Sustainability

Improvement Incentives

Incentives for Sustainable Home Improvements

Cash incentives, tax credits, and low-to-moderate-income assistance opportunities for energy efficiency home improvements are listed by project. Only non-profit organizations or governmental agencies are listed.

For additional special offers and rebates on ENERGY STAR certified products, enter your zip code into the ENERGY STAR rebate finder here. 

Energy Improvements

Whether you rent or own, you can increase comfort and lower energy costs with just a few small changes.

View energy saving tips here.

Tax credit (federal): 

30% for property placed in service after December 31, 2021, and before January 1, 2033.

Requirements: 

  • Tax Credit includes installation costs.
  • The maximum credit is $500 per half kilowatt (kW) of power capacity.
  • The fuel cell  must have a nameplate capacity of at least 0.5 kW of electricity using an electrochemical process and an electricity-only generation efficiency greater than 30%.
  • The home served by the system MUST be the taxpayer’s principal residence.
  • In case of joint occupancy, the maximum qualifying costs that can be taken into account by all occupants for figuring the credit is $1,667 per 0.5 kW. This does not apply to married individuals filing a joint return. The credit that may be claimed by each individual is proportional to the costs he/she paid.

Additional program details here.

Free, online:  Online tool for calculating your home’s current energy use.

Additional program details here.

Tax credit (federal): 

30% for property placed in service after December 31, 2021, and before January 1, 2033.

Requirements: Must generate no more than 100 kilowatts of electricity for residential use. Tax credits includes installation costs. The home served by this system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.
Additional program details here.

Wondering if the effort of installing solar panels is worth it? A 2015 study says that adding solar panels does increase the value of your home. Learn more here.

  1. Cash incentive: $0.25 per watt of installed capacity up to $2,000 maximum incentive per home for PGE customers. 
    $0.20 per watt up to $,1000 for Pacific Power customers.
    Requirements: Available to PGE or Pacific Power customers working with an approved Energy Trust solar trade ally contractor.
    Additional program information here.
  2. Cash incentive (Income based):$1.50/watt. $9,000 maximum incentive per home for PGE customers. $0.90/watt with $5,400 maximum for Pacific Power customers.
    Requirement: You must be an Oregon customer of Portland General Electric or Pacific Power, working with an Energy Trust solar trade ally contractor participating with Solar Within Reach, and meet income qualification requirements to be eligible for incentives.
    Additional program information here.
  3. Tax credit (federal):  30% for property placed in service after December 31, 2021, and before January 1, 2033.
    Requirements: Systems must provide electricity for the residence, and must meet applicable fire and electrical code requirement.
    Additional program details here.

Windows and Doors

Cash incentive
– $1.75 per square foot of windows installed with U-Value 030 to 0.28
– $4.00 per square foot of windows installed with U-Value of 0.27 to 0.25
– $6.00 per square foot of windows installed with U-value of 0.24 or less


Requirements
Incentive application must include proof of window size and U-Value, provided by the manufacturer, for each window installed. To receive an Energy Trust cash incentive, contact a qualified energy-efficiency-trained Energy Trust trade ally contractor or any contractor with a current Oregon Construction Contractors Board license or current Washington contractor’s license.

Additional program details here.

Weatherization

The Community Energy Project offers free Weatherization Workshops in which participants receive a free kit of weatherization supplies. More information can be found here.

This organization also offers free in-home weatherization and safety repair services for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Additional program details here.

  1. Cash incentive for professional installation: Depending on project, from $0.25 per square foot to $0.75 per square foot.
    Requirements: Varies, depending on project.
    Additional program details here.
  2. Cash incentive for self-installation: Depending on project, from $0.25 per square foot to $0.75 per square foot.
    Requirements: Varies, depending on project.
    Additional program details here.
  3. Low-to-moderate-income assistance: Increased incentives for income-qualified households. In order to qualify you must live in a single-family home, manufactured home or multifamily residence that is either an attached side-by-side unit or a duplex, triplex or fourplex.  You must also meet Energy Trust’s income qualifications listed here.
    Requirements: Varies depending on project.
    Additional program details here.

Water (heating/efficiency)

  1. Free items: Free water conservation kit. Choose from a variety of simple to install water-saving devices for fixtures in your home.
    Requirements:
    Portland Water Bureau customers only.
    Additional program details here.
  2. Cash incentive: Up to $85 rebate when you replace your current water-wasting toilet with a new High Efficiency Toilet and recycle your old toilet.
    Also, up to $75 rebate when you replace your washing machine with an Energy Star certified residential washing machine.
    Requirements: Participating Clackamas River Provider districts and/or cities only.
    Additional program details here.
  3. Cash incentive: $100 when purchasing an EPA “WaterSense” labeled High Efficiency Technology (HET) models of 1.28 gallons per flush or less.
    Requirements: Must be a resident of Lake Oswego, OR.
    Additional program details here.
  4. Cash incentive: Maximum combination landscape rebate of $210 with qualifying purchases.
    Requirements: 
    Choose any of the following: Rain senor/switch, Manual Hose Bib Timer, WaterSense Weather-Based Irrigation Controller, Multi-Stream Rotating Irrigation Nozzles Retrofit. Customers can take advantage of each rebate one time, per account, per fiscal year. Participating Clackamas River Provider districts and/or cities only.
    Additional program details here.
  5. Cash incentive: $100 rebate per WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers and $3 rebate per head for Multi-Stream Rotator Nozzles to help reduce peak summer water use outdoors.
    Requirements: Portland Water Bureau customers only.
    Additional program details here.
  6. Cash incentive: $50 rebate for replacing an old toilet or urinal with a high-efficiency model.
    Requirements: Portland Water bureau customers only.
    Additional program details here.
  7. Energy and water bill savings: Save on water and energy costs by replacing a single standard showerhead with a WaterSense model.
    Requirements: Look for showerheads with a flow rating of 2.0 gallons per minute, GPM or lower to save water while maintaining strong water pressure.
    Learn more about WaterSense showerheads here.
  1. Instant discount: $150 instant discount for gas water heater.
    Requirement: Energy factor, EF, must be 0.66 or greater. Just look for the Energy Trust logo in these stores to find qualifying models. Participating retail store locations and discounts are subject to change. To ensure availability, please call the participating store nearest you.
    Additional program details here.
  2. Instant discount: $500 instant discount for electric water heater
    Requirement: Just look for the Energy Trust logo in these stores to find qualifying models. Participating retail store locations and discounts are subject to change. To ensure availability, please call the participating store nearest you.
    Additional program details here.

Cash Incentive: $100 to upgrade to an energy-efficient outdoor spa cover.
Requirements: Purchased through Energy Trust’s participating retailers.
Additional program details here.

Lead Paint Hazards

Incentive: Grants available to reduce lead-based paint hazards.
Requirements: Home is an owner-occupied residential property built before 1978 and is in Portland. A child under age 5 occupies the home at least 60 hours a year or a pregnant woman lives in the home. Total household income is at or below 80% of HUD Area Median Income adjusted for family size.
Additional program details here.

Heating

Cash incentive: $150-$250
Requirements: Qualifying models only. Gas fireplace must also be vented to the outside with sealed combustion. For NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas or Avista customers only.
Additional program details here.

Cash incentive: $550
Requirements: Eligibility based off of income. Must be eligible for Savings Within Reach. Furnace must have 90% annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) or greater. Gas furnaces used as backup for high-efficiency heat pumps, also known as hybrid systems, are not eligible. For NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas, or Avista customers only. Eligibility based off of income.
Additional program details here.

Cash incentive: $500 cash incentive
Requirements: Home must be a single-family or manufactured home and currently use electric resistance heat as the primary heat source. Ductless heat pump must replace electric resistance heat, have a heating seasonal performance factor of 9.0 or greater and by installed by a qualified contractor.
Additional program details here

Cash Incentive: $650-$1,350
Requirements: Unit must be home’s primary heating source. Unit must be included in Energy Trust’s list of qualifying products. Heat pump cannot have a backup gas heating system. Cannot be combined with other Energy Trust heat pump or controls incentives.
Additional program details here.

Tax credit (federal):  30% for property placed in service after December 31, 2021, and before January 1, 2033.
Requirement: Must meet the requirements of the ENERGY STAR program which are in effect at the time of the expenditure. Tax credits includes installation costs. The home served by the system does not have to be the taxpayer’s principal residence.
Additional program details.

Cash incentive: $700 cash incentive
Requirements: Unit must have a heating seasonal performance factor of 8.5 or greater. PGE or Pacific Power customers only.
Additional program details here.

Cash incentive: $80
Requirements: Smart thermostat must be on Energy Trust’s list of qualified products, be connected to the internet through Wi-Fi, and configured with home’s location. Home must be heated with electricity or natural gas provided by PGE, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas, or Avista.
Additional program details here.

Cooling

  1. Cash incentive: $250
    Requirement: Minimum nominal Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) of 15 or greater for the outdoor unit, and a minimum total system Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) of 12 or greater
    Additional program details here.

Appliances

Incentive: Benefits available for customers purchasing from select retail locations will vary but may include price discounts at the time of purchase, improved financing options, or other benefits.
Requirements: Appliance must feature the Energy Trust logo.
Additional program details here.

Cash Incentive: $75
Requirements: Cash incentive available when replacing existing washing machine with efficient water-conserving models to save water and money. For residents of Lake Oswego, OR.
Additional program details here.

Roofs

Tax credit: 10% of the cost, up to $500 (NOT INCLUDING INSTALLATION)
Requirement: “Metal roofs with appropriate pigmented coatings” and “asphalt roofs with appropriate cooling granules” that also meet ENERGY STAR requirements.
Additional program details here.

Lighting

Incentive: Discount received at time of purchase
Requirement: Bulb must be ENERGY STAR certified LEDs. Just look for the Energy Trust logo in these stores to find qualifying models (Participating retail store locations, qualifying models and discounts are subject to change. To ensure availability, please call the participating store nearest you):

    • A-Boy Supply
    • Ace Hardware
    • Batteries Plus Bulbs
    • Bi-Mart
    • Canby Builders Supply
    • Costco
    • Diamond Home Improvement
    • Do It Best
    • Dollar General
    • Dollar Tree
    • Fred Meyer
    • Globe Lighting
    • Goodwill
    • Grover Electric and Plumbing Supply
    • Habitat ReStore
    • Lowe’s
    • Market of Choice
    • Parkrose Hardware
    • QFC
    • St. Vincent De Paul
    • Target
    • The Home Depot
    • The Rebuilding Center
    • True Value
    • Walgreens
    • Walmart

      Additional program details here.