Many incentives from President Biden’s Investing in America plan are available to renters. Whether or not these are the right solution for you may depend on a variety of factors, including the type of rental property you currently have.
At the bottom of this page, you’ll find a list of incentives for qualifying renters. If you drive or are considering making a vehicle purchase, you may also want to consider some of the electric and fuel cell vehicle incentives listed on our Drivers page.
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Tips and Tricks
You don’t have to own your property to make energy efficient improvements that can help lower your monthly utility bill and make your home more comfortable year-round. Here are some DIY tips and tricks that can help you take greater control of your energy use and costs:
If you still use incandescent bulbs, switching to energy-efficient lighting is one of the fastest ways to cut your energy bills. The average household can save more than $200/year by using LED lighting. Timers, which can turn off lights when not in use, and dimmers, which reduce light levels, can also help you save electricity. For high-quality products that will provide the greatest energy savings, look for products that have earned the ENERGY STAR logo.
Most people know that ceiling fans can help you stay cool in warmer weather by creating a wind-chill effect on your skin. This can allow you to raise the thermostat several degrees without losing any comfort. But by changing the direction your fan turns (which on many fans can be done by flipping a switch on the fan itself) in the winter and putting your ceiling fan on its lowest speed, you can pull cool air up to the ceiling which pushes warm air back down. This can potentially save you up to 15% on your winter energy bills and up to 30% on your summer energy bills.
Using a programmable thermostat (or being diligent about manually adjusting a non-programmable thermostat) can help reduce your energy usage when you’re away from home or asleep. A programmable thermostat allows you to automatically adjust temperatures by day and time of day, so your settings are where you want them while you’re home and saving you money when you’re not. It’s estimated that you can save as much as 10% on heating by adjusting your temperature back 7°-10°F back from its normal setting for 8 hours/day. Find more tips and tricks on our programmable thermostats explainer page.
Adjusting your water heater from 140° to 120° degrees can reduce the risk of scalding, slow build-up in your pipes, AND potentially save you hundreds of dollars a year on energy savings. If you have a compromised immune system or chronic respiratory disease, you may want to keep your water heater at 140°. Find step-by-step instructions on ourwater heating temperature page.
No matter how energy efficient your appliances and technology are, air leaks let hot air inside in the summer and cold air inside in the winter and reduce the efficiency of your system (which wastes money!). Certain types of air sealing are best done by a professional (like air sealing around heating and cooling ducts, for example), but air sealing around windows or doors with a tube of caulk can be a great, inexpensive DIY energy project. Find step-by-step instructions on ourcaulking to seal air ducts page.
Another option to air sealing is to apply weatherstripping around moveable joints like windows and doors. This reduces air leaks and helps keep your home more comfortable year-round. Depending on your comfort with DIY projects, some people may prefer to have a professional handle this project. Find step-by-step instructions on our weatherstripping page.
Find more energy-saving ideas at our Do-It-Yourself Energy Savings Project page.
Incentives for Renters
Pick One:
- Air Conditioners (energy efficient)More Info on Air Conditioners
Incentive Type: Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer, up to $600.
How to Access: Submit IRS Form 5695 if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov.
?️ Subject to a cumulative, annual cap of $1,200.
⚠️ Believe it or not, another option for energy-efficient home cooling is a heat pump, which provides both air conditioning and heating! Credits exist for both air-source and geothermal heat pumps, which could save you additional money on your monthly costs in the long-run.
Clothes Dryer (ENERGY STAR, heat pump)More Info on Clothes DryersIncentive Type: Rebate
Incentive Amount: Forthcoming income-based incentives will be announced through the Home Energy Rebates program (for households below 150% area median income).
How to Access: Rebates are not yet available. Stay tuned as the Home Energy Rebates programs are deployed nationwide and administered through your State Energy Offices.
Electric Stove or Oven (ENERGY STAR)More Info on Electric StovesIncentive type: Rebate
Incentive amount: Forthcoming income-based incentives will be announced through the Home Energy Rebates program (for households below 150% area median income).
How to Access: Rebates are not yet available. Stay tuned as the Home Energy Rebates programs are deployed nationwide and administered through your State Energy Offices.
Heating Equipment (energy efficient)More Info on Heating EquipmentIncentive Type: Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer, up to $600 per year.
How to Access: Submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your taxes if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov.
?️ Subject to a cumulative, annual cap of $1,200.
⚠️ Heat pumps are another option for energy-efficient home heating. Credits exist for both air-source and geothermal heat pumps, which could save you additional money on your monthly costs in the long-run.
Heat Pump (air-source, energy efficient)More Info on Air-Source Heat PumpsIncentive Type: Tax Credit & Rebate
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer, up to $2,000/year, is available through a tax credit. Additional income-based incentives will be announced through the Home Energy Rebates program (for households below 150% area median income).
How to Access: For the tax credit, submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your taxes. if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov. Rebates are not yet available. Stay tuned as the Home Energy Rebates programs are deployed nationwide and administered through your State Energy Offices.
⚠️ Credits exist for both air-source and geothermal heat pumps. A trusted professional who specializes in heat pump installation can help you decide which is best for your home and budget.
⚠️️ Consumers have a $2,000/year limit in total for heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and biomass stoves/boilers. For example, if you claimed $1,000 for a heat pump and $1,000 for a biomass stove, you could not also claim a 30% credit for a heat pump water heater in the same year. However, you could claim up to $1,200 for other incentives like windows, doors, AC, electric panel, etc., for a total of up to $3,200 in credits for the year.
Heat Pump (geothermal)More Info on Geothermal Heat PumpsIncentive Type: Tax Credit & Rebate
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer is available through a tax credit. Additional income-based incentives will be announced through the Home Energy Rebates program (for households below 150% area median income).
How to Access: For the tax credit, submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your taxes if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov. Rebates are not yet available. Stay tuned as the Home Energy Rebates programs are deployed nationwide and administered through your State Energy Offices.
⚠️ Credits exist for both air-source and geothermal heat pumps. A trusted professional who specializes in heat pump installation can help you decide which is best for your home and budget.
Hot Water Boilers (energy efficient)More Info on Hot Water BoilersIncentive Type: Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer, up to $600
How to Access: Submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your taxes if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov.
?️ Subject to a cumulative, annual cap of $1,200.
Induction CooktopMore Info on Induction CooktopsIncentive type: Rebate
Incentive amount: Forthcoming income-based incentives will be announced through the Home Energy Rebates program (for households below 150% area median income).
How to Access: Rebates are not yet available. Stay tuned as the Home Energy Rebates programs are deployed nationwide and administered through your State Energy Offices.
Smart TechnologyMore Info on Smart TechIncentive Type: Rebate
Incentive Amount: Forthcoming income-based incentives will be announced through the Home Energy Rebates program (for households below 150% area median income).
How to Access: Rebates are not yet available. Stay tuned as the Home Energy Rebates programs are deployed nationwide and administered through your State Energy Offices.
Water Heater (heat pump, energy efficient)More Info on Heat Pump Water HeatersIncentive Type: Tax Credit & Rebate
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer, up to $2,000/year, is available through a tax credit. Additional income-based incentives will be announced through the Home Energy Rebates program (for households below 150% area median income).
How to Access: For the tax credit, submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your taxes if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov. Rebates are not yet available. Stay tuned as the Home Energy Rebates programs are deployed nationwide and administered through your State Energy Offices.
⚠️ Heat pump water heaters require installation in locations in a home with certain temperature and space requirements. Learn more.
⚠️️ Consumers have a $2,000/year limit in total for heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and biomass stoves/boilers. For example, if you claimed $1,000 for a heat pump and $1,000 for a biomass stove, you could not also claim a 30% credit for a heat pump water heater in the same year. However, you could claim up to $1,200 for other incentives like windows, doors, AC, electric panel, etc., for a total of up to $3,200 in credits for the year.
Water Heater (energy efficient)More Info on Water HeatersIncentive Type: Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer, up to $600/year
How to Access: Submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your taxes if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov.
⚠️ Water heaters meeting the requirements are considered energy efficient. For example, a water heater may be natural gas-powered but energy efficient.
Water Heater (solar)More Info on Solar-Powered Water HeatersIncentive Type: Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer
How to Access: Submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your taxes if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov.
⚠️ Solar water heaters can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. Learn more.
Wood and Pellet Stoves/Boilers (biomass)More Info on Wood and Pellet StovesIncentive Type: Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer, up to $2,000/year
How to Access: Submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your taxes if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov.
⚠️️ Biomass consumers have a $2,000/year limit in total for heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and biomass stoves/boilers. For example, if you claimed $1,000 for a heat pump and $1,000 for a biomass stove, you could not also claim a 30% credit for a heat pump water heater in the same year. However, you could claim up to $1,200 for other incentives like windows, doors, electric panel, etc., for a total of up to $3,200 in credits for the year.
- Battery StorageMore Info on Battery Storage
Incentive Type: Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer.
How to Access: Submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your taxes if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov.
? You may want to consider battery storage if 1) you are concerned about maintaining power during outages, 2) you are installing solar in an area that does not have one-to-one metering, and/or 3) if your utility company has you on a time-of-use or demand-charge rate. Learn more from Energy Sage or call your utility company.
Electric Panel or Circuit Upgrades for New Electric EquipmentMore Info on Electric Panel/Circuit UpgradesIncentive Type(s): Tax Credit & Rebate
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer, up to $600, is available through a tax credit. Additional income-based incentives will be announced through the Home Energy Rebates program (for households below 150% area median income).
How to Access: Submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your taxes if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov. Rebates are not yet available. Stay tuned as the Home Energy Rebates programs are deployed nationwide and administered through your State Energy Offices.
?️ Subject to a cumulative, annual cap of $1,200.
⚠️ These incentives can be especially important when considering other upgrades around your home, such as switching to an electric or induction cooktop or charging an electric vehicle. To take advantage of these incentives, upgrades must be installed along with other efficient equipment or materials that qualify for the efficient home improvement tax credit, and enable their use.
Energy-Saving Home Upgrade with Predicted Energy Savings of At Least 20%More Info on Energy-Saving Home UpgradesIncentive Type: Rebate
Incentive Amount: Forthcoming income-based incentives will be announced through the Home Energy Rebates program. Select technologies, such as heat pumps and insulation, included in the home upgrade may also be eligible for tax credits.
How to Access: Rebates are not yet available. Stay tuned as the Home Energy Rebates programs are deployed nationwide and administered through your State Energy Offices.
Energy-Saving Home Upgrade with Predicted Energy Savings of At Least 35%More Info on Energy-Saving Home UpgradeIncentive Type: Rebate
Incentive Amount: Forthcoming income-based incentives will be announced through the Home Energy Rebates program. Select technologies included in the home upgrade may also be eligible for tax credits.
How to Access: Rebates are not yet available. Stay tuned as the Home Energy Rebates programs are deployed nationwide and administered through your State Energy Offices.
Fuel CellsMore Info on Fuel CellsIncentive Type: Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer.
How to Access: Submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your taxes if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov.
⚠️ Fuel cells are another source of heat and electricity for buildings and electrical power for vehicles and electronic devices. Fuel cells work like batteries, but they do not run down or need recharging. They produce electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied. Learn more.
Home Energy AuditMore Info on Home Energy AuditsIncentive Type: Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer, up to $150
How to Access: Submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your taxes if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov.
?️ Subject to a cumulative, annual cap of $1,200.
⚠️ We highly recommend taking advantage of this credit at the start of your clean energy transition. A trusted professional can help you identify where your home is losing energy and which home improvements or upgrades will deliver the most bang for your buck.
Solar (Rooftop/At-home)More Info on Solar PanelsIncentive Type: Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer
How to Access: Submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your taxes if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov.
⚠️ If you are considering adding solar panels to your property, you should also explore whether battery storage is right for you. A credit exists for battery storage.
Ventilation SystemsMore Info on Ventilation SystemsIncentive type: Rebate
Incentive amount: Forthcoming income-based incentives will be announced through the Home Energy Rebates program (for households below 150% area median income).
How to Access: Rebates are not yet available. Stay tuned as the Home Energy Rebates programs are deployed nationwide and administered through your State Energy Offices.
Wind TurbineMore Info on Wind TurbinesIncentive Type: Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 30% of the cost paid by the consumer
How to Access: Submit IRS Form 5695 when filing your taxes if you meet the requirements detailed on IRS.gov.
Small wind electric systems require planning to determine whether there is enough wind, the location is appropriate, wind systems are allowed, the system will be economical. Learn more.
Still have questions?
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page >>
