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You and your family can enjoy a bigger, better more energy-efficient home for less than you may think.

(NAPSI)—When you’re struggling to pay bills at home, upgrading to the latest efficient technology can feel out of reach—but it doesn’t have to be.

THE PROBLEM

A typical American household spends around $1,900 a year on their energy bills, but for low-income households that’s about 8% of their annual income, versus only 3% for overall American households (ACEEE, 2024). High upfront costs are a major barrier to accessing efficient home upgrades that can reduce energy consumption and lower energy bills. 

SOME SOLUTIONS

To help bridge this gap, a growing number of state and local incentives are becoming available for low- and moderate-income households.

States and communities around the U.S. have led the way in implementing policies that support the transition to clean energy. At the same time, households around the country are switching from fossil fuels to efficient electric for the equipment in their homes. To ensure households with lower incomes don’t get left behind in this transition, local utilities provide special income-eligible assistance to make these upgrades more affordable and accessible.

In addition to local utility incentives, special government rebates are available through the Inflation Reduction Act. These Home Energy Rebates offer thousands of dollars to low- and moderate-income households. Eligible upgrades include heat pump HVAC, heat pump water heaters, home envelope, electrical systems, and select appliances. For more information, visit energystar.gov/homesavings. This one-stop online tool lets you enter your ZIP code and find the incentives available to you. Use it to identify and learn about eligible products and develop a plan to maximize your savings. Get connected to installation professionals and retailers in your area and find resources for income-based assistance for upgrades.

MORE BENEFITS

These efficient home upgrades are valuable beyond energy and money savings—they improve the comfort and health of your home too.

• Heat Pump HVAC: Because heat pumps for HVAC don’t produce heat from combustion, your indoor air quality will improve because there are no direct emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, or nitrogen oxides. Heat pumps also use advanced compressors and refrigerants to keep your home at a comfortable temperature year-round.

• Sealing and Insulation: Adding insulation to your home can reduce noise from outside, provide better humidity control, and minimize pollen, dust, insects, and other pests from entering your home. 

• Electric cooking appliances: Electric cooking products that are covered in the Inflation Reduction Act state rebates are better for indoor air quality compared to gas ranges because they avoid burning gas or propane, which are a source of air pollutants.

• Heat Pump Water Heaters: Like heat pumps for air heating and cooling, heat pump water heaters don’t burn fossil fuels and can improve your indoor air quality. Heat pump water heaters have extremely impressive energy and money savings—they use about one fourth of the energy of a standard model and can save a family of four about $550 a year on energy costs. 

The goal of all this available financial assistance is to ensure everyone can benefit from a clean energy future—with a healthier environment and more efficient, comfortable homes.

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