Home Energy Rebates

By: Leah Ingram
Get money back for energy improvements you make at home

 Did you know that you can still cash in on tax rebates and tax incentives for energy-efficient upgrades in your home? If you didn't, you're not alone.
According to a new survey from Emerson and conducted by Harris Interactive, more than 60% of the respondents had no idea that local, state, and federal governments—along with local utilities—were still offering tax incentives for energy-efficient improvements. This is timely because October is National Energy Awareness Month.
While the tax rebates that came with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 have expired, there are still plenty of rebates out there—and plenty of people still making energy-efficient improvements to their homes.
For example, nearly half of all survey respondents said they have made home improvements to save energy and money, including:

• installing a programmable thermostat
• adding insulation
• switching to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs)
• buying high-efficiency air conditioning units
• selecting Energy Star appliances
• making other energy-efficient improvements, such as installing new windows, doors, and insulation.

(Here are the top home improvement projects that put money back in your pocket.)
Yet 71% of consumers said they did not take advantage of any rebates, tax holidays, or other incentives. That could be, in large part, due to the fact that 61% of the respondents said they didn't know the rebates, credits, tax holidays, or other incentives even existed!
Here are more results from that survey:

• 61% of respondents said they are unaware of any current tax rebates and/or incentives for energy-efficient home upgrades in their area.
• 71% said they had not taken advantage of an energy-efficient upgrade rebate or incentive within the past year.
• 66% of respondents switched to compact fluorescent light bulbs to make their home more energy efficient, while 53% selected Energy Star appliances.
• 31% of consumers noted cost as the number one barrier to investing in energy-efficient products or upgrades.
• 67% of respondents would be willing to invest up to $5,000 in a home energy upgrade if it paid for itself in six months. 
• 29% of respondents said they were willing to invest the same amount if the return on investment spanned 10 years.
• 51% of respondents would be willing to spend up to $500 on a home energy-efficient upgrade if they knew it would pay for itself in two years.
• Only 12% would be willing to invest more than $2,000.

If you're interested in finding out about rebates or tax incentives you could be taking advantage of before 2011 is done, visit The DSIRE site, a third-party website funded by the Department of Energy and operated since 1995 by the North Carolina Solar Center at North Carolina State University and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. This site spells out available tax rebates and incentives by state, county, and city governments, as well as local utilities. You can find additional rebate information on the Energy Star site.
Making energy-efficient improvements to your home is smart because it can save you money over the long run. Wouldn't it be great to be able to take part in these rebates and incentives so that you can put even more money back in your wallet?