Mass. offers $2.6m in rebates for efficient heating systems

Weatherization Works technician Paul Lawson works on installing the interior section of a cold-climate heat pump in the second level of a Vermont house. These heat pumps heat homes in the winter and cool them in the summer by circulating fluid like an air conditioner.Cheryl Senter for The Boston Globe/Globe Freelance

The state of Massachusetts is giving residents $2.6 million in rebates for installing energy-efficient heating systems.

The rebates, which range from $750 to $12,500, are available to homeowners who install energy-efficient heat pumps or wood pellet heat systems. The rebate program is being run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, a state agency.

“Residents have many options as they look to heat their homes this winter,” said Alicia Barton, the center’s chief executive. “By adopting these types of efficient and renewable technologies, homeowners can both cut their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint.”

Massachusetts is one of several New England states to encourage the uptake of heat pump systems, which have made huge technological leaps and can now run efficiently in cold temperatures. Wood pellet systems can also be used to heat homes cheaply, and they are more efficient and less polluting than fireplaces.