What is Efficiency Maine’s Mobile Home Initiative?

Among the many residential rebates and incentives Efficiency Maine administers, the Mobile Home Initiative (MHI) offers eligible low-income homeowners the most generous residential heat pump rebate available. Recipients could pay as little as $2,000 for a new high-efficiency ducted heat pump system that can save them hundreds of dollars every year.

The MHI program is designed specifically to help income-eligible owners of single-wide mobile homes upgrade their home heating systems. Through the program, eligible participants can replace the propane- or kerosene-fueled systems that are typical for these homes with high-efficiency ducted heat pumps. Making the switch can lower heating costs and offer cooling for the summer – something that more traditional furnaces cannot offer.

Since heat pumps perform particularly well in smaller spaces with well-distributed heat, mobile homes are an effective application of this technology. A high-efficiency ducted heat pump can be installed in the existing furnace closet and connected to the existing ductwork, making this a relatively straightforward way to enjoy the cost savings and comfort of heat pumps.

Homeowners must contribute to the cost of the project and have the option of paying $2,000 up front or financing their portion with a loan offered through the Efficiency Maine Green Bank. Eligible homeowners can borrow the $2,000 plus a $500 loan origination fee for a total borrowed amount of $2,500 at a 0% Annual Percentage Rate (APR). The loan is repaid with $50 monthly payments over 50 months.

There are few key considerations that determine eligibility: the homeowner, the home itself, and the installer.

The homeowner:

• The homeowner or a member of the homeowner’s household must be a verified recipient of MaineCare or HEAP or SNAP or TANF, or household income must be 80% or less of the median income for the county in which the home is located. For more details, click here.
• The homeowner must agree to having the existing heating system removed (included in the project cost) because the ducted heat pump will occupy the HVAC closet space.
• The homeowner must have an active email address.

The home:

• Be a single-wide mobile home;
• Be the homeowner’s principal, year-round residence;
• Presently be heated entirely by kerosene or propane;
• Be located on the MHI designated towns list;
• Not have an existing heat pump; and
• Be able to fit the heat pump system, having a furnace closet measuring 18 inches or wider.

If a homeowner qualifies after completing the screening questionnaire, Efficiency Maine will conduct a free on-site assessment to determine if a ducted heat pump system is suitable for the home. If the home is not suitable due to pre-existing conditions, such as excess heat loss, underbelly damage, or compromised ductwork, the customer has the option to take advantage of Efficiency Maine’s insulation rebates up to $8,000 before trying to participate in the program again.

The installer:

The installer for the project must be chosen from Efficiency Maine’s list of MHI participating heat pump installers.

To learn more about the program, you can visit the Mobile Home Initiative webpage for more information. Be sure to keep an eye out for our next blog post on what to expect as an MHI participant for a narrative guide to the nine-step process.

To subscribe to Efficiency Maine’s blog and receive the latest program updates, click here.