You’ve probably heard the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes lots of incentives to encourage homeowners to make lower-carbon choices. In fact, the Natural Resources Defense Council found more than $10,000 in tax credits and rebates available to homeowners in the IRA (if you were to qualify for all of them).
Making your house more sustainable is good for your budget, and for the planet. Construction and operation of buildings accounts for 38% of total global carbon emissions, so greening this sector is crucial to slowing climate change.
But electrifying everything is a big project—where do you start? Here are 4 ways the new law can help you go green:
One simple way to start is with a home energy audit, where an expert evaluates your home and recommends action items to improve your energy efficiency. The IRA provides rebates against the cost of the audit and for common recommendations like modern windows, better insulation, and even new doors.
When it’s time to buy a new hot water heater, stove, or washer or dryer, choosing a low-carbon option is a no-brainer. Depending on your income, the new law’s rebates could cover the full cost of a new, greener appliance. Don’t forget your stove—the research on gas stoves and childhood asthma is clear. An electric or induction stove will be better for your family’s health and the climate.
A heat pump is more efficient than older heating and cooling systems, and will likely save you money—and yes, there are rebates available!
If you’re ready to go fully carbon-neutral, the IRA can help. You can get a rebate for upgrading your breaker box to prepare for electrifying everything. You can get a tax credit for 30% of the cost of installing rooftop solar. And you can get tax credits for buying an electric car and installing an EV charger.
With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, now is a great time to start working on reducing your home’s carbon emissions. We also need to remove carbon from the air even as we work to reduce emissions. To offset the emissions you can't reduce, you can invest in high-quality carbon removal programs by purchasing carbon credits.
“Electrify everything” is a great slogan, but it can sound a bit overwhelming. Just take it one step at a time—reaching out to a home energy auditor is a great first step, along with claiming your home for free on Carbon Title Explorer to start tracking and managing its carbon footprint.
