When we talk about climate change, we often focus on big polluters who contribute the most emissions and who have actively worked against climate action for decades. Reaching our climate goals will depend on corporations slashing emissions in many sectors of our economy.
But America needs you in the fight against climate change! We all care about our planet, and reducing our own carbon footprint can play a part in ensuring a carbon free future and healthier communities. Fighting climate change is an all-hands-on-deck moment. All of us can take steps to reduce emissions at home, on the roads, and in our workplaces.
Luckily, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), it just got easier to reduce your energy bill and your carbon footprint in 2023 and beyond! Tax credits and upcoming rebates were extended or created for a range of clean energy and energy-efficient solutions to help homeowners, renters, drivers, and small business owners! Many of these new opportunities can be paired with state incentives for energy efficiency and solar that were made possible by the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA).
We’d like to share two resources to help you navigate these new IRA opportunities so you can cut your energy costs, make your home safer, and help protect your community and the planet.
Find Out How You Can Save Energy and Money
The Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a new website, www.energy.gov/save, where you can navigate incentives for homeowners, renters, and drivers. The IRA bumped existing tax credits for geothermal and solar back up to 30% and extended them through 2032. The solar tax credit can be paired with additional savings through state incentives for solar through CEJA’s Illinois Shines Program. New tax credits were also created for weatherization upgrades, like windows and insulation, as well as air conditioners, battery storage, and others.
The IRA also created new, in-the-works rebates for electric and energy efficient appliances and home heating and cooling upgrades. These rebates will be administered by state energy offices, in the case of Illinois, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (IEPA) Office of Energy. The federal Department of Energy recently released the official guidelines, and states are working to design these state-administered rebate programs for their residents. You can sign up for updates on the IEPA’s new energy rebate website or contact EPA.EnergyRebates@Illinois.gov with questions. We expect the new rebates to be available in early to mid 2024.
The other, similar tool is Rewiring America’s IRA Savings Calculator. The calculator takes into account your household size and income level to determine what tax credits and rebates you are eligible for (some are income qualified) and how much you can save! We also love a good “Frequently Asked Questions” page, and DOE and Rewiring America both have one, here and here, respectively
Other Opportunities to Save Energy and Money
Other opportunities exist to help Illinoisans afford their electric bill and take advantage of clean energy to become more energy efficient. We’ve rounded up some of those below!
- The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, often called “LIHEAP”, helps income-eligible consumers pay their utility bills. This includes assistance with heating, gas, propane, and electricity. Go to Find my Local Agency to locate your LIHEAP Local Administering Agency.
- The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) helps low income residents and households conserve fuel and reduce energy costs by making their homes and apartments more energy efficient.
- Ameren has energy efficiency programs for your home and small business and the public sector
- ComEd has energy efficiency programs for your home and small business
- Illinois Shines is the state-administered solar program, developed and managed by the Illinois Power Agency, that incentivizes the development of solar energy projects in Illinois and supports the state’s renewable energy goals.
- Illinois Electric Vehicle Rebate Program
