NC offers rebate on Energy Star manufactured homes

State officials said the rebate is intended to help people put down payments on energy-efficient manufactured homes. The rebate is paid for with funds from the federal stimulus bill.

"During the summer, consumers are even more aware of their power bill at home, and we are encouraging people to save money and save energy," Ward Lenz, director of the N.C. Energy Office, said in a statement. "This is a program that helps consumers and also our state's economy, including out state-based manufacturers and retailers."

Even with a higher mortgage payment, buyers will still save money with lower utility bills, state officials said. They estimated that the owner of a 1,570-square-foot manufactured home would pay $25 extra in a monthly mortgage but spend $73 less on utility bills, an overall savings of $48 a month.

Owners of new Energy Star homes also quality for a 5 percent discount on bills from Progress Energy and Duke Energy.