In the Finger Lakes, maximizing home comfort and energy efficiency is simpler and more affordable than ever, thanks to a new wave of rebates available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These IRA rebates offer homeowners substantial savings on upgrades such asheat pumps,air sealing,insulation, andsolar installations—all designed to lower energy costs, increase home comfort, and boost property value. At Halco Home Services, we’re here to help you navigate theserebates, incentives, and financing options, ensuring you get the most out of every dollar spent on making your home more energy efficient. And remember, if it involves home comfort and energy efficiency:Yes, we do that!
Why Are the Current Rebates Important?
Since the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, there has been a nationwide initiative to encourage energy-efficient home improvements. By reducing the costs of installing high-performance heating and cooling systems, improving insulation, and adopting renewable energy, these rebates and tax incentives make it financially feasible for more homeowners to invest in a more energy efficient and comfortable future for their home.
There are multiple ways to save through multiple programs, and many of them can be combined depending on home improvements you choose, and the contractor doing the work. When it comes to what improvements Halco can make for homeowners in the Finger Lakes, the answer is nearly always, “Yes, we do that!”. Here is an overview of the programs available and how we can help you maximize the available savings.
Available Rebates for Home Improvements in the Finger Lakes
The following rebates build on the tax credits that are already available for many of the services that we specialize in here at Halco. The 25C tax credit, known as the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, offers a reduction in your federal tax liability up to 30% of the cost for qualifying improvements like heat pumps, insulation, air sealing, and energy-efficient windows, with an annual cap of $1,200 for most upgrades and a separate limit of $2,000 for heat pumps ($3,200 every year in total). This credit provides ongoing savings by allowing homeowners to claim it each year they make eligible improvements. And while you may not be able to claim this credit until you file your taxes, the following rebates can be taken advantage of right away.
1. Clean Heat Program for Heat Pump Installations
The Clean Heat Program is run through local utilities and NYSERDA, and offers rebates for installing energy-efficient heat pumps, including air source andgeothermal systems. Heat pumps, whether ducted or ductless, not only provide efficient heating in winter and cooling in summer but are also cleaner than traditional heating systems, reducing your carbon footprint.
For a 4-ton sized air source heat pump, which can serve as an adequate heatingandcooling system for a mid-sized home, an example sticker price of $21,000 is immediately reduced to $14,000 thanks to a $7,000 rebate from Clean Heat — this is before factoring in the $2,000 25C federal tax credit as well as any New York State tax credits.
For a geothermal heat pump system, the rebate can be combined with the aforementioned tax credits, reducing a $52,000 system down to $26,833!
EmPower+ Program (for Income-Qualified Households)
This program is available to income-qualified households, offering substantial rebates on energy-saving upgrades. With recent funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, EmPower+ now includes added incentives for items like air sealing, insulation, and energy-efficient systems — all of which make a home more comfortable while requiring less energy.
Key Benefits:
- Air Sealing, Insulation, and Ventilation: Up to $1,600 in savings.
- Heat Pump Water Heater: $1,750 in rebates.
- Heat Pumps: Up to $8,000 off installation.
- Electrical Upgrades: Coverage up to $4,000 for panel upgrades and $2,500 for wiring upgrades.
3. Comfort Home Program for Middle-Income Households
For homeowners who fall above the income limit for the EmPower+ program, the Comfort Home Program offers rebates from $1,000 to $4,000 on air sealing and insulation projects.
Services Covered:
- Comprehensive air sealing to prevent drafts and improve indoor air quality
- Upgrades to attic, wall, floor, and rim joist insulation, reducing energy loss and enhancing comfort
4. NYSERDA Affordable Solar Grant
Homeowners looking to incorporate solar power can benefit from NYSERDA’s Affordable Solar Grant, which provides financial assistance to low- and moderate-income households installing solar panels. This locks in energy costs for decades, and is a great way to complement the already-reduced energy usage of a home that has been air sealed, insulated, and made HVAC efficient.
More Than Just an Efficiency Upgrade
Beyond immediate financial savings, energy-efficient home upgrades provide long-term value by increasing property appeal and improving indoor air quality and comfort in all seasons. With upgrades like heat pumps, insulation, and air sealing, you’ll enjoy a cozy, draft-free home while reducing pollutants and lowering your carbon footprint—making your home not only more comfortable and healthy but also more sustainable and attractive to future buyers.
Financing Options to Make Upgrades More Accessible
In addition to rebates and incentives, we offer flexible financing options to help you manage the cost of your home improvements. Programs like Green Jobs-Green NY provide loans with rates as low as 3.49% based on income, ensuring payments are affordable. For us, helping homeowners afford these upgrades is part of our mission to create more energy-efficient homes.Yes, we do that!
Tell a Friend About Halco and Earn up to $500
Still looking for more ways to cash in? We’re offering a referral bonus of 5% of the sale, up to $500, for each successful referral. It’s our way of saying thank you for trusting us to recommend us and helping us create healthier, more comfortable homes for our community.
Call Halco to Get Started on Your Path to Savings and Comfort
Navigating rebates, tax credits, and financing options can seem overwhelming, but that’s where we come in. At Halco Home Services, our experts are dedicated to making the process simple, ensuring you don’t miss out on any savings opportunities.
