Financial Incentives and Assistance for Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency improvements can offer significant savings but sometimes require significant initial investment. Below are some of the incentives and assistance available to Fort Lauderdale residents to make energy efficiency an even better investment.

Energy Efficiency Tax Credits 

Tax credits that cover up to 30% of the cost for certain home-efficiency improvements are now available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Households can claim up to $2,000 in credits for electric heat pumps. No income limits apply, but the upgrades must meet applicable ENERGY STAR requirements.  

Visit the Making Our Homes More Efficient: Clean Energy Tax Credits for Consumers | Department of Energy for a breakdown of applicable equipment type and associated tax credits.  

Note that starting with the 2024 tax year, the manufacturer’s product identification number must be included with tax return.  

Florida Weatherization Assistance Program 

This program provides funds for energy saving repairs to residents facing financial hardship, with an average expenditure of $2,600 per home. Qualifying participants must have income less than 200 percent of poverty level. Eligible measures include insulation, weather stripping, water heater wraps and reduction of air infiltration. Furnaces and air conditioning systems may be repaired or replaced. An energy audit and diagnostic testing must be performed on each home. To be eligible for this benefit program, you must be a resident of Florida. Preference may be given to:

• People over 60 years of age
• Families with one or more members with a disability
• Families with children (in most states)
• Under DOE guidelines, you are automatically eligible to receive weatherization assistance if you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).

 To inquire about assistance from the Weatherization Assistance Program, contact the local agency at the telephone number listed.

-Broward Contact: Centro-Campesino Farmworker Center, Inc.: (305) 245-7738 extension 236

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program  (LIHEAP)

(LIHEAP) offers qualified families an opportunity to apply online for financial assistance for electric bill payments. The program is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, funded in Broward County by the State of Florida, and administered by the Family Success Administration Division’s Community Action Agency, an agency of the Broward County Commission.

Florida Power and Light - Residential Energy Efficiency Program

Florida Power and Light (FPL) offers rebates to residential customers implementing specific energy efficiency improvements in eligible homes. The program comprises two incentives:

1. AC Rebate: By engaging one of FPL's qualified contractors for your project, you can receive an instant $150 rebate credited to your invoice. 
2. Ceiling Insulation: Utilize one of FPL's qualified contractors for your project and receive an instant $220 rebate credited to your invoice. 

In addition to rebates, FPL offers a variety of other programs to help customers save energy and money. These programs include On Call, which allows the utility to turn off equipment during peak times in exchange for monthly credit, and BuildSmart, a certification program for energy-efficient new homes. Visit the program website for more information.

FPL also offers customers an online Home Energy Survey to help determine further cost-savings measures they can take to lower their energy bills. For information on any of these programs, visit the program website.

 

Florida Power and Light- Programs and Services Design to Help Companies Save Money

For Business accounts, FPL offers rebates and tax deductions to help with the upfront investment cost to install higher efficiency HVAC systems, Chillers, Thermal Energy Storage Systems, upgrade to higher quality interior lighting and many more programs and services. For more information, please visit https://www.fpl.com/business/save/programs.html   

Overview of Florida’s Rebate Programs

Florida is set to receive approximately $346 million to help residents reduce energy costs by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes through approved upgrades, retrofits, and high-efficiency appliances.

The state's Home Energy Rebate initiatives consist of two distinct programs, outlined below. Although separate programs, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Energy will oversee both programs together to enhance their effectiveness and ensure maximum benefit for Floridians.

1. Florida’s Whole Home Rebates (HOMES) (Section 50121): This program offers rebates to single-family and multifamily households for energy efficiency improvements that are expected to reduce a home’s energy use by at least 20%. Rebates range from $2,000 to $4,000 for individual households and per unit in multifamily buildings. The amount may vary depending on the level of energy savings achieved, with higher rebates available for low- and moderate-income households.

2. Florida’s Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) (Section 50122):
   Targeted for low- and moderate-income households (earning less than 150% of the Area Median Income), this program helps residents purchase high-efficiency equipment. Like the Whole Home Rebates program, both single-family and multifamily homes are eligible. The program offers rebates up to $14,000 per household, with caps for specific types of equipment.

*Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services anticipates a soft launch of these programs (late 2024), with a full launch anticipated in early 2025. Florida’s Home Energy Rebate programs will run through 2032 or until all funds are used, whichever is earlier.

On May 29, 2024, at 2 p.m. EDT, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' (FDACS) Office of Energy hosted a public informational webinar to solicit input on developing and implementing the state's Energy Rebate programs. Slides from these discussion linked here. 

For additional resources, please see Florida Energy Rebates / Consumer Resources / Home - Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (fdacs.gov)