Begin with the project sequence, especially if rebates matter.
Before replacing a Delaware system, identify whether the work will go through a whole-home program or an equipment-only utility offer. The sequence may determine eligibility. A signed equipment contract is not a rebate reservation.
Energize Delaware’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program begins with an assessment and recommendations. Its approved contractor submits the signed agreement and rebate reservation. Ask for the reservation confirmation and its conditions before treating a discount as committed funding.
Energize Delaware: Home Performance process · Source checked 2026-09-06
Turn coastal exposure into a written installation detail.
For a Sussex County home exposed to salt and wind, ask the contractor to identify the outdoor unit’s maintenance instructions, corrosion warranty exclusions, and recommended location. Have them check the actual property’s permit and floodplain requirements rather than applying one elevation rule to the entire coast.
For an inland townhouse, ask about service access, vibration, neighbor-facing sound, and any association approval for exterior equipment. Put the chosen location on the proposal. The same model may require a different installation scope at each property.
Ask what the assessment changed.
A useful assessment should lead to specific decisions. Request a room-by-room explanation of any insulation, air sealing, duct, or return-air work recommended alongside the heat pump. Ask which improvements are required for the proposed program, which are optional, and how each affects the equipment selection.
Energize Delaware’s FAQ explains that its contractors use measurements and calculations to size systems. Ask for that sizing result and the assumptions, including any envelope improvements planned before installation. Avoid comparing a bid sized for the current house with one sized for an improved house without noting the difference.
Energize Delaware: homeowner FAQs · Source checked 2026-09-06
Separate a grant, a rebate, and financing.
If financing is offered, record the amount borrowed, repayment term, fees, and total repayment separately from the equipment price. Energize Delaware’s financing workflow includes improvement recommendations and a rebate reservation confirmation. Financing approval should not be mistaken for a grant award.
Ask which program is responsible for each credit and whether it can be combined with another offer. A statewide program and a utility program may have different rules for the same home; confirm both before adding their advertised maximums.
Energize Delaware: residential financing workflow · Source checked 2026-09-06
Leave the site visit with a comparable bid.
| Detail | What to request |
|---|---|
| Scope | Exact rooms and equipment replaced |
| Sizing | House load and matched equipment output |
| Site | Outdoor location, stand, drainage, clearances |
| Comfort | Return-air and humidity-control plan |
| Incentive | Program name, reserved amount, expiration |
| Completion | Testing, owner instructions, paperwork owner |
Keep an option that solves the essential comfort problem without assuming a future incentive. If the old equipment fails before approval, contact the administrator about emergency rules before authorizing a different sequence.
Bring a clear project brief to your installer.
Sources checked September 6, 2026. Confirm current funding and installation-date rules with the administrator before signing. These are selected local pathways, not an exhaustive rebate list.
Start a heating and cooling request with your existing equipment, utility, and comfort priorities. Temperaly does not approve rebates; a request is not an appointment.
Editorial review: 2026-09-06