Resources to Make It Easier to Upgrade the Efficiency of Your Home
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There are many improvements we’d all like to make to our homes – from aesthetic touches to functional enhancements that improve efficiency, performance, and value.
There are many improvements we’d all like to make to our homes – from aesthetic touches to functional enhancements that improve efficiency, performance, and value. While we may have a long list of desired updates, what often hinders us from taking action are the expense and the complexity of arranging for the upgrades to make sure they’re “done right”. This is especially an issue when addressing the expensive but essential systems in our home - such as the heating and cooling system, water heater, and home envelope. However, thanks to new resources from the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program, these upgrades can now be more affordable and easier to take action on.
How can I make home upgrades more affordable?
When purchasing an appliance or piece of equipment for your home, the first place you likely check for savings is through deals offered by a retailer or manufacturer. However, when you purchase a product that is energy efficient, particularly one that has earned ENERGY STAR certification, you have access to additional ways to save on the purchase. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, there are numerous savings opportunities that homeowners can take advantage of to make essential energy-saving upgrades more affordable:
- Federal tax credits: Tax credits provide annual discounts of 30% of project costs, up to $3,200, for products such as heat pump HVAC, heat pump water heaters, windows, and insulation.
- State Rebates: Starting in May 2024, state rebate programs will offer incentives targeted to low-income households. These rebates will vary by state and are rolling out throughout 2024. New York is the first state to launch with several other states following closely behind.
- Utility Rebates: In addition to the Inflation Reduction Act incentives, many utilities offer rebates on ENERGY STAR certified appliances and equipment.
Essential Resources to make Home Upgrades Easier
To make it easier to take advantage of the range of available incentives, the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program recently launched two new resources - a home improvement savings web tool and new partnership program with home efficiency service providers.
- Home Savings Web Tool
This new web tool is a zip code-based resource that helps you identify all of the energy efficiency incentives that are available in your area. It highlights utility rebates, federal income tax credits, and now state rebates for home efficiency improvements. More than that, it is a one-stop-shop that includes energy efficiency incentives, buying guidance, information on eligible products, and links to local retailers and installers. - ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade Service Providers
To help make navigating the challenging home improvement process easier, the ENERGY STAR program is partnering with companies and community-based organizations that specialize in offering concierge services to help you with sales, installation, incentives, and financing for more comprehensive efficiency upgrades.
To be recognized by the ENERGY STAR program, they have been screened based on their Quality Control procedures, installer qualifications and oversight, and fair financing practices. These service providers specialize making improvements that are part of an ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade -- a set of six high-impact improvements that work together to deliver significant energy and cost savings by addressing the biggest energy users in your home.
This month, the program announced six charter partners:
Air Service Professionals Heating & Cooling Specialists is a family-owned & operated company that has been serving Northeast Louisiana for over 45 years. They provide heating & cooling installations, services, & repairs. They can install energy efficient heat pumps, smart thermostats, attic insulation and duct sealing as a part of an ENERGY STAR Home Upgrade in the parishes they service throughout Northeast Louisiana: Ouachita, Jackson, Winn, Lincoln, Union, Caldwell, Richland & Morehouse.
Pearl Certification provides Green Door, a free on-line tool available nationwide. Green Door helps you understand how to make your home more comfortable, efficient, healthy, and valuable. Find local rebates, connect with qualified contractors, and create a roadmap to maintain and improve your home over time - all the while increasing the value and equity of your home. Pearl partners include ENERGY STAR, the National Association of Realtors, and the Appraisal Institute.
Philadelphia Energy Authority created the “Built to Last” program - a one-stop-shop whole-home repair program that serves low-income homeowners in the Philadelphia area. Built to Last brings together Philadelphia’s home repair, energy conservation, and healthy homes programs into a coordinated service package to make homes more affordable, healthier, and safer places to live. Built to Last delivers critical home repairs, health and safety improvements, and energy efficiency and clean energy improvements. Energy improvements may include air sealing, insulation, high efficiency appliances, energy efficient HVAC systems, such as heat pumps to provide heating and cooling, and rooftop solar.
QuitCarbon provides free expert guidance on clean energy upgrades like heat pumps, mini splits, water heaters, induction cooking, EV chargers, solar, batteries, and more. They help homeowners plan their projects, maximize their rebates & savings, and get connected with the best local contractors - all at no cost. QuitCarbon is supported by the US Department of Energy. They are currently serving homeowners across the state of California, with plans to expand to more states soon.
Sealed is a climate tech company on a mission to stop home energy waste and electrify all homes. Sealed provides education and interactive tools to determine which energy efficiency and electrification upgrades make the most sense for your home. Sealed can also help you find a qualified contractor in your area. They currently work with contractors in California, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Wisconsin, with plans to expand to more states later in 2024 and beyond.
Sears Home Services has helped households across the country with their home improvement needs for over 30 years, including a Satisfaction Guarantee in their services. Sears currently serves homeowners in over 35 states, with options to schedule a free in-home consultation with their team of experts. The Sears home improvement specialists can help homeowners choose from a range of ENERGY STAR certified upgrades, including heat pumps, replacement windows, entry doors, and more.
As our country continues to embrace cleaner and more renewable energy sources, taking advantage of these ENERGY STAR tools and resources can help households of all income levels be a part of the clean energy future, while enjoying energy savings and a more comfortable home, today.
For more tips from ENERGY STAR on how to make energy-saving improvements at home, browse our full collection of Ask the Expert articles.