DOE HOMES — Performance-Based · State-Administered
What it is
The Home Efficiency Rebates program ("HOMES") is a $4.3 billion federal program that rebates homeowners based on the modeled energy savings of a whole-home retrofit. Unlike HEAR, HOMES is not income-capped — but the rebate amount scales with how much energy the project saves.
Rebate tiers
| Modeled energy savings | Rebate (single-family) | Rebate (LMI households) |
|---|---|---|
| 20%–35% reduction | $2,000 (or 50% of project cost) | $4,000 (or 80%) |
| ≥ 35% reduction | $4,000 (or 50%) | $8,000 (or 80%) |
Multifamily buildings have separate, lower per-unit caps.
How "modeled savings" is determined
HOMES is a performance-based program — meaning a certified energy-modeling tool calculates the projected savings BEFORE the work is done. This requires a pre-installation home energy assessment by a certified rater (BPI or RESNET). The rater models your home, identifies the upgrades, and projects the energy savings.
State-by-state rollout
HOMES is administered by your state energy office, not the federal government. Each state designs its own application portal, contractor-approval process, and timeline. As of 2026, most states have launched their HOMES program; a few are still in design phase.
Find your state's HOMES status here.
Eligible measures
- Insulation and air sealing
- HVAC upgrades (high-efficiency furnaces, AC, heat pumps)
- Heat pump water heaters
- Window and door replacement
- Whole-home electrification when paired with envelope upgrades
Stacking with other programs
- Stacks with 25C and 25D federal credits ✓
- Generally does NOT stack with HEAR on the same equipment ✗ (pick one)
- Stacks with most utility rebates ✓
- State stacking varies — confirm with your state energy office