may opt into submitting an optional rebate pre-approval form. CMLP strongly suggests taking advantage of this opportunity to verify a project's rebate eligibility, preferably before a contract is signed, and especially if the customer is expecting a whole home heat pump rebate. Contractors can submit the optional pre-approval form online with details on the proposed equipment at the links below for air-source or for ground-source heat pump projects. CMLP will review the project to verify whether it qualifies for CMLP's rebates, and whether a whole home or a partial home heat pump rebate applies. Both the customer and contractor will receive an email confirmation once pre-approved. If equipment changes from pre-approval to installation, CMLP cannot guarantee rebate eligibility. 

Town Building Department Permit and Inspection Requirements

The project electrician must apply for a Town electrical permit before work begins and schedule an electrical inspection after the work is done. CMLP will not award rebates until projects have passed an electrical inspection by Concord's Building Department. 

If the project requires sheet metal ducting work that goes beyond minor repairs, a sheet metal permit must be obtained for the project. Examples of projects that require a sheet metal permit include installation of new ducting or replacement, significant repairs or changes to existing ducting. The Town of Concord's inspector must have inspected and approved the sheet metal work. 

CMLP will verify that the project has passed the necessary inspections. Find out more details about permits and inspections in the Quality Assurance section on this page. The Building Department's contact information and hours are here. 

Town of Concord Board of Health Drilling Permits

Ground-source heat pump installers must apply for a drilling permit from the Town of Concord Board of Health before drilling begins. The permit application allows the Board of Health to verify that the wells are set back an appropriate distance from existing sewer and water lines. Permits can be requested via the Town's online permitting system. Contact information and hours for the Board of Health are here. CMLP will verify the date on which the drilling permit is issued.

Do-It-Yourself Heat Pump Installations

Do-it-yourself (DIY) heat pump installations are eligible for rebates under the following conditions:

-- A licensed electrician obtains an electrical permit and does the wiring. The installation must pass a Concord Building Department electrical inspection.

-- If the project involves sheet metal work beyond minor repairs, a tradesperson qualified to obtain a sheet metal permit must do so. The sheet metal work must pass a Concord Building Department inspection.

-- When applicable, refrigerant lines must be charged, sealed, and tested by a licensed professional to adhere to EPA regulations (some self-install systems are pre-charged and pre-sealed). If an existing HVAC system is being decommissioned, existing refrigerant must be properly recaptured.

-- The rebate cannot exceed the cost of the project, which is documented by invoices and/or receipts. Therefore DIY labor does not count towards the cost of the project.

Rebate Application Deadline:

CMLP's 90-day rebate application window begins on the later of the Concord Building Department's electrical inspection approval date or sheet metal inspection approval date (applicable if the project requires sheet metal ducting work that goes beyond minor repairs). Projects for which CMLP does not receive a rebate application within the 90-day window are not eligible for a rebate.