How do I know if my insulation meets Efficiency Vermont Tier 2?

Check your product’s A1–A3 GWP in its EN 15804 EPD. If it sits at or below the Tier 2 limit published in the RNC guide, you qualify for the $1,000 rebate.

Does Efficiency Vermont accept generic database values instead of EPDs?

No. The RNC program requires product-specific embodied-carbon data. Generic values only qualify under limited exceptions and never for Tier 2 incentives.

Will my EPD need a local third-party review for Vermont?

No additional review is needed if the EPD is already verified under ISO 14025 and EN 15804. Submit the verified PDF to the builder or HERS rater.

What happens when the PCR behind my EPD expires?

Your existing EPD stays valid until its own five-year expiry. On renewal, you must update to the latest PCR version before resubmitting to Vermont builders.

Efficiency Vermont RNC incentives: small state, big pull

Why Vermont builders chase RNC incentives

A single-family project that ticks every box of the Residential New Construction (RNC) program can unlock roughly $7,000 in income-qualified cash plus another $6,000 in stackable rebates (Efficiency Vermont RNC Overview, 2025). That is real margin in a market where subcontractor rates have climbed 9 % since 2023 (BLS, 2025). Manufacturers who supply qualifying products find their SKUs show up again and again in bid sets because the math just works.

What counts as "low carbon" insulation

Efficiency Vermont breaks insulation into two tiers. Tier 1 products must land below a moderate global-warming-potential (GWP) threshold and earn builders $500. Tier 2 pushes the bar lower and pays $1,000 per home (Efficiency Vermont RNC Overview, 2025). The state accepts product-specific GWP numbers from an EN 15804-compliant EPD, nothing less. Skip the paperwork and you skip the rebate.

EPDs: the fast-pass to Tier 2 money

Builders do not want to run cradle-to-gate calculations in the field. They want an EPD they can hand to their Efficiency Vermont energy consultant, check the Tier 2 box, and move on. When your declaration shows clear A1–A3 impacts and a GWP well under the program cap, your product becomes the obvious choice. One distributor told us his mineral-wool line saw a 35 % volume bump within three months of getting its EPD registered—anecdotal, but too loud to ignore.

Windows, ventilation, and other line items builders weigh

Triple-pane windows score $100 each, up to 25 units per home. High-efficiency ERVs add $750 (Efficiency Vermont RNC Overview, 2025). The common thread? Every item requires proof of performance, often through a certified product listing or an EPD that spells out embodied carbon. When two windows share the same U-factor, the one with a published GWP gets the nod because it nudges the blower door score and the rebate total.

How manufacturers get on the approved list quickly

Publish an EPD that isolates A1–A3 GWP and clearly labels blowing agents, binders, or coatings.
Provide a short tech note that maps your declared GWP to the RNC Tier 1 or Tier 2 thresholds.
Ship that note and the EPD PDF to qualified HERS raters and EEN trade-group builders. They form the concierge desk of Vermont’s housing market.
Keep an eye on PCR expiry dates so your numbers stay fresh. No one wants to redo submittals mid-permit.

Key takeaways for product teams

Vermont is small, yet its RNC program sets a template other utility-run incentives copy. Nail the enviromental data once, and you widen your sales funnel in states like Maine and Massachusetts where similar low-carbon pilots are brewing (Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, 2025). The investment in a rock-solid EPD is far lighter than letting a competitor’s foam or window capture every $1,000 Tier 2 rebate from 2025 through 2027. Move first, bank the loyalty.