Vermont's climate, for sizing
- IECC climate zone
- 6A · cold humid
- Typical winter low
- -15°F to 5°F
Vermont has been heat-pumping aggressively for a decade. Cold-climate ASHP is the default. Efficiency Vermont's rebates assume it. Backup heat is common because the design day is -15°F or colder.
Vermont state and utility programs
- Efficiency Vermont Heat Pump Rebate (State rebate): up to $2,400. Cold-climate ASHP installed by participating contractor. Enhanced rebates for moderate-income households. Stacks with utility programs. Efficiency Vermont
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 Repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21, July 4, 2025).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 Vermont
- ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder: utility-specific rebates by ZIP.
- DSIRE database, filtered to Vermont: 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.