Nicor offers rebates

Naperville-based Nicor Gas is offering a new program that provides financial rebates for the purchase of energy-saving heating appliances. Nicor said it has already issued $1 million in rebates under its Energy Efficiency Program, which gives residential and business customers the opportunity to “go green and save green” at the same time.

By installing qualifying natural gas-saving water heaters, furnaces and boilers through the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program, residential and business customers are receiving financial rebates and reducing their natural gas consumption while lowering their energy bills and their greenhouse gas emissions, the utility said.

“The Energy Efficiency Program is not just about helping customers save money on new energy efficient equipment,” Kevin Kirby, Nicor Gas vice president of Customer Care, said in a statement. “This holistic program is about educating our customers on the benefits of energy efficiency and its positive impact on the environment and their wallets. The initial success of this program demonstrates that our customers appreciate the opportunity to save money and decrease their carbon footprint.”

The Energy Efficiency Program runs through May 31, 2011, and is designed to help customers in the Nicor Gas service territory save energy and money through energy education, resources and financial rebates on qualifying energy efficient natural gas equipment. Single-family homes and multifamily homes served on Rate 1 and businesses served on Rates 4 and 74 are eligible for rebates.

In an effort to ensure that the transition to new energy efficient equipment is affordable, contractors can offer their customers an instant discount option on their equipment purchases. With the instant discount, the contractor gives customers the credit for the amount of the eligible rebate at the time of purchase, reducing upfront, out-of-pocket costs.

For more information, visit nicorgasrebates.com.