The Inflation Reduction Act
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was passed by the Senate on August 7 and signed into law on August 16. Within this 10-year plan, new funds are going to be allocated to rebate programs and other funding mechanisms aimed at providing support to efficiency improvements. For homeowners, this just increased your return on investment opportunities for energy efficiency upgrades throughout the house.
What This Means for Insulation & Homeowners
One of the most significant ways this bill affects homeowners is in the effort to encourage eco-friendly products and services while also helping clean energy production.
Energy Efficient Home
Improvement Credit
Annual Limit
$1200
If you’re familiar with the Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit that ended in 2021, you may already be aware of the tax credits homeowners can claim on certain purchases. This has a similar role with new and improved initiatives. Essentially, you’ll be able to reduce your tax bill when you make energy-efficient upgrades to your home and appliances.
When you purchase upgrades on energy-saving installations like insulation, windows, doors, and other building changes, you can claim 30% of the cost starting in 2023. The previous credit system (the Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit) had a $500 lifetime limit; this has been replaced by a $1,200 annual limit with various annual limits changes for certain types of qualifying improvements.
The HOMES (Home Owner Managing Energy Savings) Rebate Program
This program is designed to help provide cash back through reducing overall energy use in your household. By making home improvements such as adding insulation, you’ll earn money back based on how much you’re projected to save. This is determined by an energy audit with DOE-approved software. The amount you receive is determined by the amount of energy you’ve saved, your projected (modeled) savings, and household income.
There are 3 rebate amounts you can earn from, earning the lesser of either 50% of the project cost or the following:
Measured Energy Savings
< 20%
Modeled Energy Savings
20%-35%
Modeled Energy Savings
> 35%
The more you save, the more you’re able to receive!
High-Efficiency Electric
Home Rebate Program
Annual Limit
$1600
In an effort to encourage households to make environmentally friendly choices, rebates within the HOMES program will be offered to low- and middle-income families for certain purchases. If your total annual income is less than 150% of the median income in your area, you’ll qualify for rebates on energy-efficient renovations and appliances. For insulation, air sealing, and ventilation, specifically, your household can get up to $1,600 in rebates for your purchases. There are a few limits and additional qualifications, so make sure you meet the requirements before setting out on a major home improvement project.
Single-Family Homes
Individuals and single-family homes will be able to take significant advantage of these opportunities. Noncommercial homes qualify for the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, including if you’re renting or living in a multifamily building. The HOMES Rebate Program provides cashback through renovations like insulation and efficient appliances and is dependent on how much you save. The High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act is the section that is only available to low- to medium-income families.
Multifamily Homes
Opportunities for multifamily development have increased under the IRA. The $1 billion for a HUD-led program goes toward loans and grants for improving energy and water efficiency. This provides relief to utilities bills and climate disaster preparedness, especially in low-income communities. The Green and Resilient Retrofit Program combines direct loan subsidies and competitive grants to support improvements made to multifamily properties.
How Can I Qualify?
Tax credits will be available for home improvements starting in 2023. If you’re unsure where your home may fall under this tax season, there are a few resources you can use to find more information in your state. Your State Energy Office can also provide more information on when you can expect certain incentives to start being offered and supported in 2023.
Downloadable Infographic
This will contain a summarization of the information above, including a breakdown of each home and where they can find more information within their state.
Inflation Reduction Act FAQs
While the bill was signed into law in August of 2022, there are multiple parts of the Act that have different timelines. Energy Efficient Home Improvement credit will be applied to almost all projects (besides certain appliances such as hot water heaters) completed in 2023, starting January 1. The HOMES (Home Owner Managing Energy Savings) Rebate Program and the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act within the program are expected to start in 2023 and last until September 20, 2031. However, the states run these programs so the start times may vary. In addition, some state specific incentive programs will be steadily receiving funds throughout this time.
Your home benefits by saving in costs and energy usage. Upgrading your insulation helps to reduce your energy bills, which increases energy efficiency while also improving comfort and indoor air quality. The tax credits and rebates encourage these upgrades by reducing the cost it will take to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
According to the EPA’s study on sources of greenhouse gas emissions, the commercial and residential sector was responsible for 13% in 2020. Other sources project an updated statistic of 25%, taking into account building construction, product use, and waste in households and businesses. The Act is projected to reduce pollution by 40% by 2023, using rebates and tax credits to incentivize property owners to make energy-efficiency improvements.
Each state has rebate programs that help reduce the cost of certain home improvements. ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder gives you the ability to find your state’s programs by zip code. You can find insulation rebates in your area by filtering the search results to “Sealing and Insulation Products”.
Although the New Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit expired in December 2021, the IRA extended this program to December 2022, which means you can still earn credits on the qualified improvements. Although the newer rebates and credits within the IRA will go into effect as early as January 2023, you can still earn tax credits on home improvements you’ve made in 2022.
Available tax credits will also vary per state, which means incentives may already be in place in your area. You can find more information on your residential tax credits and rebates through the DSIRE database.
Property owners and renters of single- and multi-family homes will benefit from the HOMES rebate program as there is no eligibility based on income. However, the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act within this program is specifically designed for low- to medium-income families based on the area’s median income.
Tax credits are available to consumers who invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Home improvements that reduce energy use and emissions from a building will qualify under various areas of the IRA. You can find how much you’ll earn in savings using this calculator.
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