The Department of Energy has issued guidance that will create confusion and make it harder for households to access funds to upgrade their homes.
The new guidance prohibits households from using rebate funds to replace old, polluting fossil fuel-fired appliances with efficient electric alternatives like heat pumps.
This change directly undermines the program's purpose: switching from a gas furnace to an efficient heat pump is often one of the highest-impact, highest-savings upgrades a household can make.
The changes also include making ENERGY STAR optional in states and removing important oversight steps intended to protect consumers.
In response, the Sierra Club has expressed concern that these changes will hurt low- and moderate-income families the most.
These families rely on these programs to help them lower their energy bills, reduce indoor air pollution, and improve home comfort and safety.
The Inflation Reduction Act created $8.8 billion dollars in grant funding to support these upgrades and create jobs.
Last year, a Sierra Club member saw more than $200 in immediate savings on her power bill after upgrading to a heat pump and solar panels.
These changes will make it even harder for Americans to achieve similar savings.
These changes will trap families into higher energy bills and force them to live with polluting equipment.
