TECH Clean California launched two programs on Tuesday, November 12, 2024:
TECH Clean California Single-family HVAC
IRA HEEHRA Single-family HVAC
Read on to learn more about how to participate in these recently launched programs in Rock Rabbit.
🛎️ We understand that these programs can be complex, and we’re here to help. If you have questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].
Participation Criteria
Contractors must be TECH-certified to access the HEEHRA program, instructions to enroll here.
Existing TECH-certified contractors must complete a HEEHRA agreement form and complete the onboarding videos, available today.
Transitioning to New Programs in Rock Rabbit
For contractors who participated in TECH's single-family HVAC programs pre-launch, here is some helpful information about what to expect looking forward.
Making New Reservations in Rock Rabbit
In Rock Rabbit, contractors can submit reservations to TECH directly on the platform following the steps below:
Homeowners complete their income verification as soon as possible for confirmed projects.
The contractor completes the reservation checklist and submits the reservation in Rock Rabbit.
Rock Rabbit will notify the contractor when the reservation has been approved – TECH has committed to reviewing reservations in 2 weeks or less.
Contractors can upload application submission documents to Rock Rabbit while the reservation approval processes. Applications should not be submitted until an approval is received.
Once approved, reservations are valid for 120 days and secure funding for the project.
We recommend that Rock Rabbit customers wait for reservation approval notifications before submitting applications. For emergency replacements, please contact [email protected] for assistance with an expedited submission process.
Guidelines for Managing Jobs Under TECH and HEEHRA Programs
Navigating next steps for jobs at different stages of a contractor's pipeline under the previous and new TECH single-family HVAC and HEEHRA programs can be challenging.
Here are the Rock Rabbit for navigating next steps:
Jobs submitted through Rock Rabbit before the program launch on November 12 will remain eligible under the previous program requirements.
For in-progress jobs, please reach out to Rock Rabbit Support at [email protected] for guidance on the best next steps.
For contractors who recently joined Rock Rabbit and participate in TECH, our team is working to complete your Designated Applicant (DA) Agreement, enabling Rock Rabbit to submit applications to TECH on your behalf.
🛎️ If you have jobs ready for submission to TECH or HEEHRA but your account is pending the completion of a DA Agreement, please contact [email protected] for assistance with next steps.
Rebate Amounts in Rock Rabbit
Projects created in Rock Rabbit before the program launch on November 12, 2024, will continue to show the previous rebate amounts and requirements. Projects created after the program launch will reflect the updated rebate amounts for the TECH single-family HVAC program and include HEEHRA incentives in the project's bundle.
However, for projects created after the program launch, the actual rebate amount received depends on the dates on the contract, T&Cs, and invoice. Jobs contracted before November 12 remain eligible for the previous $1,000 rebate under the TECH single-family HVAC program.
Under the new program, jobs without dual fuel or with prior A/C may be eligible for an additional $500 rebate. While this offers a slight increase over the standard rebate, there are additional reporting requirements contractors must meet, read more about below.
Understanding New Testing Requirements
The table below provides an overview of the new requirements for testing that will depend on the program and install context.
| TECH | 3CE | HEEHRA |
Recommended, not required | Recommended, not required | Required, collected pre-installation | |
Recommended, not required | Recommended, not required | Required, collected pre-installation | |
Recommended, not required | Recommended, not required | Required when a combustion appliance remains in conditioned space, collected both pre- and post-install | |
Yes, collected post-installation | Yes, collected post-installation | Yes, collected post-installation |
Contractors can expect to use these tools linked above and submit the PDF reports and results from the tools in Rock Rabbit as part of their application.
Here are some resources to help contractors navigate testing:
When to use the PNNL Tool
The PNNL tool should be used in the following situations:
For all Single Family HVAC programs, if the authority-having jurisdiction (AHJ) does not require a HERS test or it is otherwise exempt, the project will require the PNNL QI tool report to be uploaded in Rock Rabbit to be eligible for incentives.
All HEEHRA Single Family HVAC projects will require the PNNL QI tool to collect documentation for satisfying the test-in limited HVAC assessment and combustion appliance safety (CAS) testing requirements
What’s Changed
Read on for the new requirements for the HEEHRA HVAC program, updates to existing TECH and 3CE programs, and how Rock Rabbit is gearing up to support you through these changes.
See the table below that details the new rebate amounts and eligibility details.
Updated Rebate Amounts: TECH Clean California will offer $1,000 for single-family HVAC projects without prior AC and/or existing furnace left, and $1,500 for projects with existing AC and a fully decommissioned furnace.
HEEHRA provides up to $8,000 for households under 80% of area median income (AMI) and up to $4,000 for 80%-150% AMI (up to 50% project cost). Learn more here.
| Rock Rabbit will provide support for contractors to pre-qualify homeowners for equity incentives in the platform this quarter.
TECH Clean California and HEEHRA’s income verification will continue to happen outside of the Rock Rabbit platform.
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Update on Layering Incentives: HEEHRA rebates administered by the TECH program can be stacked with other TECH Clean California incentives, as well as 3CE, utility, and equipment incentives. HEEHRA rebates cannot be combined with other federal incentives, except for tax credits. | Rock Rabbit's incentive bundles keep you informed with up-to-date information on rebate stackability, and our platform be updated to reflect new requirements. |
New Eligibility Requirements: New customer, equipment, and dual-fuel eligibility requirements apply to TECH Clean California and HEEHRA incentives. Learn more here. | New and changing eligibility requirements will be added to the key requirements table and incentive details in Rock Rabbit for easy reference. |
Updated Reservation Process: As of the November launch, TECH Clean California and HEEHRA reservations will require approval from the program team in Iris before installations. This is a new requirement compared to the existing reservation process.
Reservation approvals will secure funding for 120 days, during which projects must be completed and submitted. TECH is committed to processing approvals within two weeks.
| Rock Rabbit currently supports submitting reservations to the Iris portal, as well as notifying users of status changes to their applications. |
New Customer Terms and Conditions Document: Customer T&Cs must be signed, dated, and uploaded for single-family HVAC projects under TECH Clean California and HEEHRA. | Rock Rabbit currently supports submitting a record of customer agreement for TECH Clean California T&Cs today. The platform will soon support e-signatures collected directly within the app. |
New Income Qualification Process: Residents will verify their income in a new HEEHRA portal. After the TECH program team reviews and approves, contractors will receive an email notification and attached PDF to include in the rebate application. Learn more here. | Rock Rabbit supports uploading required documents for income verification PDFs today. |
New Itemized SOW Document: An itemized statement of work, detailing equipment and labor costs, must be uploaded for TECH Clean California and 3CE programs. | Our checklist will adapt to include new document requirements and guidance about what must be included. |
New Testing Requirements for HEEHRA Rebates: Additional pre- and post-install testing, including HVAC assessments and safety testing, is required for HEEHRA rebates. Learn more here. | Rock Rabbit will guide users through new testing document requirements within our checklist, with clear pre-install and post-install steps outlined to ensure all testing needs are met accurately. |
Demand Response Enrollment: Required for TECH Clean California and 3CE but optional for HEEHRA (recommended if stacking incentives). | TECH Clean California and 3CE will begin requiring proof of Demand Response enrollment, which can be uploaded in Rock Rabbit. |
An overview of the TECH Single-Family HVAC launch can be found here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will existing reservations be honored?
Reservations made before program launch will be honored, and those projects will not be subject to the new program rules.
Q: Do I complete PNNL tool testing in Rock Rabbit?
Rock Rabbit does not integrate with the PNNL tool directly, this is a requirement from TECH that contractors and installers are trained on and logging into the PNNL tool.
Rock Rabbit accepts the PDF exports from the PNNL tool in the checklist that is required to submit with the application.
Q: How do I access the PNNL tool?
The tool can be found on the PNNL website here. This page links to the open-source, public web tool for contractors and also provides instructions on how to use the tool.
Q: Can contractors stack HEEHRA and TECH Single-Family HVAC rebates?
Yes, the programs are stackable as long as the project meets both program requirements.
Q: How will I know if a project needs HERS testing in California?
HERS testing is required for ductless mini-split systems in Climate Zones 2 and 8-15.
Ducted systems must be HERs tested regardless of appliance subtype (i.e. mini-split, multi-split, package, etc) and climate zone.
To check what climate zone an address is in, you can use the CEC's climate zone tool.
Q: Is the Qualified Product List for TECH and HEEHRA the same as the Energy Star Appliance List?
The Qualified Product List for TECH and HEEHRA is based on the Energy Star Appliance List but is further filtered to include only 2-3 stage and variable speed systems that meet program requirements.
