Up to $1250 in Rebates for a New Heat Pump
Berkley Electric Cooperative provides rebates to its residential members on the purchase of geothermal heat pumps through their Earth Connect Program. Residents who install geothermal heat pumps in either new or existing homes can receive $250 per ton from BEC, up to a maximum rebate of $1,250. Contact: Customer Service, Berkeley Electric Cooperative, 414 Highway 52 North, PO Box 1234, Moncks Corner, SC 2946; 843-761-8200; 843-825-3383; http://www.becsc.com/index.cfm?page=lp&id=235&sp=197

Loans up to $10,000 for Energy Efficient Home Improvements
Berkeley Electric Cooperative, in conjunction with Farmers and Merchants Bank of SC, provides Energy Advance Loans, which its residential members can use to finance a variety of energy efficient home improvement projects. Eligible efficiency technologies are water heaters, building insulation, doors and more; eligible renewable technologies are geothermal heat pumps. Contact: Customer Service, Berkeley Electric Cooperative, 414 Highway 52 North, PO Box 1234, Moncks Corner, SC 29461; 843-761-8200; 843-825-3383; http://www.becsc.com/index.cfm?page=lp&id=223&sp=197 or customers can call Farmers and Merchants Bank for additional information at 843-719-5504.
Applications: http://www.becsc.com/index.cfm?page=bp&id=29

Loans up to $7,500 for Energy Efficient Heat Pumps
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative offers low interest loans at 7.5% to its member to help finance the purchase of energy efficient heat pumps. Loans under $1,500 can be financed for up to 42 months, and loans above $1,500 can be financed for up to 60 months for houses and 48 months for mobile homes. Homeowners planning to install one heat pump can borrow up to $5,000. Homeowners wishing to install two or more heat pumps or one geothermal heat pump can borrow up to $7,500. Qualifying heat pump must have a SEER Rating of 13 or higher. Contact: Greenville Office - Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, 3751 Highway 11, Travelers Rest, SC 29690; 864-647-2005; 800-240-3400; http://www.blueridge.coop/services/heat_loan.html

Rebates up to $1,000 for Installation of Ground-Source Heat Pumps
Palmetto Electric Cooperative offers rebates for its members who install ground-source heat pumps through their Buried Treasure Rebate Program. Rebates are in the amount of $200 per ton up to a maximum of $1,000 per household. Interested members must complete the Buried Treasure Rebate Form with their heat pump contractor and return it to Palmetto prior to the installation of the new system. Contact: Hilton Head Office, Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 111 Mathews Dr, PO Box 23619, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925; 843-681-5551; http://www.palmetto.coop/conserve/treasure.html
Applications: http://www.palmetto.coop/pdf/bt_rebate_application.pdf

Home Improvement Loans up to $25,000 for Energy Efficient Equipment
Palmetto Electric Cooperative offers financing for energy efficient equipment through its EC Home Improvement Plan. Eligible efficiency technologies include equipment insulation, water heaters, heat pumps, heat recovery, building insulation, windows and doors. There is no down payment or application fee and loan amounts are from $1,000 to $25,000. Interest rate is determined by the loan amount, loan term and the customer's credit rating. Participants are not required to be a member of the co-op, but must use a contractor sponsored by the co-op. Interested parties should call the ECHI toll-free phone number on 866-278-2700 and a Loan Specialist will explain the terms and conditions of the loan. Contact: Hilton Head Office, Palmetto Electric Cooperative, 111 Mathews Dr, PO Box 23619, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925; 843-681-5551; http://www.palmetto.coop/

Home Improvement Loans up to $5000 Energy Efficient Home Improvements
Pee Dee Electric Cooperative offers financing for its members through their Energy Efficient Home Improvement Loan Program. Loans are between $250 and $5,000 at a fixed 5% interest rate and can be used for a number of measures which include: insulation; replacement of thermal windows and doors; attic ventilation systems; programmable thermostats; high efficiency electric heat pumps; dual fuel systems (heat pump/fossil fuel combined systems); ground source heat pumps; geothermal heat pumps; electric thermal storage and caulking and weatherstripping. To take advantage of this loan  members must first have a PDEC marketing representative conduct a home energy audit. After the audit, the marketing representative will recommend improvements that will make the home more energy efficient and provide an application for the loan. Contact: Dee Electric Cooperative, 1355 East McIver Road, PO Box 491, Darlington, SC 29540; 843-292-4349 ;843-292-4345; Fax 843-669-7931; http://www.peedeeelectric.com/subcontent.asp?id=50105160811cxsfxtchw

No Collateral Loans up to $20,000 for Energy Efficient Home Improvements
Progress Energy helps homeowners make energy-efficient home improvements by offering homeowners a flexible, affordable way to conserve energy, save money and add value to their property. The Energy Efficient Financing Program offers market based interest financing to help customers purchase heating and cooling systems, storm windows and doors, insulation and other energy-saving home improvements. You add value to your home - and save money on your energy bill. The program features loans up to $20,000 and up to 10 years to repay with no collateral needed and no closing costs or extra fees. Contact: Progress Energy Carolina, Customer Service, PO Box 1551, Raleigh, NC 27602; 888-999-8856; http://www.progress-energy.com/custservice/carres/financing/index.asp

5% Discount off Monthly Electric Bills
Progress Energy Carolinas offers an incentive to its residential customers for improving the energy efficiency of their homes. To qualify, the home must meet the standards of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star-labeled home program and be verified by a registered third party. The verification cost generally is in the range of $500-$800 and is also affected by the size of the home and travel time. Customers with eligible houses will receive a 5% discount on their monthly electric bills from Progress Energy. Contact: Progress Energy Carolina, Customer Service, PO Box 1551, Raleigh, NC 27602; 800-452-2777; http://www.progress-energy.com/custservice/carres/energyhome/index.asp

Loans up to $250,000 for Renewable Energy Production Facility
The Renewable Energy Revolving Loan Program provides low-interest loans to an individual or organization that plans to build a qualified renewable energy production facility. For the purposes of this loan, a renewable energy production facility is a facility that produces energy or transportation fuels from biomass, solar or wind resources. This loan may provide up to 50% of the total cost of a project, but may not exceed $250,000 for each project. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture administers the loan program, in cooperation with the South Carolina Institute of Energy Studies. Disbursement of funds must be approved by the South Carolina Renewable Energy Oversight Committee. The interest rate for qualifying loans will not exceed the Wall Street Journal prime interest rate. Contact: South Carolina Energy Office, 1201 Main Street, Suite 430, Columbia, SC 29201; 803-737-7177; 800-851-8899; Fax: 803-737-9846; http://www.energy.sc.gov/index.aspx?m=29&t=90&h=404

$1000 Rebates for Installation of Solar Water Heating Systems
Homebuilders can receive a rebate for every home built with a solar hot water heating system, along with promotion from the State Energy Office as a builder with experience in installing solar hot water systems.  Homebuilders are eligible if they build an approved EarthCraft Home with a solar water heating system certified by the Solar Rating Certification Council or the Florida Solar Energy Center. A maximum of $20,000 in total rebates is available. Twenty rebates of $1,000 each will be awarded to builders for approved installations. Only new installations (completed after application approval) qualify. Builders submit an application and after approval they have 180 days to install a new solar hot water system in the home. After the installation is verified, the State Energy Office will issue a rebate to the homebuilder. Contact: South Carolina Energy Office, 1201 Main Street, Suite 430, Columbia, SC 29201; 803-737-8034; Fax: 803-737-9846; http://www.energy.sc.gov/index.aspx?m=6&t=43
Applications: http://www.energy.sc.gov/publications/Application.pdf

$300 Sales Tax Cap on Energy Efficient Manufactured Homes
South Carolina caps sales taxes for manufactured homes at $300 if they meet or exceed energy efficiency standards specified by state law. Efficiency standards include: storm or double-pane glass windows, insulated or storm doors, and a minimum thermal resistance (R) rating of the insulation of R-11 for walls, R-19 for floors, and R-30 for ceilings. Variations of these ratings are accepted if the total heat loss for the home does not exceed that calculated using the levels of R-11 for walls, R-19 for floors, and R-30 for ceilings. The current edition of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Guide is used to determine heat-loss calculation. Contact: South Carolina Energy Office, 1201 Main Street, Suite 430, Columbia, SC 29201; 803-737-8025; 800-851-8899; http://www.energy.sc.gov/index.aspx?m=3&t=24

100% SalesTax Exemption on Energy Efficient Appliances
Beginning in 2009,  South Carolina offers a month-long sales tax exemption on energy efficient products of $2,500 or less per product, purchased for non-commercial home or personal use. This 100% exemption from the state sales tax applies to sales occurring during the month of October and every subsequent October until 2019. This incentive is available for any dishwasher, clothes washer, air conditioner, ceiling fan, fluorescent light bulb, dehumidifier, programmable thermostats, refrigerator, doors, or windows, the energy efficiency of which has been designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy as meeting or exceeding the agencies' energy-saving efficiency requirements. Contact: Public Information, South Carolina Energy Office, 1201 Main Street, Suite 430, Columbia, SC 29201; 803-737-8030 or 800-851-8899; Fax: 803-737-9846; http://www.state.sc.us/energy/

Up to $20,000 in Low Interest Loans for Energy Efficient Home Improvements
Santee Cooper provides low interest loans to its residential customers to improve the efficiency of their homes through their Good Cents loan program. Eligible efficiency technologies are water heaters, heat pumps, caulking/weather-stripping, building insulation, windows and doors. Customers can apply for energy efficient improvement loans ranging from $500 to $20,000 with up to 60-months to repay loans over $1,000. This loan requires no down payment. Contact: Customer Service, Santee Cooper, One Riverwood Drive, Moncks Corner, SC 29461; 843-761-8000; Fax: 843-761-7060; https://www.santeecooper.com/portal/page/portal/SanteeCooper/MyHome/ResidentialGoodCents
Applications: https://www.santeecooper.com/WebForms/getform?formName=SC0881i_Panel.xdp&preference=MSDHTML

Up To $40,000 Zero Interest Loans for Renewable Energy Resources
Santee Cooper offers zero-interest loans to residential customers who install photovoltaic (PV) systems, wind-energy systems, micro-hydropower systems or biomass-energy systems and who participate in the utility's "net billing" program. Residential customers that decline to participate in the utility's "net billing" program are eligible for low-interest loans. (The rate for low-interest loans varies.) The zero-interest loan program expires October 1, 2009. The maximum loan amount is $40,000, and the maximum term is 10 years. Contact: Santee Cooper, 1 Riverwood Drive, Moncks Corner, SC 29461; 843-761-8000; https://www.santeecooper.com/portal/page/portal/SanteeCooper/MyHome/LoansLow Interest

Energy Efficiency Utility Rate Discount
Santee Cooper encourages energy efficiency through its Good Cents rate discount program. To qualify for the program, homes must meet a variety of standards related to insulation, doors, windows, appliances and HVAC equipment. The rate discount and exact requirements are structured differently for new homes, improved homes and manufactured homes. Contact: Customer Service, Santee Cooper, One Riverwood Drive, Moncks Corner, SC 29461; 843-761-8000; Fax: 843-761-7060; https://www.santeecooper.com/portal/page/portal/SanteeCooper/MyHome/ResidentialGoodCents

Up to $15,000 in Fixed Interest Rate Energy Efficient Home Improvement Loans
Santee Electric Cooperative provides financing for their members to increase their homes' energy efficiency through their EC Home Improvement Loan Program. Possible home improvements include replacing doors and windows, adding insulation, installing new heat pumps and other projects that make homes more comfortable and energy efficient. There is no down payment or application fees and loan amounts can be between $1,000 and $15,000. Loans up to $5,000 can be repaid over 12 to 60 months, and loans between $5,000 and $15,000 can be extended up to 120 months. Contact: Main Office, Santee Electric Cooperative, 424 Sumter Hwy, Kingstree, SC 29556; 843-355-6187; http://www.santee.org/save/echomeimprovement.html

Personal Tax Credit for Solar Thermal Systems
Taxpayers may claim a credit of 25% of the costs of purchasing and installing a solar-energy system for heating water, space heating, air cooling or generating electricity in a building owned by the taxpayer. The maximum credit in any year is $3,500 for each facility or 50% of the taxpayer's tax liability for that taxable year, whichever is less. This credit applies to installation costs incurred in taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2006. Contact: Taxpayer Assistance, South Carolina Department of Revenue, 301 Gervais Street, P.O. Box 125, Columbia, SC 29214; 803-898-5709; http://www.energy.sc.gov/index.aspx?m=1&t=5&h=19