The U.S. government has enacted the Inflation Reduction Act, a significant step designed to reduce carbon emissions and help U.S. residents reduce their utility expenses. This act includes the allocation of $400 billion to support clean energy projects to address climate change, with $8.8 billion earmarked for home energy rebates for energy efficiency and electrification projects. These rebates, along with additional incentives such as federal tax credits for qualifying energy retrofit projects, offer significant financial benefits. The goal is to inspire American households to invest in energy efficiency measures, reducing carbon emissions and utility bills, and empowering homeowners with substantial financial savings.

As an approved primary contractor for Michigan's Home Energy rebate program, we are here to provide support and guidance, answering any questions and assisting with your custom home retrofit. You can be confident that you're not alone in this process. We are here to support you every step of the way, ensuring that you have all the information and assistance you need to make the most of these rebates.

How do the rebates work?

The Home Energy Rebates program consists of two funding sources from the Federal Department of Energy (DOE):

• Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES, IRA Section 50121)
• Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR, IRA Section 50122)

The Home Efficiency Rebate (HOMES) program will provide rebates to reduce the cost of energy-saving whole-home improvements in existing single-family and multifamily buildings. Rebate amounts for the HOMES program will be based on the amount of energy savings that can be achieved through a project, verified by an energy model that is completed by a qualified program contractor.

The Home Electrification and Appliance (HEAR) program will provide rebates to households installing heat pumps and other efficient equipment to help further electrify their homes. Funding is also available through HEAR for additional qualified improvements, including insulation, air sealing, and upgraded electrical panels and wiring.

To get started, check your eligibility by registering at the customer portal. The process is designed to be simple and straightforward, ensuring that you can easily take advantage of these rebates without any unnecessary hassle.

https://mienergyrebates.clearesult.com/

While registering, you will be asked for income information and your address. This is a soft verification to determine which program you may be interested in and if you are eligible. These restrictions are in place to ensure that the rebates are allocated to those who need them most.

After this step, you must show proof of income with W2, tax returns, pay stubs, and identification. Once approved for the program, you will be forwarded to a list of contractors you can contact to get your project started. Be prepared to give your contractor the approval letter for the State's website.

After contacting your contractor of choice, the contractor will schedule an energy audit. To learn more about energy audits, check out an article we wrote about the benefits of an energy audit.

The energy audit will determine a work scope that is to be approved by the State. Once the State approves the scope of the work, the contractor will schedule the work to be completed.

Representatives from the State or their approved contractors may come and perform a quality assurance inspection to verify the quality of the work that was performed by the contractors.

Visit the State of Michigan website for all program rules and details.

https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/materials-management/energy/rfps-loans/home-energy-rebate-programs/communities