What do you need to do to get ready?

How to meet IRA requirements Pearl's Solutions
Begin offering third-party certifications Pearl provides third-party certifications to our network contractors for whole home or single installs, meeting IRA requirements.
Adopt new technologies to calculate energy Pearl helps you adopt new technologies to meet IRA requirements and continually engage
Directly tie your work to increased home value Creates appraisal addendums to tie high-performance installs to the value of each home.

Unleash Your IRA Potential 

Contractors are key players in utilizing IRA funds at point of sale to deliver on the energy-efficiency goals of this bill. In this Unleashing IRA Potential, Powered by Pearl webinar, you will learn about the rollout of programs, sales messaging you can use, and business practices to consider to maximize your growth as a result of this federal funding. Click below to watch the webinar.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • For solar contractors, the solar investment tax credit (ITC) (25D) has been expanded and extended. The tax credit is back to 30% as of January 1, 2022. Eligible equipment is geared toward renewables and includes solar panels, solar water heaters, fuel cells, wind turbines, geothermal heat pumps, and battery storage. Certain limitations apply.
  • For HVAC and EE/Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® (HPwES) contractors, 25C provides tax credits of 30% and began January 1, 2023. Eligible equipment/improvements include exterior doors, windows, skylights, insulation, air sealing, home energy audits, and HVAC replacements (central A/C, furnaces and boilers, and improvements to electric panels).

  • The Department of Energy (DOE) is still in the process of defining the eligibility criteria and requirements for rebates. We anticipate that the DOE will release their findings in the summer of 2023. Then it’s over to the states to interpret and implement their rebate programs. The earliest we anticipate seeing rebate programs from individual states is late 2023/early 2024.

The tax credits have specific requirements for eligibility.

 

  • HVAC equipment must meet or exceed the highest efficiency tier (excluding advanced tiers) established by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) that is in effect at the beginning of the year in which the property is placed in service.
  • A common requirement is that non-combustion heating and cooling equipment must meet Efficiency 2 standards (SEER2, EER2, HSPF2).
  • Insulation and air sealing must meet the criteria established by the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) standard in effect at the start of the year that is two years prior to the year the improvements are made. Consideration for climate zone requirements also apply.
  • Renewables follow the same criteria as ITC previously with the addition of battery storage. The table below summarizes eligibility criteria along with any maximum credits that apply.

Per the efficiency requirements specified by CEE, only SEER2, EER2, and HSPF2 equipment qualifies for tax credits.

  • Yes, as of January 1, 2023.

  • Batteries can be retroactive to solar installation or separate from solar installation.

  • Read the Statute and determine how you will meet all requirements; or,

  • Apply to join the Pearl Network to leverage our tools and resources that meet IRA requirements and get the support you need to meet any additional requirements that are still to come.

How is Pearl Certification different?

  • The Pearl Contractor Network only welcomes the top energy-efficient HVAC and solar contractors in the U.S.
  • Pearl Certification is the only third-party credential that authenticates the value added by your installation.
  • Pearl Contractors closed up to 10% more sales after adding Pearl Certification to their business strategy. 

Get to Know the Inflation Reduction Act 

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