Home Energy Rebates Set to Resume, Boosting Heat Pump Adoption and Efficiency Upgrades
- brg_news_room
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
Federal funding aimed at promoting residential energy efficiency, including heat pump installations, is expected to resume soon after an extended pause. On April 15, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright informed the House Appropriations Committee that Home Energy Rebate (HER) funds could be released within a “few weeks.” The program had been under review by the Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure alignment with the administration’s policy agenda. HER comprises two key initiatives: the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebates (HEEHR) and the Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) programs.
HEEHR — also referred to as Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) — provides point-of-sale incentives for low- and middle-income households to install eligible equipment such as heat pumps and heat-pump dryers, along with efficiency upgrades like insulation. Rebates for qualifying heat pumps can reach up to $8,000.
The HOMES program, in contrast, adopts a whole-home, performance-based model, offering incentives for improvements such as high-efficiency HVAC systems and enhanced insulation. Rebates are determined based on the level of energy savings achieved, either through measurement or approved modeling methods. To qualify, projects must demonstrate at least 15% energy savings if measured, or 20% if modeled.
Source: Department of Energy
