Energy Efficiency Overview
Additional Energy Efficiency Tips and Considerations
As much as it is helpful to perform energy maintenance or renovate different aspects of your home, it is just as important to create a clearly defined energy reduction plan for your household — especially if you have roommates, family members, or children all under one roof.
Focus on one thing at a time: It can be overwhelming to try and fix all energy-inefficiency issues at once. Focus on one particular thing at a time, then move on to the next.
Write out your specific plans: Whether it’s adding solar panels on your roof or simply creating a home maintenance schedule, it is important to clearly define your plans, how you are going to execute them, and how to measure success.
Communicate your plans: Once you have determined your plans, talk about them with other home residents. Working together instead of against one another makes achieving your energy efficient goals easier. It also keeps you and the other home residents accountable.
Perform ongoing research for new ideas: Be sure to look for additional energy-efficiency technology, tips, and considerations as time goes on.
Financial Incentives for Home Energy-Efficiency Improvements
Homeowners can often find tax credits, state incentives, rebates, savings, grants, and other financial incentives for home energy-efficiency renovations or improvements — some examples to look into include:
Renewable energy tax credits: The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 created incentives for energy-efficient systems. There are tax credits available for homes with geothermal heat pumps, residential wind turbines, solar energy systems, residential fuel cell microturbine systems, or biomass fuel stoves. You can receive anywhere between 22% to 30% off depending on the date the systems were installed.
Equipment tax credits: There are non-business, non-rental energy property tax credits available for residential energy-efficiency equipment. The equipment must be Energy Star certified to receive 10% of the equipment costs up to $500, or a specific amount from $50 to $300. The tax credit is available for energy-efficient insulation, roofs, windows, doors, and skylights, but the specific equipment that qualifies for this tax credit are:
Air source heat pumps.
Central air conditioning.
Gas, propane, or oil hot water boiler/furnace.
Non-solar water heaters.
Advanced main air circulating fan.
Biomass stoves.
New construction tax credits: There are tax credits available for the builders of energy-efficient homes. There is a $2,000 credit for homes that have 50% heating and cooling energy savings and a $1,000 tax credit for homes that have 30% heating and cooling energy savings.
Rebates: You can find numerous rebates for Energy Star-certified products. Energy Star has a rebate finder tool on their site to help you find rebates and special offers near you.
State incentives and policies: Each state has different individual policies, grants, and incentives regarding energy-efficient renovations, construction, and equipment/appliances. There are online databases to find policies and incentives by state. Be sure to check out what options are available to you in your area.
Energy-efficient mortgages: There are energy-efficient mortgages (EEMs) available for borrowers to build, renovate, or buy an already energy-efficient home. These programs exist to help borrowers get better financing terms based on the cost savings that stem from lower utility bills. There are three types of EEMs available:
Conventional energy-efficient mortgage.
Federal housing administration (FHA) energy-efficient mortgage.
Veterans' affairs energy-efficient mortgage.
Be Energy Conscious and Energy Efficient Creating a more energy efficient home starts with being conscious about your energy consumption. Everything from your plumbing and electrical system to appliances and electronics can make a difference in how much energy you use. And when it comes to energy consumption, it all adds up. To learn more about how replacing your old windows can improve your home’s energy efficiency, contact the professionals at your local Glass Doctor. Call 833-974-0209 or schedule an appointment online today.
