Connecticut's climate, for sizing
- IECC climate zone
- 5A · cold humid
- Typical winter low
- 5°F to 15°F
Real winter. Pick a cold-climate ASHP that holds rated output near 5°F. Many CT installers default to whole-home cold-climate ductless or central systems because of how often it gets below 20°F.
Connecticut state and utility programs
- Energize Connecticut Heat Pump Rebate (Utility-funded rebate): up to $15,000 combined. Through Eversource and United Illuminating. Combined incentives for cold-climate ASHP, geothermal, and heat pump water heaters. Income-qualified enhancements available. Energize CT
Federal programs that still apply
- Section 25C Tax Credit (Tax credit (EXPIRED)): EXPIRED Dec 31, 2025. Repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21, July 4, 2025). Installations placed in service on or before Dec 31, 2025 may still claim on 2025 returns until Oct 15, 2026 extension deadline. 2026 installs are NOT eligible. IRS Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit
- Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR / HEEHRA) (Point-of-sale rebate): up to $8,000. Income-qualified households (≤150% area median income). 100% covered for ≤80% AMI, 50% for 80–150% AMI. State-administered with rollout varying widely. Some states (CA) fully reserved; others (HI, NH) launching mid-2026. US DOE Energy Saver Hub
- DSIRE Database (Aggregator): all state programs. Searchable database of every state, local, utility, and federal incentive currently active. Funded by US DOE, maintained by NC State University. Best starting point for verifying your specific ZIP code's options. dsireusa.org
Heads up: the federal Section 25C tax credit expired December 31, 2025. State and utility rebates are still active in most places.
Where to look next, for Connecticut
- ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder: utility-specific rebates by ZIP.
- DSIRE database, filtered to Connecticut: every active program in the state.
- Run the heat pump tools: payback, sizing, and whether the math actually works in cold humid.
- Stack the Money: the national overview, with what stacks with what.