Welcome Back to the Home Services Home Show
Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Home Services Home Show, where you’ll learn a lot that you need to know—and a whole lot you don’t. It’s been a little while since our last episode, and we’ve had some changes around here. One of us has been traveling quite a bit—yes, it’s a work trip, not a vacation—and now we’re coming to you from a new podcast setting.
Why the change? The popularity of this podcast has grown so much that we had to turn our original studio into a call center. That’s right—we now have three full-time call center reps working out of what used to be our podcast space. It’s a testament to how much our business has grown, and it’s exciting to see that kind of traction.
And yeah… now that we’re on camera from the waist down, it means we actually have to wear pants for these recordings. That includes matching socks and shoes, and probably a reminder to not mess up the belt either. But hey, it’s good to be back.
Focus on Energy Rebates: What Homeowners Need to Know
Today, we’re diving into something very important: rebates for energy efficiency improvements in your home. Yes, we’re talking about real money—government-funded programs that can help homeowners save significantly on upgrades. It might sound too good to be true, but it’s real, and we’re here to help you navigate it.
We’ll be breaking this down across a few episodes because there’s a lot to cover. For now, consider this a 10,000-foot overview—a high-level look to help you understand what’s available and how you might qualify. The goal is to educate homeowners so they don’t miss out on substantial savings.
The Inflation Reduction Act and Wisconsin’s Role
Let’s go back to 2022 when the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was passed. As part of this initiative, Wisconsin was the first state selected to roll out the program, receiving $150–$160 million to improve residential energy efficiency. That funding covers things like insulation, heating and cooling systems, water heaters, and heat pumps.
And here’s the wild part: even though it was signed in 2022, the first projects still haven’t been completed. It’s been a slow rollout—about 2.5 years—but it’s finally gaining traction, and contractors like us are getting the information we need to help homeowners qualify.
How Focus on Energy Facilitates the Rebates
Focus on Energy is the main facilitator in Wisconsin. They’re using a two-contractor system—primary and secondary—to manage the work. If the improvements are done correctly and paperwork is handled properly, homeowners can qualify for serious rebates.
There are three income tiers: low, median, and high. Your eligibility and rebate amount are based on your income relative to the median income of your county. That means what qualifies in Dane County may look different from what qualifies in Crawford or Adams County. It’s a thoughtful system aimed at getting money into the hands of those who need it most.
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Low-income households (below 80% of the county’s median) can qualify for up to $5,000.
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Most people will fall in the middle tier, which could mean rebates around $2,000.
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High-income earners can still get something—up to $1,500—but it’s more limited.
Not sure where you fall? We can help you figure that out. There’s a website where you can input your financial information, and it’ll show you exactly where you stand in terms of eligibility.
HOMES vs. HEAR: What’s the Difference?
There are two new programs being rolled out:
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HOMES Program: This stands for Home Efficiency Rebate Program. While the acronym is a stretch, the program is real. It focuses on comprehensive energy upgrades—think insulation, HVAC systems, and other major home improvements. It rolled out in August or September, but projects are still ramping up.
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HEAR Program: Now this acronym works—it stands for Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate. This one hasn’t launched yet but is expected in November. It will cover things like appliances, furnaces, AC units, water heaters, and similar upgrades.
What Makes These Programs Exciting
One of the best parts? Stackable rebates. Homeowners may be able to combine multiple programs—for instance, pairing HOMES with Focus on Energy, or combining HEAR with Focus. While you can’t stack everything, the ability to layer rebates gives you a better shot at covering more of your project costs.
We’re not promising that all the work will be covered for free—that’s just not realistic. But these rebates can act as a significant down payment or offset for major home upgrades. And that’s huge.
Education is Key: Avoid Getting Taken Advantage Of
Let’s be honest: anytime free money is involved, there’s a risk of misinformation, false promises, and predatory practices. That’s why we’re doing this series—to educate you, help you understand what’s real, and ensure you don’t get taken advantage of. There are strings attached, and qualifications beyond just income—so let’s clear through the noise together.
We want to be a reliable, trustworthy resource. We’re committed to staying on the leading edge, keeping the customer first, and helping you make the most informed choices possible. You know, looking at $1,500 from Focus and another $1,500 from here—that’s $3,000. It’s a good start, a really good start. However, there’s a misconception out there that everyone can get $5,000. That’s not the case. The audit itself is an investment—it’s not free. We have auditors, some in-house, some out of house, who are highly trained and have undergone extensive testing to ensure quality results. This process requires significant time and effort.
The Time Commitment for Energy Audits
As you said, we estimate that a home audit could take between three to five hours, although the auditor will only spend about an hour in the house. The rest of the time is spent modeling the home, including analyzing light bulbs, water faucets, appliances, electrical bills, wall insulation, window values, attic data, and more. The goal is to determine the home’s current efficiency and how efficient it will be after upgrades.
While free money can sound appealing, we appreciate that Focus has checks and balances in place to ensure proper work is done. Not everyone is qualified to be an approved installation contractor. Focus is selective in who they allow, ensuring that only experienced contractors—like those we’ve worked with for years—are eligible to help with installations. This prevents opportunists from taking advantage of the program and ensures high-quality work.
Even though Focus is selective, homeowners must also take responsibility for researching and choosing contractors. Focus may have the right intentions, but with $150 million to give away over the next five years, there will inevitably be new contractors entering the field. As this process evolves, more contractors will be allowed to join. It’s crucial that homeowners vet their contractors to ensure they are trustworthy and experienced.
Wisconsin was chosen as the first state to launch this program, which has brought significant attention to energy efficiency improvements. While it’s not a perfect system yet, the hope is that we’ll continue refining it and make it more efficient as time goes on. It’s a learning process for everyone involved.
Preparing for the Program: The Time Investment
We’ve invested a lot of time into understanding the process. We’ve had many meetings to ensure we’re ready to implement the program effectively. It takes preparation to offer customers a seamless experience while also adhering to the program’s requirements.
When it comes to home energy efficiency, insulation and air sealing must be done the right way. You can’t simply add insulation over existing materials, just as you can’t add shingles over old shingles. This can lead to a variety of issues, such as poor air sealing, ventilation problems, moisture issues, or even mold. We’ve learned the hard way and now prioritize removing insulation before air sealing.
After a call comes in, customers will talk to our IRA specialist, who will answer any questions about the program and walk them through the next steps. If a homeowner chooses to move forward, the auditor will conduct an energy assessment of the home. This typically involves an hour on-site, followed by modeling at their office. Once the audit is complete, we’ll schedule a visit from our in-field estimator, who will walk the homeowner through the process of fixing their home and explain what products will be used.
Once a homeowner agrees to the work, our production team steps in. These professionals are responsible for executing the plan and ensuring that the installation is done correctly. Working in attics is not easy—it’s hot, dusty, and uncomfortable, but our team handles it with care and expertise.
If air sealing and insulation aren’t done correctly, it can lead to significant issues, including moisture problems, poor ventilation, and even mold. We’ve learned from our past mistakes and now ensure that every step is taken to get it right. Starting with a clean slate is crucial to prevent problems down the road.
Once the installation is complete, the auditor will return for a final pulse test and combustion safety check to ensure everything was done correctly. This step ensures that the thermodynamics of the home are not disrupted and that appliances like the furnace and water heater are functioning safely.
How the Rebates Are Processed
After the final audit, the rebates are processed, and the homeowner should expect to receive their rebate in four to six weeks. It’s a streamlined process that ensures everything is completed in a timely and efficient manner.
In the next segments, we will dive deeper into the specifics of the rebates, including income levels and county-specific details. We will break down the numbers and help homeowners understand what to expect in terms of their eligibility and the rebate amount.
There’s a lot of confusion and misinformation about these programs. Homeowners are calling in with questions but don’t have a reliable resource to guide them. Our goal is to use this podcast as a platform to help people get educated and avoid the frustration of reading complex government websites. We hope this resource will help clear up any misunderstandings and make the process easier for homeowners.
In the next segment, we will focus on the specifics of the rebates, including the exact numbers for various income brackets and counties. We will also provide real examples and demonstrate how to navigate the program’s website.
Wrapping Up the Episode
So, guys, if you have questions that you want us to address in the next podcast, don’t hesitate to reach out! Visit the websites at larsonkeeneyhomeservices.com and we’ll be happy to answer your questions. It’ll be more fun if we make this more interactive!
Make sure to check out the website, send us your questions, and we’ll catch you next time. Thanks, guys!
