by Kevin Brasler

Last updated November 2024

Our discussion on how to save energy at home briefly hits on more than 30 changes you can can make in and around your home, from cheap-yet-effective steps to upgrades that require upfront spending, but quickly pay for themselves from lower utility bills to systems and renovations that minimize what you pull off the grid, but come at steep prices.

Often, the extra costs of energy-saving improvements can be reduced by tax credits and utility company rebates.

Below are the energy-saving rebate programs available at the time of this writing. Check EnergyStar.gov for up-to-date info. Also check with your utility company and the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE).

We didn’t include low-interest loan programs or incentives available for new home construction. We also didn’t look for community grants for multi-home projects or programs for owners of commercial buildings. There are also many programs available to landlords of apartment buildings.

Federal Tax Credits and Rebates

There are two federal programs that provide incentives for home-energy-saving improvements: One provides tax credits; the other will create rebates, but the rebates aren’t yet available in this area.

Tax Credits

The “Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit” provides tax breaks to homeowners who make green improvements to their primary residences. The credit is equal to 30 percent of the cost of eligible improvements made between 2023 and 2032. Here’s a list of eligible projects; for some there are individual annual maximum allowable credits:

  • Air-sealing and insulation improvements—no cap
  • Central ACs—$300 cap for most systems
  • Energy audits—$150 cap
  • Exterior doors—$250 per door, $500 limit for multiple doors
  • Gas and oil furnaces—$600 cap for units with 97+ AFUE
  • Windows and skylights—$600 cap

If you do more than one of the projects listed above there’s a maximum tax credit of $1,200 each year.

A separate tax credit of up to $2,000 is available if you buy a qualifying heat pump, biomass stove (for example, one that burns wood pellets), or boiler.

If you install a ground-source heat pump or solar panels you may qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit with no cap. In 2033, these credits drop to 26 percent and then to 22 percent in 2034; after that, they’ll disappear unless new legislation gets passed.

Many local governments also provide incentives for residential solar-energy projects. The programs available in Illinois are particularly generous.

Rebates Coming Soon

New rebates will soon be available, funded by the federal government’s “High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate” program. These aren’t tax credits; they’re point-of-sale rebates that homeowners will receive as discounts as they make approved improvements.

At the time of this writing, this program hadn’t been finalized for Illinois. The law requires the Department of Energy to provide guidance to states and then each submits program proposals for review and approval; so far, only New York and Wisconsin have rebate programs up and running. Rebates for local residents probably won’t be available until sometime in 2025.

Once in place, the rebates most consumers will tap into will be tied to household income. To get the full rebate amount, your household income must be less than 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI); if your household income is 80 percent to 150 percent of the AMI you can get 50 percent of each rebate amount; households with AMIs higher than 150 percent do not qualify for the program.

According to Fannie Mae, the AMI for the Chicago area is $109,800. That means those with household incomes of less than $87,840 will qualify for the full rebate amounts, listed below; those with incomes between $87,840 and $164,700 can qualify for 50 percent of these amounts:

  • $8,000—heat pumps when installed to replace existing gas-, oil-, or propane-burning furnaces or baseboard heat as the home’s sole heating source
  • $1,750—heat pump water heaters
  • $840—heat pump clothes dryers
  • $840—replace gas stove with electric one
  • $4,000—electrical panel upgrade if needed to power any of the above improvements
  • $2,500—electrical wiring upgrades if needed to power any of the above improvements
  • $1,600—insulation, air sealing, and ventilation improvements

For households that make more than one of the above improvements, there is a maximum $14,000 rebate.

There will also be a separate program that provides rebates of up to $8,000 for homeowners who take steps to reduce their residence’s overall energy usage by more than 20 percent. We’re still awaiting details from Illinois on how it will calculate rebate amounts or impose income limits.

Confused by all this math? We are, too! Rewiring America built a brilliant calculator that can estimate which rebates you might qualify for. We’ll also update you on program details as they become available.

Local Incentive Programs

Listed below are incentives from local utility companies in effect in fall 2024. Programs come and go; check with your utility and the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency for up-to-date info.

Before starting a project, confirm that you qualify. Rebate programs usually require homeowners to work with the utility’s “approved” contractors or to file paperwork before installations.

ComEd Customers

  • Free in-home weatherization assessments
  • Air purifiers—$50 rebate for Energy Star-certified models
  • Clothes dryers—$40 rebate for Energy Star-certified electric models
  • Clothes washers—$40 rebate for Energy Star-certified models
  • Dehumidifiers—$45 rebate for Energy Star-certified standalone models
  • Heat pump clothes dryers—$200 rebate
  • Heat pumps, central air-source—$1,400 rebate for units with 15.2+ SEER2 and 8.1+ HSPF2
  • Heat pumps, ductless mini-split air-source—$1,000 rebate for projects installing units with 17+ SEER2 and 10+ HSPF2
  • Heat pumps, ground-source—$6,000 rebate for approved new installations; $800 rebate for replacements
  • Induction cooktops/ranges—$100 rebate for approved models
  • Power strips—$13 rebate for advanced models
  • Programmable thermostats—$75 in-store discount for qualified models
  • Showerheads—$8 in-store discount for efficient models
  • Water dispensers—$25 rebate for Energy Star-certified models

Nicor Gas Customers

  • Free energy audits
  • Air sealing—rebate up to $500, depending on reduction in leakage
  • Attic insulation—rebate up to $400 per project
  • Boilers—$350 rebate for units with 95 AFUE or better
  • Duct sealing—$600 rebate
  • Gas furnaces—$150 rebate for units with 95 to 96 AFUE; $225 rebate for units with 97+ AFUE; additional $50 rebate if installing programmable thermostat at time of installation
  • Smart thermostats—$25 rebate for approved models
  • Tankless water heaters—$150 rebate for efficient models
  • Wall insulation—rebates of $150 or more per project

North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas Customers

  • Free energy audits
  • Air sealing—rebate up to $400, depending on reduction in leakage
  • Attic insulation—rebate up to $500 per project if done with air sealing work
  • Furnace duct sealing—rebate up to $400 per project
  • Gas furnaces—$200 rebate for units with 95 to 96 AFUE; $225 rebate for units with 97+ AFUE
  • Gas boilers—$150 rebate for units with 82.5 to 87.9 AFUE; $350 rebate for units with 88 AFUE or better
  • Programmable thermostats—$20 to $25 rebate
  • Tankless and indirect water heaters—$150 rebate for efficient models
  • Wall insulation—rebate up to $400 per project

Additional Resources to Help You Go Green at Home

Consumer Reports
Ratings of appliances, lightbulbs, window AC units, etc.

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
Rebates and tax incentives available from utilities and governments

Earth911.com
Green tips, plus database of recycling centers and where to dispose of hazardous household waste

Efficient Windows Collaborative
Help with window selection and estimating cost savings

Energy Star
Certifies energy-efficient appliances and HVAC equipment

National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Research and publications on renewables; offers a calculator that estimates energy production and cost of solar installations

Passive House Institute U.S.
Certification and training for net-zero energy-use builders, contractors, and manufacturers

Residential Energy Services Network
Certification for energy auditors

Rewiring America
Educational resources; tracks public policy for electrification projects; offers a nifty calculator that helps consumers figure out eligibility for rebates and other incentives

Snugg Pro
User-friendly web-based energy-auditing software

YouTube.com
Thousands of DIY videos from experts (but also non-experts)

Zero Energy Project
Advice and lists of products and suppliers for home buyers, builders, and designers interested in net-zero energy-use homes