Energy-Efficiency Tax Credits: Which Appliances and Home Improvements Qualify

As electricity prices increase, more and more people are looking for ways to cut down their energy bills. One opportunity is when it comes time to replace your appliances and complete home improvement projects.

Certain heat pump water heaters, electric vehicle chargers, and heat pumps can earn you an energy-efficiency federal tax credit. So can energy audits and improved insulation. Here’s what you need to know about qualifying for and claiming tax credits for energy efficiency improvements.

Note: The tax credits and other incentives discussed below are being reconsidered by Congress in 2025. Legislation can change. As always, consult your tax advisor about your eligibility.

What Is the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit?

As part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Congress extended the popular Residential Clean Energy Credit for solar panels and batteries and created a new set of tax credits to speed the adoption of home electrification and energy efficiency called the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit. It lets you claim a tax credit worth 30% of the cost of qualified improvements up to $3,200 each year split across two buckets.

One bucket lets you claim up to $2,000 annually for newly installed heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, boilers, or biomass stoves. The other lets you claim up to $1,200 each year for building envelope improvements, energy audits, insulation, and more.

The legislation also set aside money for states to offer rebates for energy-efficient appliances, up to $8,000 per home, though the actual amount may depend on your state’s program and your income.

What Appliances Are Eligible for Tax Credits and Rebates?

The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit lets you claim up to $3,200 annually for energy-efficient improvements. Here’s what qualifies, with a focus on electric appliances.

Heat pumps for heating and cooling

Heat pumps and heat pump water heaters qualify for a 30% tax credit up to $2,000 per year. To qualify, the heat pump or water heater must meet the Consortium for Energy Efficiency’s (CEE) highest tier (excluding advanced tiers) in place at the start of the year it’s being installed.

To check if your preferred heat pump qualifies, check Energy Star’s database of heat pumps that qualify for the tax credit or the CEE’s list.

Certain natural gas heat pumps and water heaters in the highest CEE tier and biomass boilers and stoves with a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75% also qualify for the credit.

Building envelope

Your building’s envelope — what separates you from the outdoors — is a key factor in your home’s energy efficiency, especially when it comes to climate control. A drafty envelope means more energy to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

The Energy Efficiency Tax Credit’s other bucket ($1,200 annually) goes mostly to building envelope improvements. Of the $1,200, you can claim $250 for a new door (up to $500), $600 for windows and skylights, up to $1,200 for insulation improvements, and $150 for an energy audit.

Exterior doors must meet Energy Star requirements and windows and skylights must meet Energy Star’s Most Efficient standard. Insulation must meet the International Energy Conservation Code standards from two years before the insulation is installed. (Insulation improved in 2025 must meet 2023’s standards.) An energy audit needs to be conducted, written up, and signed by an auditor certified by one of the Department of Energy’s approved programs.

EV charger tax credit

Separate from the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit, there are tax credits available for electric vehicles (new and used) and home EV chargers. Eligible people can claim a tax credit of 30% the cost of purchasing and installing a home EV charger, up to $1,000.

Home Efficiency Rebates

Home efficiency rebates provide up to $8,000 in rebates for a project that reduces your home’s energy consumption by 20%. It’s subject to some income requirements.

The Home Efficiency Rebates, like the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates, will be administered by individual states after the federal government approves their programs. As of this writing, nine states and Washington, DC have rebates available. Nine other states have had their programs approved, and 11 states have submitted their applications. The others are preparing their applications. So far, only South Dakota has opted not to participate.

You can check your state’s status and find a link to its program here.

Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates

There are also rebates for individual appliances and energy efficiency improvements. These rebates will also be administered by states, which get to design their own programs. Approved programs could offer up to $14,000 in rebates subject to some income limits.

Heat pumps: Up to $8,000

New electric panel: Up to $4,000

Electrical wiring: Up to $2,500

Heat pump water heater: $1,750

Insulation, air sealing, and ventilation: $1,600

Heat pump clothes dryer: $840

Electric or induction stove: $840

Check your state’s program before moving ahead. The Department of Energy suggests waiting until your state’s program has approval before moving ahead with improvements you’d like to claim rebates for.

What Is a Tax Credit vs. a Rebate or Cash Back?

As you’re planning your tax credit- or rebate-eligible home improvements, keep in mind the difference between the two incentives.

A tax credit typically reduces the taxes you owe or increases your refund of taxes you’ve already paid. Either way, you need to have a tax liability to claim the credits discussed above. If you have a tax liability smaller than the amount of your allowable credit, you won’t be able to claim the difference. Unlike the federal solar tax credit, you can’t apply excess credit to future years.

Rebates, on the other hand, aren’t tied to your tax liability and can be claimed whether or not you pay taxes as long as you meet the program’s other requirements.

How to Claim the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit

First and foremost, you should always confirm your eligibility with a tax professional.

Once you’re sure you and your energy-efficient improvements qualify, claiming the credit is fairly straightforward: You’ll complete IRS Form 5695 Part II and file it with your tax return. Beginning in 2025, you’ll have to include a PIN for most items to prove it came from a qualified manufacturer.

Why an Energy-Efficient Home Is a Good Idea

There are plenty of good reasons to make your home energy efficient.

Savings: Using less energy means buying less from utility companies. The less you buy, the more you can save.

Comfort: Switching to a new HVAC system might mean more even heating and cooling for your home and fewer swings in temperature. Renewing insulation or installing it for the first time can block uncomfortable drafts.

Experience: Whether it’s cooking with a speedy and powerful induction stove or having a more comfortable room from an always-on heat pump, an efficient house can provide a better living experience.

Climate: Buildings, including homes, accounted for 13% of total US greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, according to the US EPA. Eliminating those emissions will be a necessary step to addressing climate change. Electrifying your home and powering it with solar can go a long way to reducing your home’s carbon footprint.

You Can Do Even More to Be Energy Efficient

Besides taking advantage of the tax credits and rebates by adding energy-efficient appliances, there are plenty of other things you can do to be more energy efficient at home.

Turn devices off: Devices that sit in standby mode when they’re not in use use vampire energy that can run up your energy bill. Turning them off manually or putting them on a schedule with a smart plug can cut down your energy use.

Heat and cool smartly: Installing a smart thermostat, which allows you to automate your heating and cooling schedule, can help you avoid wasting energy by conditioning your home when it’s not in use. Using fans or warm clothing to help you adjust your thermostat setting by a few degrees can save a few kilowatt-hours, too.

Home energy monitoring: A home energy monitor can help you identify energy hogs and areas of waste in your home. 

Solar panels: Generating your own energy at home can help you avoid buying some energy from your utility. Solar panels can go on an inefficient home, but home solar paired with efficient, electric appliances has the potential to deliver the greatest reduction in energy bills and carbon footprint at home.

If you’re interested in what solar and home energy upgrades can do for you, contact Palmetto or start by estimating what solar can save at your home.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I claim the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit?

You can claim the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit when you file your taxes each year.

What happens if my tax liability for a year is too small to get the credit?

The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit is nonrefundable, which means it can only be applied to your tax liability. Unlike the Residential Clean Energy Credit, it can’t be applied to your tax liability in future years.

How can I check if there are state or local tax credits or incentives?

The Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency is one place to start. Your utility may also provide information. You can also check your state’s progress toward a rebate plan. Your utility or a reputable contractor may have information on other incentives available to you.

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. Palmetto does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors.