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:
Switch to energy efficient lightbulbs
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.
Use your ceiling fan to distribute heat in the winter, and move cooler air in the summer
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.
Get smart with your thermostat
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.
Lower your water heater temperature
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 our water heating temperature page.
Seal air leaks around windows, doors, and/or cracks with caulk
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 our caulking to seal air ducts page.
Seal around windows and doors with weatherstripping
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
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