How One Gleason Homeowner Turned an Unaffordable Furnace Replacement Into a $20,000 Upgrade Opportunity
When your home cannot stay warm in the winter, you feel it every day.
For Jodi Forster, that meant cold floors, uneven temperatures, and a furnace that struggled to keep up during Wisconsin’s coldest months.
“It wasn’t horribly cold inside,” Jodi explained, “but when it got cold outside, you could feel it. It was like the furnace couldn’t keep up.”
She knew the system needed to be replaced. But like many homeowners, the challenge was not just the upgrade—it was the cost, the complexity, and not knowing where to start.
A Home That Needed More Than a Quick Fix
Jodi’s home showed the same issues many older Wisconsin homes face:
- Cold air leaks through hidden gaps.
- Inconsistent temperatures from room to room.
- A heating system working harder—but not performing better.
At the same time, energy costs were rising, making the situation harder to ignore.
“I was planning on just buying a cheap replacement furnace,” she said.
A simple replacement felt like the only realistic option—even though it would not solve the underlying problem.
A Clear Starting Point—Without the Guesswork
Everything changed when Jodi learned about the IRA Home Energy Rebates through a FOCUS ON ENERGY® (Focus) customer service agent.
Instead of trying to figure it out on her own, she was guided to a simple first step: a home energy assessment.
“The Focus customer service has been so helpful every single time I’ve called,” she said. “I felt like they really cared for me and were trying to help me navigate. They were almost like a concierge.”
Working with IRA Registered Contractor On-site Performance Testing, the assessment included thermal imaging to uncover issues she could not see on her own.
“I was shocked to find several places in the house that were really poorly insulated.”
Instead of guessing what to fix—or managing multiple contractors herself—Jodi now had a clear plan and support to move forward.
Fixing the Real Problem
Rather than replacing just the furnace, the project addressed why the home could not maintain a comfortable temperature:
- Sealed air leaks to keep warm air inside during winter and cool air inside during summer.
- Added insulation in key areas to reduce loss of heated and cooled air.
- Replaced aging foundation insulation to reduce cold air intrusion.
- Installed a high-efficiency heat pump with a liquified petroleum (LP) furnace backup for reliable heating and cooling.
Together, these upgrades created a home that could hold a temperature more effectively—without overworking the system.
More Than $20,000 in Support—Making it Possible
Through a combination of IRA Home Energy Rebates and Focus incentives, Jodi received more than $20,000 in financial support:
- $500 Focus home energy assessment rebate.
- $2,020 Focus insulation and air sealing rebate.
- $10,000 IRA Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) for achieving more than 35% energy savings.
- $8,000 IRA HEAR rebate for a heat pump.
“I was able to get a much more efficient system for the same investment as the cheap replacement furnace I was originally considering,” she said.
Incentive amounts vary based on eligibility, home characteristics, and project scope.
Comfort You Can Feel—And Costs You Can Control
The results were immediate.
Even during extreme cold this past winter, the home stayed consistently comfortable—something Jodi and the foster children she cares for noticed right away.
“During really cold snaps, we didn’t notice it in the house,” she said. “We didn’t even realize how cold it was outside.”
Just as important, the upgrades provided something many homeowners are looking for: predictability.
“I’m ecstatic,” she said. “My energy costs are controlled for years down the road… I won’t be throwing money out the window anymore.”
Instead of worrying about rising bills or system failures, she now has more control over how her home uses energy.
Advice to Other Homeowners
Jodi’s advice is simple:
“Just get the home energy test. See where your money is going.”
You do not need to have all the answers to get started. With the right guidance, what feels overwhelming at first can quickly become manageable.
Start With a Simple First Step
If your home feels hard to heat or cool, uncomfortable, or more expensive than it should be, support may be available.
Focus connects you with IRA Registered Contractors and guides you through the process—from assessment to upgrades to incentives.
Check your eligibility and start your home energy plan today.
