Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency

Get up to $500 in federal tax credits (at a rate of 10 percent of the improvement costs) for making your home more energy efficient. Taxpayer is ineligible for this tax credit if this credit has already been claimed by the taxpayer in an amount of $500 in any previous year.

What qualifies:

• Advanced main air circulating fan: $50
• Natural gas, propane, or oil furnace or hot water boiler with an annual fuel utilization rate of 95 or greater: $150
• Electric heat pump water heater with an energy factor of at least 2.0: $300
• Electric heat pump which achieves the highest efficiency tier established by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency: $300
• Central air conditioner which achieves the highest efficiency tier established by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency: $300
• Natural gas, propane, or oil water heater which has either an energy factor of at least 0.82 or a thermal efficiency of at least 90 percent: $300
• Biomass stoves that use "plant-derived fuel available on a renewable or recurring basis, including agricultural crops and trees, wood and wood waste and residues (including wood pellets), plants (including aquatic plants), grasses, residues, and fibers": $300

Federal Tax Credits for Solar Energy Systems

Get a 30 percent federal tax credit with no maximum on solar hot water heating, photovoltaic, and residential small wind systems.

Federal Tax Credits for Geothermal Heating Systems

Get a 30 percent federal tax credit with no maximum on geothermal heating and cooling systems.

Lower your taxes while creating a more livable, energy-efficient home! Call us today if you have questions on any of these incentives.

Home Energy Checkup offers payment options that meet your needs

Saving you money on your home's energy bills is Home Energy Checkup's highest goal. We offer payment options that make attaining that goal possible for every homeowner. For your convenience, we take checks and credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express).

Special financing programs.

You can benefit from financing improved energy-efficiency whether you're buying, selling, refinancing, or remodeling a home. If you're looking to buy an energy-efficient home, you may qualify for a more luxurious home because lower utility costs will offset a larger mortgage payment. You can also obtain financing to make energy-efficient improvements to your existing home or to an older home before moving in. If you put your home on the market, you can use its energy efficiency as an attractive selling point.

Below are details on financing programs we make available to you. (Please note: These independently owned and operated lenders are not affiliated with Home Energy Checkup, LLC. The names are provided as a resource to help you compare different financing options.)

Financing Methods	Purchase/ Refinance Required	HERS Rating Required	Maximum Amount	Details	Lenders
Fannie Mae Energy Loans	No	No	$20,000	The Energy Loan's 10-year term and interest rates are generally better than those offered by contractors or suppliers.	To find a lender in your area email David Carey
Local Utility, City and State Specific Rebate, Loan and Grant Programs	No	Varies	Varies	Incentives vary based on where you live. The DSIRE website provides the most up to date information on energy efficiency and renewable energy incentives.	DSIRE
Streamlined (k) Limited Repair Program	Yes	No	$35,000	This Program is intended to facilitate uncomplicated rehabilitation and/or improvements to a home for which plans, consultants, engineers and/or architects are not required.	Any FHA lender
Conventional-Energy Efficient Mortgage	Yes	Yes	15% of properties appraised value	Conforming limits apply. 100% of the energy improvements recommended by a HERS Rating to be cost effective can be financed	Energy Efficient Mortgage Lenders
FHA-Energy Effiicient Mortgage	Yes	Yes	$4,000 or 5% of the appraised value (whichever is greater) up to a maximum of $8,000	The final Loan to Value (LTV) may exceed 100% appraised value if the rating shows that the energy improvements have a positive cash flow	Energy Efficient Mortgage Lenders
VA-Energy Efficient Mortgage	Yes	Yes	Up to $3,000 without HERS Rating. Up to $6,000 provided HERS Rating projects reduction in monthly payment	The final Loan to Value (LTV) may exceed 100% appraised value if the rating shows that the energy improvements have a positive cash flow	Energy Efficient Mortgage Lenders

"My mom still talks excitedly about your thermal imaging gun and the difference it made in improving the warmth of my home. God bless you!"
— Deneen in Cincinnati, Ohio,
My Energy Plan and Energy Makeover recipient
February 2009

"Home Energy Checkup provided many productive, useful insights to help us conserve energy, make our home more comfortable, and save on utility bills."
— Jodi in Cincinnati, Ohio,
My Energy Plan recipient

"Home Energy Checkup has so many tools that they are like a 'MacGyver' for homes!"
— John in Montgomery, Ohio,
My Energy Plan recipient

"Thank you for guiding us through My Energy Plan. We all learned and benefited from your knowledge."
— Patti in Dayton, Ohio,
My Energy Plan recipient

"Thank you, Home Energy Checkup. Based on your electrical load analysis, I am going to install a pool timer. It doesn't cost much, it's an uncomplicated installation, and it will have a one-month payback."
— Gary in Harrison, Indiana,
My Energy Plan recipient

"I received the summary report that included all the pictures of our attic. You were very detailed, and I really appreciate it! I love having all the photos. I'm keeping them in a folder for my information and home resale purposes."
— Paula in Cincinnati, Ohio,
My Energy Plan recipient

"Before you came out, we had our utility company perform a "free" audit. You would have to be brain-dead to get anything out of their audit. Your knowledge and data analysis, however, clearly prioritized our home's needs."
— Steve in Cincinnati, Ohio,
My Energy Plan recipient

"Our gas bills have been cut in half."
— Steve in Liberty Township, Ohio
Energy Makeover recipient
February 2009

"Our upstairs is now warm, and the attic, which used to be an oven in winter, is cold. Our gas bill has gone down significantly since you did your work."
— Tom in Middletown, Ohio,
Energy Makeover recipient
December 2008

"Our HVAC company could not figure out what was causing our discomfort, but they did propose a new HVAC system. You quickly found ductwork problems they missed. We noticed a huge improvement in comfort even as you were working in the attic. We will definitely recommend your services to others in the neighborhood who have similar problems in their new homes."
— Steve in Liberty Township, Ohio,
Energy Makeover recipient
December 2008

"Our Duke Energy bill for July through August was $136; last year, before your work, it was $267. Overall, the house has been very comfortable, much more so than last summer."
— Debbie in Indian Hill, Ohio,
Energy Makeover recipient

"Not only have our bills decreased dramatically, but everyone also comments how comfortable our place feels after your service. Thank you, Home Energy Checkup!"
— Dita in Fairfield, Ohio,
Energy Makeover recipient

"Home Energy Checkup found walls in my contemporary home that were completely uninsulated. (We had been using electric heaters to keep this room warm.) They also found cold air returns that were open to the attic. After they resolved these issues, our bills decreased significantly this winter and our comfort level increased."
— Beth in West Chester, Ohio
Energy Makeover recipient

"We're glad we did all the work with you. It makes a big difference! Any other ideas, let us know."
— John in Indian Hill, Ohio,
Energy Makeover recipient

"I used to feel cold with our thermostat set at 71 degrees in the winter, I'm now comfortable at 68 degrees. I checked your attic insulation improvements; you really put a lot of insulation up there! Thank you for resolving our comfort and energy issues."
— Pat in Ross, Ohio,
Energy Makeover recipient

"Our daughter's room is finally warm, and our winter heating bills dropped from $700 a month to less than $130. We also love the fact that we heat most of our hot water from the sun. We will definitely recommend your services to our family and friends."
— Kae in Hamilton, Ohio,
Energy Makeover recipient

"I was very impressed with the quality of your work. I was also surprised that you were able to get the building sealed up tighter than the contract requirements without altering the windows. Not disrupting the historical features of the home was important to me. Thanks!"
— Jim in Northside, Ohio,
Energy Makeover recipient

"I have given out your name many times. I am thrilled with the work you did for me."
— John in Cincinnati, Ohio,
Energy Makeover recipient

"The ends of the house are much warmer now. I am very satisfied with your services and will recommend them to others."
— John in Hamilton, Ohio,
Energy Makeover recipient

"Thanks for all the good work!"
— J in Cincinnati, Ohio,
Energy Makeover recipient

"I wanted to go green and save on my utility bills. The solar collectors you installed on my roof are attractive, and the system is very quiet. My summer utility bill has been cut in half!"
— Sally in Indian Hill, Ohio

"Once you installed the solar hot water heater, we noticed that our backup heater does not even kick in on sunny days. We love it!"
— Alan in Hamilton, Ohio

"Home Energy Check Up goes far beyond providing K Homes with fast and efficient service; they ensure that all our homes meet or exceed strict EPA requirements for ENERGY STAR. Many of our homes score 40 percent more energy efficient than Ohio Code!"
— Gene Kopaygorodsky, President, K Homes - West Chester, Ohio

"Home Energy Checkup has truly been a blessing for me. Their excellent knowledge of energy conservation and ENERGY STAR guidelines have had a huge impact on our homes. Strongly recommend!"
— Hollie in Lexington, Kentucky

"Home Energy Checkup has done an excellent job of educating both our volunteers and me as to what we can do to make our homes more efficient and green."
— Dawn Stutz, Executive Director, Clark County Community Habitat for Humanity in Springfield, Ohio

Our professional service has benefited homeowners across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Let us know how we can help you.