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Financial Opportunities for Consumers

Although the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy does not directly fund consumer energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, many other opportunities exist. To learn more about financial opportunities for consumers and homeowners, visit the following sites:

Tax Credits, Grants, and Rebates

• Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
  Information from ENERGY STAR® on federal tax credits for home improvements, efficient vehicles, solar energy systems, and fuel cells.

• Rebates and Special Offers for ENERGY STAR® Products
  Find rebates and special offers (such as sales tax exemptions) from ENERGY STAR partners in your area.

• State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
  The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) includes state-by-state financial and regulatory incentives (such as tax credits, grants, rebates, and special utility rates) for renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Energy-Efficient Mortgages and Financing

• Financing an Energy-Efficient Home
  This fact sheet from the Department of Energy features an overview of energy-efficient financing programs from mortgages to home improvement loans.

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Energy-Efficient Mortgage Program
  The Energy-Efficient Mortgage Program is one of many Federal Housing Authority programs that insure mortgage loans to encourage lenders to make mortgage credit available to borrowers, such as first-time homebuyers, who would not otherwise qualify for conventional loans on affordable terms.

• Energy Ratings and Mortgages
  Energy efficient homes may qualify for mortgages that take into account a home's efficiency. Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET) provides information on home energy rating systems, energy efficient mortgages, and finding certified energy raters and lenders who know how to process energy efficiency mortgages.

• Refinancing for Energy-Efficiency Improvements
  An overview of refinancing to make energy efficiency improvements, from the Alliance to Save Energy.

Assistance for Low-Income Families

• U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program
  DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program works with states and local governments to enable low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy-efficient.