Frequently Asked Questions

Energy Saver NC is North Carolina's federally funded Home Energy Rebate program, created under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), providing no-cost home energy upgrades to eligible NC households. It includes two sub-programs:

• HOMES (Home Efficiency Rebates) — whole-home efficiency upgrades based on measured energy savings, available to all income levels.
• HEAR (Home Appliance and Electrification Rebates) — point-of-sale rebates on individual appliances for income-qualified households (under 150% AMI).

Both programs provide upgrades at zero cost to qualifying households — no payments before, during, or after installation. The program is active and accepting applications now.

HOMES focuses on whole-home energy efficiency. It requires a certified energy audit, and rebates are based on how much energy your home saves — minimum 20% reduction required. There is no income limit; all NC households can qualify. Rebates: up to $4,000 for standard-income households, up to $8,000 for households under 80% AMI.

HEAR provides rebates on individual appliances — heat pumps, water heaters, electric stoves, electrical panels, and more. No energy audit is needed, and no minimum savings target is required. It is income-limited (under 150% AMI). Rebates: up to $14,000 per household (100% of costs for under 80% AMI; 50% for 80–150% AMI).

If your income is under 150% AMI, you may qualify for both programs and combine them for maximum benefit.

Yes, at no cost. This is not a loan, a deferred-payment plan, or a lease. Qualifying households pay nothing before, during, or after installation. There is no lien on your home, no bill that comes due later, and no repayment requirement — ever.

The funding comes directly from the federal Inflation Reduction Act. USA Smart Home Solutions is compensated through administrative fees from the state program, not from homeowners.

No. USA Smart Home Solutions is a private program guide, not a government agency and not affiliated with Energy Saver NC, NCDEQ, or APTIM. North Carolina's Energy Saver NC program is administered by the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) using Inflation Reduction Act funding approved by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Our role is to help NC residents navigate the Energy Saver NC process — handling eligibility checks, paperwork, contractor coordination, and installation oversight — at no cost to qualifying households.

The NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) administers Energy Saver NC at the state level, with program operations handled by APTIM. The program is funded by the federal Inflation Reduction Act and approved by the U.S. Department of Energy. USA Smart Home Solutions helps qualifying NC households navigate the application process — we are not affiliated with NCDEQ or APTIM.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law in August 2022, is the largest climate and clean energy investment in U.S. history. Among its provisions, it allocated roughly $8.8 billion nationwide for the Home Energy Rebate programs (HOMES and HEAR). North Carolina received its allocation and launched Energy Saver NC, one of the first state programs in the country to go live. These funds are used to provide no-cost home upgrades to qualifying households.

Any North Carolina resident living in their primary residence can apply — the program is accepting applications now. Both homeowners and renters are eligible. For the HEAR program, your household income must be under 150% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for your county. The HOMES program is open to all income levels — there is no income requirement — as long as the upgrades achieve at least 20% whole-home energy savings.

Renters are welcome in both programs. The key requirement is that the property must be your primary residence. For upgrades that physically alter the property — like insulation, HVAC replacement, or an electrical panel upgrade — your landlord's written consent is required before work can begin. Our team will guide you through this process and help facilitate landlord communication if needed.

Appliance-level upgrades through HEAR (like heat pump water heaters or electric stoves) typically require less extensive landlord involvement.

HOMES Program: No income limit. Available to all NC households regardless of income, provided the home achieves at least 20% whole-home energy savings.

HEAR Program: Your household income must be under 150% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for your county. The AMI threshold varies by county and household size. Households under 80% AMI receive 100% coverage; households between 80–150% AMI receive 50% coverage.

AMI is updated annually by HUD. Contact us with your county and household size and we can give you a quick preliminary estimate.

Both programs cover single-family homes, manufactured homes, condos, townhomes, and multifamily units (apartments). The programs work across NC's full range of housing — from Charlotte and Raleigh metro areas to rural mountain and coastal communities.

For multifamily properties under the HOMES program, the building owner can apply for upgrades that benefit qualifying tenants, with enhanced low-income multifamily rebates per unit.

Yes — if you qualify for both, you can pursue both programs and stack the benefits. For a household under 150% AMI, combining HOMES and HEAR can result in more than $20,000 in total no-cost upgrades.

Our team will assess your full eligibility and create a plan that maximizes your benefit from both programs where applicable.

As long as your North Carolina home is your current primary residence when you apply, there is no minimum residency duration required. Recent buyers and new NC residents are eligible. You'll need to provide standard proof of residency (lease, utility bill, or mortgage statement) as part of the application process.

Yes. Energy Saver NC is live and actively accepting applications. North Carolina is one of the first states to launch a Home Energy Rebate program under the Inflation Reduction Act. The program is administered by NCDEQ and managed by APTIM.

Contact our team today — we can begin your eligibility check and application process immediately. Funding is limited and processed on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying sooner is better.

Energy Saver NC is live now, and funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis — early applicants have the best odds of receiving funding before it's exhausted. The program has generated strong demand across North Carolina.

By getting started now, our team can: verify your eligibility, explain which program(s) you qualify for, prepare your documents, and submit your application promptly. Every week you wait is a week someone else moves ahead of you in the queue.

After you submit your eligibility check, a member of our team will contact you to:

• Confirm your eligibility for HOMES, HEAR, or both
• Explain exactly what you can expect to receive
• Send you a personalized documents checklist
• Answer any questions you have

Since the program is live, we can begin preparing and submitting your application right away — all at zero cost to you.

The active process typically takes 60–90 days from application submission to completed installation:

• Application submission: 1 day (we file on your behalf)
• Application review: 2–4 weeks
• Energy audit scheduling and completion: 1–2 weeks
• Upgrade selection and contractor assignment: 3–7 days
• Installation: 4–8 weeks depending on upgrade complexity

Getting your documents ready quickly is the fastest way to accelerate your timeline — our team can guide you through exactly what you need.

North Carolina's Energy Saver NC has substantial federal funding — but it is not unlimited. Funding is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Demand is high across NC, especially for the HEAR program which has broader income eligibility.

Applying now is the best way to ensure you're positioned to receive funding before it's exhausted. Our team can prepare and submit your application quickly once your documents are ready.

Current Energy Saver NC rebate amounts:

• HEAR Program: Up to $14,000 per household — 100% of costs for households under 80% AMI, 50% of costs for households between 80–150% AMI.
• HOMES Program: Up to $8,000 for households under 80% AMI (with 35%+ energy savings); up to $4,000 for all other households (with 35%+ savings). Reduced amounts apply for 20–34% savings.
• Combined: Households qualifying for both programs can receive up to $22,000 in total upgrades.

These amounts reflect current program guidelines administered by NCDEQ.

HOMES Program covers any combination of upgrades that produce at least 20% whole-home energy savings, including: insulation and air sealing, duct sealing, HVAC systems, heat pump water heaters, windows and doors, and smart thermostats.

HEAR Program covers specific equipment with individual caps (projected):

• Heat pump HVAC — up to $8,000
• Heat pump water heater — up to $1,750
• Insulation and air sealing — up to $1,600
• Electrical panel upgrade — up to $4,000
• Electrical wiring — up to $2,500
• Electric stove / induction cooktop — up to $840
• Heat pump clothes dryer — up to $840

If your home can't reach the 20% threshold for HOMES, you may still qualify for the HEAR program (if income-eligible) without any energy savings requirement. During your energy audit, our certified auditor will identify exactly what your home can achieve and which program is the better fit. Many homes that can't reach 20% savings still receive significant upgrades through HEAR.

Having some efficient equipment already is fine — you can still qualify for upgrades on what remains. For the HEAR program, rebates apply to first-time installation of qualifying equipment or replacement of non-electric equipment with electric alternatives. If you already have a heat pump water heater, for example, that rebate wouldn't apply — but you could still receive rebates on other eligible items like electrical panel upgrades or insulation.

The amounts shown on our website reflect current Energy Saver NC program guidelines administered by NCDEQ. Rebate amounts are subject to change if NCDEQ updates its program rules. We keep our website current and will update amounts if program guidelines change. The amounts your specific household receives depend on your income tier, the upgrades your home qualifies for, and the actual energy savings achieved.

In general, households may be able to stack IRA Home Energy Rebates with the IRA Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit (25C) or the Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D), subject to certain rules that prevent "double-dipping" on the same dollar amount. The interaction between rebates and tax credits is complex and depends on your specific situation. We recommend consulting a tax professional for guidance specific to your household.

Typical documents required include:

• Proof of NC residency: Utility bill, lease agreement, or mortgage statement
• Income verification (HEAR program): Most recent tax return, W-2s, pay stubs (last 30 days), or government benefit award letters
• Household composition: Names and dates of birth for all household members
• Property information: Address, type of home (owner or renter), approximate square footage

After you submit your eligibility check, we'll send you a personalized checklist based on your specific situation. You don't need everything ready before reaching out.

Don't let missing documents stop you from getting started. Complete the eligibility check first — it requires no documents at all. Once you're in our system, we'll send you a checklist and help you gather everything at a manageable pace. Our team can also help you figure out how to obtain documents you may not have on hand.

Program rules require that contractors be certified and approved through Energy Saver NC. USA Smart Home Solutions maintains a vetted network of licensed, program-approved contractors across North Carolina. While you cannot bring in an unapproved contractor, our network includes qualified professionals throughout all 100 NC counties. We'll match you with a local contractor experienced with the specific upgrades your home needs.

HEAR is designed as a point-of-sale rebate — meaning the rebate is applied at the time of purchase or installation, so you never see a bill for the covered amount. You do not pay upfront and then wait to be reimbursed. For households under 80% AMI, the full cost is covered. For households at 80–150% AMI, 50% is covered at the point of sale. USA Smart Home Solutions coordinates this directly with the contractor and the state program, so no out-of-pocket payment is required on your end.

If an application is denied, we'll help you understand the reason and explore your options — including whether you may qualify for the other program, whether missing documentation can be supplied, or whether an appeal is appropriate. Our goal is to maximize your benefit, and we'll work with you through any challenges rather than simply closing your file.

Absolutely — that's exactly what the eligibility check is for. You don't need to know whether you qualify before reaching out. Our eligibility check takes about 2 minutes and will give you a clear picture of which programs you're likely to qualify for and approximately how much you could receive. There is no obligation and no cost.

We are compensated through program facilitation fees — similar to how a title company or mortgage broker is paid from the transaction, not directly by the homeowner. You never pay us anything, and our compensation does not affect or reduce the rebate amounts you receive. The program funding and our fees are separate.

Yes. We take data security seriously and never sell, rent, or trade your personal information. Income documents and sensitive data are stored securely with strict access controls. We share information only with the program administrator (NCDEQ/APTIM) and approved contractors assigned to your project — and only as required to process your application. See our Privacy Policy for complete details.

You'll have a dedicated point of contact throughout the entire process. You can reach us by phone at 417-209-1219 (Mon–Fri 8am–6pm, Sat 9am–2pm CT) or by email at info@USAsmarthomesolutions.com. We provide regular status updates and will proactively reach out at each stage of your application — you'll never be left wondering what's happening.

Absolutely. There is zero pressure and zero obligation. Whether you call, email, or submit an eligibility check form, you can ask any question and walk away at any point. We don't use high-pressure sales tactics — we give honest answers and let you decide when and whether to move forward. Many people reach out simply to understand the program before they're ready to take any action.