Kane County’s Guide to Energy Rebates and Incentives
Looking to save money on home improvements while making your home more energy-efficient? Kane County's Sustainability Manager, Sarra Hinshaw, has been hard at work uncovering rebates, discounts, and incentives that can help you reduce costs and make smarter energy choices.
Here's a quick breakdown of the available opportunities:
Ways to Save Right Now
- ComEd Customers: Visit the ComEd Rebates and Discounts website for energy-efficient products you can use at home.
- Nicor Customers: Nicor offers free Home Energy Assessments and provides Water-Saving and Weatherization Kits to help you save even more.
- More Resources: Explore tools like the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency or the EnergyStar Rebate Finder to uncover additional rebates and incentives.
- Home Energy Tax Credits: Did you know you can take advantage of tax credits for home energy improvements until 2032? The table below explains the available IRA Home Energy Tax Credits, so you can plan your upgrades and maximize your savings.
Kane County's Own Program
Kane County also offers its own energy efficiency program, C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy), which helps commercial property owners finance energy-efficient upgrades like HVAC systems, renewable energy installations, and more. Learn more about this program if you're a business owner looking to save on energy costs.
Tools to Help You Save
- Tax Credit Product Lookup Tool: The Department of Energy (DOE) recently launched this online resource to help you find eligible equipment for the new tax credits. Visit the IRS website for instructions and the application form 5695 for residential energy credits.
- Upcoming Rebate Programs: The U.S. Department of Energy has allocated $263 million to Illinois to support two programs: Home Efficiency Rebates and Home Electrification & Appliance Rebates. While these programs haven't launched yet, Illinois plans to prioritize low-income households initially.
Need Extra Help?
If you're planning a renovation or building a new home, consider working with Sustained Ability, a residential “energy coach." They can guide you through energy audits, help you work with contractors, and create a roadmap for future improvements—all aimed at saving you money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Kane County's Climate Action Plan
Small steps can lead to big savings and create greener homes. This ties directly to Kane County's Climate Action Implementation Plan, which aims to improve community-wide energy efficiency for electricity and natural gas by 12% by 2030. A key part of this effort includes promoting existing incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy—like insulation, energy-efficient windows, electric heat pumps, and solar panels—whether in new construction or retrofitting existing homes and businesses.
Learn more about Kane County's Sustainability efforts at https://www.kanecountyil.gov/sustainability/Pages/home.aspx or like us on Facebook @SustainKane.
