Home energy rebates, plainly
What is actually open in 2026, what it pays, and where to confirm it. Every row links to the government or utility source. Programs change; the source is always right.
| Program | Where | Status | What it pays | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) A federal tax credit, not a cash rebate. Annual caps and eligible equipment are set by the IRS and have changed over time; confirm the current year at the source. | Federal | Check current rules | Federal income-tax credit toward qualifying heat pumps, insulation, windows, doors, and audits | IRS / ENERGY STAR verified 2026-06-12 |
| Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D) A percentage-based federal tax credit on qualifying clean-energy systems. Rate and eligibility are set by the IRS; confirm the current year before you plan. | Federal | Check current rules | Federal tax credit for solar, geothermal, small wind, and battery storage | IRS / ENERGY STAR verified 2026-06-12 |
| Home Energy Rebates (IRA: HOMES and HEAR) Federally funded, state-run. Availability and amounts depend on your state energy office and roll out on different timelines. | Federal / State | By state | Point-of-sale rebates for efficiency upgrades and electrification, administered by each state | U.S. Dept. of Energy verified 2026-06-12 |
| ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder Most utility rebates are local. Enter your ZIP to see what your utility currently offers on heat pumps, water heaters, and appliances. | Utility / local | Directory | Finds local utility and manufacturer rebates by ZIP code | ENERGY STAR verified 2026-06-12 |
| DSIRE incentive database Maintained at NC State, DSIRE tracks essentially every program by state. Start here for anything specific to where you live. | State / local | Directory | The comprehensive directory of state, local, and utility energy incentives | DSIRE (NC State) verified 2026-06-12 |
How this fits the home year
Rebate projects run on the same calendar the house does. Heat pump installs book out before heating season, so the audit belongs in summer; insulation and air sealing pair naturally with the fall sealing tasks in The Home Year; and the heating season planner tells you the months the new equipment will actually work for.
The Almanac is not an energy advisor and takes no fee from any program. We summarize and link; eligibility decisions belong to the programs themselves. How this page was made: each entry links to the federal, state, and utility authority that sets its rules, verified 2026-06-12, re-checked on a schedule. Full method notes on the methodology page.
Questions, answered plainly
Are home energy incentives available in the US?
Yes, through three channels: federal income-tax credits for qualifying upgrades, federally funded rebates that each state administers on its own timeline, and a large number of local utility programs. Because the rules and amounts change, this page links you to the authority for each rather than quoting a figure that may be out of date.
Where do I find what is available where I live?
Start with the DSIRE database and the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder, both linked above. DSIRE catalogs state and local programs; the Rebate Finder pulls utility and manufacturer offers by ZIP code. For the federal tax credits, the IRS and ENERGY STAR pages carry the current-year rules.
Do I need a home energy audit first?
Often, yes. Many rebate programs require a professional home energy assessment before and after the work, and the audit itself can qualify for a credit. Book it before signing a contractor, because work done before the assessment is frequently ineligible.