Federal Income Tax Credits and Other Incentives for Energy Efficiency
As recently as 2016, Federal tax credits were available for energy efficiency improvements made to primary residences. The list of eligible upgrades included heating and cooling equipment, water heaters, windows, insulation and roofs. In most cases, the energy efficiency requirements associated with the tax credit were met by choosing an ENERGY STAR certified model. Tax credit amounts ranged as high as $500 or even higher, depending on the type of equipment. The most recent set of energy efficiency tax credits were enacted by Congress as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (also known as the "Stimulus Bill") and expired in December 2016.
At this time, there are no known plans to reinstate these federal tax credits.
Today, the only federal tax credits for energy efficiency improvements that remain in effect are for solar energy systems (solar water heaters and solar panels). These federal tax credits remain in effect through December 2021. For more information on solar energy systems, see below:
