Utilities, states, and the federal government all offer help paying for efficiency upgrades — but each works differently. Here's the map, in plain English.
Almost every incentive a homeowner can use falls into one of these buckets. Availability and amounts vary by state and utility, so always confirm locally.
Most serious programs require or reward an audit first — because it replaces guessing with measurement.
A calibrated fan depressurizes the house and measures exactly how leaky it is, then helps locate each leak.
output: air-leakage rate for your homeAn infrared camera shows missing insulation and hidden gaps; the auditor also checks ducts, combustion safety, and equipment condition.
output: a visual map of your loss pathsYou get a ranked list of fixes with estimated costs and savings — and often the paperwork trail utility rebates require.
output: your upgrade list, ordered by paybackMany utilities subsidize audits, and some programs pay larger rebates when upgrades follow an audit's recommendations.
Confirm the program before you sign anything. Incentives are always administered by a specific utility, agency, or the IRS — never by a door-to-door salesperson. If someone claims "a government program" pays for their product, ask for the program's name and look it up yourself on the administrator's official website.
Sequence matters. Many rebates require pre-approval, a participating contractor, or an audit before work begins. Doing the project first and asking later is the most common way homeowners lose an incentive they were entitled to.
Keep every document. Model numbers, efficiency ratings, invoices, and audit reports are what turn a promised incentive into an actual check or tax credit. Ready to run the numbers on your own home? Start with our step-by-step guide.
We can't apply for you — but if a program type confuses you, tell us and we'll explain it in a future update.
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