| Tax Credit-Certified HVAC Technicians |
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| Information for Tax Credit Certified HVAC Technicians |
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The Residential Energy Tax Credit program requires that a tax credit certified technician verify the installation of solar thermal and photovoltaic systems, air source heat pump and central air conditioning systems, duct sealing, ground source (geothermal) heat pump systems in order to qualify the equipment for the tax credit. The Oregon Department of Energy distributes and updates lists of companies with tax credit certified technicians working for them for each technology.
The purpose of tax credit certification is ensure that the systems are being installed according to the best practices and that technicians can properly explain the Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit program to their customers.
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| Becoming a Tax Credit Certified Technician |
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In order to become tax credit certified, a technician must meet certain initial training requirements, To renew their certification the technician must meet other requirements, such as completing a specified number of tax credit jobs per year and participating in an update telephone conference call. The full requirements are outlined for each technology in the Guidelines for Certification listed at the right. (Specific information for solar technicians can be found here.)
The general procedure for becoming a tax credit-certified technician is:
- Meet initial training requirements by attending training or passing a test.
- Send in an Application for Tax Credit Certified Technician along with any required documentation.
- Complete the minimum number of required installations during the calendar year.
- Participate in one of the annual update conference calls sponsored by the Oregon Department of Energy. These are offered at various times during the year.
- Renew your tax credit certified technician status near the end of each year by submitting a renewal application.
Specific requirements for initial certification and renewal for technicians in each technology are included in the Guidelines to Residential Energy Tax Credit Certification Requirements.
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How to Become a Tax Credit Certified Technician:
Renewal Tax Credit Certified Technician Application Form |
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| Tax Credit-Certified Heat Pump & Central Air Conditioning Systems |
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The installation of tax credit eligible heat pump and central air conditioning systems are verified by Technicians participating in the CheckMe! program offered by Proctor Engineering Group or the Performance Tested Comfort System (PTCS) program from Bonneville Power Administration. These tests verify that the refrigerant charge and air flow for these systems is correct before the technician leaves the job site. Which verification procedure you use depends on whether additional utility rebates are involved.
In order to provide the CheckMe! test, you must attend a one-day training from Proctor Engineering Group, demonstrate proficiency using certain test equipment and have a signed agreement with them. Proctor Engineering schedules trainings several times a year in Oregon. You can get information about the training directly from Randy Larson at Proctor Engineering at 1-800-455-5742 x 118 (or 415-451-2480).
Technicians may also qualify ducts, heat pumps for the state tax credit using procedures developed by the Bonneville Power Administration's Performance Tested Comfort System (PTCS) program. This procedure is required by many public utilities in Oregon for their incentive programs. For information about this program, please go the PTCS Web site or call 503-525-2700 x140. Many technicians are certified by both the PTCS and Oregon Department of Energy programs.
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Current List of companies with tax credit certified technicians:
Ducts/Heat Pump & Central Air Conditioning
Geothermal Heat Pump
Solar - PV & Thermal |
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| Submitting Tax Credit Applications |
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Submitting Tax Credit Applications for Premium Efficiency Heat Pump and Central Air Conditioning Systems -- The actual tax credit application is generated and mailed to the customer by the Proctor Engineering or the PTCS program. Typically it takes about two weeks for the homeowner to receive their tax credit application. Equipment must meet the tax credit program performance standards as listed in the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute's Unitary Directory of Certified Products (see link at right). If you believe the equipment you're installing meets our requirements, please provide us with the ARI reference number and make and model numbers for the equipment. Very important: Be sure the customer invoice shows the make and model numbers of the equipment installed and the retail price of the equipment, the full price of the installation. If the customer is expecting a tax credit for the cost of CheckMe! or PTCS test, the invoice should list that cost, as well.
Submitting Tax Credit Applications for Premium Efficiency Geothermal Heat Pump Systems -- The technician should download the application form (at right) and fill out section 2, 3, and 8. Please provide a copy of the manufacturer's data page showing the rated COP for the equipment you've installed. Be sure the customer invoice shows the make and model numbers of the equipment installed and the retail price of the equipment as well as full price of the installation.
Submitting Tax Credit Applications for Premium Efficiency Ducts -- The technician should download the application form (at right) and fill out Sections 2, 3. 4, 5 and 8 of the Tax Credit Application form and include a copy of the appropriate worksheet for the type of duct system you're sealing (New Construction, New Duct System in an Existing Home, or Duct Repair/Duct Sealing). If you're verifying the system using the PTCS protocol, you must also perform the "air handler effect" test required by the tax credit program and include the results on the PTCS worksheet. Provide the customer with a copy of the PTCS worksheets to be included with their application.
Submitting Tax Credit Applications for Premium Efficiency Ductless Heat Pumps -- Tax credit eligible ductless heat pumps have a different application process than other heat pumps. Technicians are not required to be certified by the Oregon Department of Energy, but simply vouch that they have attended manufacturer-sponsored training within the past 5 years. The equipment must be commissioned using the manufacturer's installation or start up checklist. The technician should download the application form (at right) and fill out sections 2 and 3. The technician should provide a copy of the installation checklist to the customer to be submitted with the tax credit application. If the equipment is not on our current list, please verify that the equipment uses "inverter technology" and is listed in ARI (use Equipment Type HRCU-A-CB-O to see ductless systems) and verify with us that the new model is eligible.
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Current application forms:
Duct sealing
Ductless heat pump
Geothermal heat pump application
Ventilation systems
Water heaters
(Note: Heat pump & central AC tax credit application forms are not downloadable)
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| For More Information... |
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Download the information and forms in the right hand column for the technologies you meet the requirements to be certified for. For more information call 1-800-221-8035 and ask for:
Other Links:
Linking to a Web site does not constitute an endorsement by the Oregon Department of Energy, or its employees, of the sponsor or the services offered on the site. The Oregon Department of Energy makes no guarantee of the accuracy of the information provided on the linked site.
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