Go Green Using Government Funding : Energy rebates & tax credits, Federal, State and more

With the Government bailing out all the big banks, mortgage companies, insurance companies and auto industry, don’t you feel like asking, as the little guy, where is my bail out? At least I have. I should be getting some kind of bail out to cover my expenses… because you know… I have spent it all. No. I am not getting any and I don’t think you are going to either. Anyway, jokes aside, we can get some money for doing good. Going green. I am not talking just about the “Cash for appliances” program or the energy star rebates, but much more.

I don’t know why they make all these energy tax credits and rebates so complicated and never advertise them. Here is the list of energy tax credits, rebates and websites to find them easily. Make the most of them.

Federal Programs

• Energy Tax Credit for 2009 –2010 : If you purchase an energy-efficient product or renewable energy system for your home, you may be eligible for a federal energy tax credit. The following products are eligible for energy tax credits at 30% of the cost, up to a total credit of $1,500 : Biomass stoves, HVAC, Insulation, Roofing, Water Heaters (non-solar), Windows, Doors & Skylights. Note that the $1,500 maximum limit is for all of the efficiency measures combined over the two-year 2009-2010 period.
• Energy Tax Credits through 2016 : Energy Tax Credits (30% of the cost) for these products : Geothermal heat pump, solar energy systems, wind energy systems & fuel cells are available with no upper limit, through 2016.
• Hybrid, alternative fuel and plug-in vehicles : You can save money through Federal energy tax credits and incentives on your purchase of a new hybrid, plug-in hybrid, lean-burn, alternative fuel, or electric vehicle. Credit amounts begin to phase out for a given manufacturer once it has sold over 60,000 eligible vehicles. Vehicles purchased after December 31, 2010 are not eligible for this credit. Popular hybrids like Honda Civic Hybrid or Toyota Prius have exhausted this credit, but there are still a lot of vehicles that are eligible for this credit, for example there are a few BMW, Mercedes and GM vehicles that are still eligible for this credit. Also check out the alternative fuel and plug-in vehicles that offer energy tax credits. You can find the entire list of energy tax credits and incentives for fuel efficient vehicles at fueleconomy.gov
• There is more : You can get grants and loans if you are eligible. For more information check the entire list of financial incentives here (this includes corporate and industry incentives too).

Download the Energy Tax Credits for Home Energy Improvements fact sheet.

State & local Programs

There is a LOT of energy rebates and incentives available through state energy programs. For example, in California, the following energy rebates represent a small sample of programs that are available for the residents via their utility companies.

• PG&E – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs
• Anaheim Public Utilities – Residential Home Efficiency Rebate Program
• LADWP – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
• SoCalGas – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Programs
• Silicon Valley Power – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program
• SDG&E – Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program

Click the map below to find what rebates are available in your State & Local utility company.

Some states even offer sales tax deduction or exemption for renewable energy products. For those who live in California, there is an excellent website Flex Your Power.  It lets you enter your zip code and lists all the rebates and incentives available in your area from your local company and the State of California.

Cash for Appliances – Rebates for Energy Star Appliances

Eligible consumers can receive rebates to purchase new energy-efficient appliances when they replace used appliances. These rebates are funded with $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Each state and territory has selected its own set of ENERGY STAR qualified products to which the rebate applies. California for example, has an extended set of appliances that are eligible, including –

• Refrigerators
• Clothes washers
• Room air conditioners
• Dish washers
• Freezers
• Electric heat pump water heaters
• Gas storage water heaters
• Solar water heaters (electric and gas back-up)
• Central air conditioners (split and packaged)
• Air-source heat pumps (split and packaged)
• Gas furnaces
• Gas boilers

The rebates are closed in a lot of states but not all. Click on the map below to see how you can take advantage of this rebate program in your state. The rebate is not closed in the states that are colored orange. These programs will continue until program funds are exhausted.

List of Resources for further help

• Energystar.gov: Provides details on ENERGY STAR qualified products (note that not all ENERGY STAR products are eligible for energy tax credits)
• Dsireusa.org: Provides information on the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.
• Fueleconomy.gov: Provides details on which vehicles are still eligible for the federal energy tax credit.

Most of these credits are expiring by the end of this year or when the funds are exhausted, which ever is earlier. Take advantage of these energy tax credits, breaks and rebates before they run out!

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