Inflation Reduction Act incentives for Connecticut energy upgrades
A 30% federal tax credit is active today on qualifying electrification and efficiency upgrades. Upfront HEAR rebates — up to $14,000 per household — are expected when Connecticut launches the program. We determine what your home qualifies for now and will be ready when the rebates arrive. It starts with a $40 home energy audit.
What the Inflation Reduction Act is worth to your home
30% of the cost of qualifying upgrades comes back at tax time each year — uncapped on heat pumps, capped per category on other improvements, renewable for future projects.
Connecticut's Energize CT rebates can be layered on top of the federal tax credit for the same upgrade — insulation, heat pumps, water heaters, and more.
A Home Energy Solutions audit maps your home to every active incentive you qualify for today, and positions you for upfront rebates when Connecticut's program launches.
The HEAR rebate menu
What each upgrade is worth when Connecticut's HEAR program launches
TOP REBATES
The biggest rebates go to electric heating, cooling, and water heating
When Connecticut's HEAR program launches — expected 2026 — the largest single rebate targets heat pump systems. An all-electric heat pump that both heats and cools qualifies for up to $8,000. A heat pump water heater qualifies for up to $1,750, and can be stacked with Energize CT rebates on top.
- Heat pump heating and cooling system: up to $8,000
- Heat pump water heater: up to $1,750 (plus Energize CT rebates)
- Rebates are point-of-sale discounts — you pay less the day the work is done
MORE COVERAGE
Panels, wiring, weatherization, and appliances are also covered
The program covers the going-electric costs beyond the equipment itself. Electrical panel upgrades qualify for up to $4,000, wiring for up to $2,500, and weatherization (insulation, air sealing, doors, windows) for up to $1,600. Electric appliances qualify too: up to $840 for an induction stove and up to $840 for a heat pump clothes dryer.
- Electrical panel upgrade: up to $4,000 | wiring: up to $2,500
- Weatherization (insulation, air sealing, doors, windows): up to $1,600
- Induction stove: up to $840 | heat pump dryer: up to $840
INCOME TIERS
How much you receive depends on your household income
Every amount shown is a maximum — actual coverage is income-based. Low-income households (below 80% of Area Median Income) are expected to receive up to 100% of project costs. Moderate-income households (80 to 150% AMI) are expected to receive up to 50%, capped at $14,000 per household. The 30% federal tax credit on qualifying upgrades is active today — no need to wait for HEAR to start saving.
- Below 80% AMI: up to 100% of project costs covered
- 80 to 150% AMI: up to 50%, capped at $14,000 per household
- The 30% federal tax credit on qualifying upgrades is available right now
Your path from audit to savings
Three steps between where you are now and a more efficient, more comfortable home.
Step 1
Schedule a $40 energy audit
A BPI-certified technician spends 2-4 hours evaluating your home with blower-door testing, thermal imaging, and combustion safety checks. The audit costs $40 — or free if you qualify as income-eligible through HES-IE.
- 2-4 hour assessment
- $40 or free (income-eligible)
- BPI-certified technician
- Blower-door and thermal imaging diagnosticsWe depressurize your home and use infrared cameras to find hidden air leaks and insulation gaps.
- On-the-spot air sealing and weatherizationTechnicians seal gaps and install weatherstripping during the same visit.
- Safety testing for CO and gas leaksCombustion appliances are tested to ensure your household is safe.
Step 2
See exactly what you qualify for
Your technician delivers a comprehensive report at the kitchen table: a U.S. Department of Energy Home Energy Score, a prioritized list of recommended upgrades, and every rebate and financing option available to your home.
- Home Energy Score (DOE)
- Rebates up to $10,000
- 75-100% insulation coverage
- Home Energy Score (DOE evaluation)Your home gets a 1-10 efficiency rating from the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Energize CT rebates up to $10,000We identify every rebate and incentive your home qualifies for.
- 75-100% insulation cost coverageMost homes qualify for significant insulation rebates through Energize CT.
Step 3
Get the work done — we handle everything
HCP performs the recommended upgrades: insulation, HVAC, windows, air sealing. We file all rebate applications and coordinate financing. One contractor from assessment through completion.
- Professional HCP installation
- Rebate paperwork filed for you
- Lower annual energy bills
- Professional installation by HCP crewsOur team handles insulation, HVAC, windows, and air sealing.
- All rebate paperwork filed for youWe handle Energize CT applications and coordinate financing options.
- Lower annual energy billsMost families see meaningful reductions in heating and cooling costs.
Programs that help lower the cost of energy improvements
Connecticut families can access state rebates, federal tax credits, and flexible financing for qualifying home upgrades.
Energize CT rebates
State rebates
Energize CT is funded by a charge on customer energy bills and provides rebates for insulation, heat pumps, and other qualifying improvements. HCP is an Authorized Contractor.
- Up to $10,000 for heat pump installation
- $2.00/sq ft for insulation (75-100% of cost)
- Up to $900 for heat pump water heaters
- $40 home energy audit identifies all qualifying work
Financing options
Flexible financing
Multiple financing options help you start improvements now without saving the full amount upfront.
- Smart-E Loan low fixed rates for energy improvements
- CHIF CT Housing Investment Fund for income-qualifying families
- On-bill financing pay through your monthly utility bill
Connecticut families trust HCP to maximize their rebates
How the savings stack
Federal and state programs layer on the same upgrade
REBATE VS CREDIT
A rebate cuts your cost today; a credit cuts your taxes next year
Many upgrades qualify for both at once — they work on different clocks. A rebate is an upfront, point-of-sale discount covering equipment, installation, and labor — it reduces what you pay the day the work is done. A tax credit returns 30% of a qualifying upgrade's cost on your federal return for the year it was installed, visible the following filing season.
- Rebate: instant discount at point of sale — covers equipment, install, and labor
- Tax credit: 30% of upgrade cost returned on your federal tax return next filing season
- Many upgrades stack both — the rebate reduces upfront cost, the credit follows at tax time
STATE PROGRAMS
Energize CT adds a third layer on top of federal incentives
On many projects you can stack Connecticut's Energize CT rebates with the federal IRA rebate and credit. Energize CT covers up to about $2.00 per square foot on insulation, up to $100 per qualifying Energy Star window, up to $85 per smart thermostat, and up to $10,000 on an air-source heat pump installation.
- Insulation: up to ~$2.00 per sq ft through Energize CT
- Energy Star windows: up to $100 each | smart thermostats: up to $85
- Air-source heat pump: up to $10,000 — stackable with IRA rebates and credits
YOUR NEXT STEP
A Home Energy Solutions audit maps every incentive to your home
The HES audit is the most direct way to find every program your home qualifies for. The $40 visit (free if you are income-eligible) produces your upgrade plan and maps each improvement to its available incentives. Rebates are income-based — low-income households covered up to 100%, moderate-income up to 50%; credits are nonrefundable, so sufficient federal tax liability is needed to use them in full.
- HES audit: $40 (or free if income-eligible) — your personalized upgrade and incentive map
- Low-income: up to 100% rebate coverage | moderate-income: up to 50%
- Tax credits are nonrefundable — confirm your federal tax liability before relying on them
Still have questions?
Call (203) 450-3000 and we will walk you through what your home qualifies for.
Maximize your IRA incentives with a home energy audit
The 30% federal tax credit is active today. Upfront HEAR rebates are expected when Connecticut launches the program. We confirm what you qualify for now and make sure you're ready.