Kane County approves energy efficiency initiative to help lower utility bills
On May 12, 2026, the Kane County Board approved Resolution 26-452, creating the Energy Audit & Rebate Program.
Supported by $100,000 allocated from the county’s Electric Aggregation Fund, this initiative is designed to assist residents living in unincorporated Kane County in lowering their utility bills and curbing overall energy usage through professional home audits and financial rebates.
What is an Energy Audit?
Think of a home energy audit as a comprehensive physical exam for your house. Conducted by a trained professional, an energy audit pinpoints exactly where your home is leaking air, where insulation falls short, and which appliances are consuming excess electricity.
During a professional evaluation, auditors typically use specialized tools:
• Blower Door Tests: A temporary door setup depressurizes your home to measure air tightness and locate hidden air leaks around windows, doors, and floorboards.
• Infrared Thermography: Thermal imaging cameras reveal temperature differences on wall and ceiling surfaces, exposing hidden gaps in insulation.
• Combustion Safety Test: Tests your heating equipment to ensure there are no safety hazards such as venting carbon monoxide, overheating, and proper venting of other gases.
The end result is a prioritized action plan tailored to your home’s unique footprint, ranking improvements by safety measures to be taken, cost-effectiveness, and overall energy impact.
Once an audit highlights your home’s needs, weatherization puts those insights into practice. Weatherization involves physical modifications designed to protect the interior envelope of the home from outdoor elements.
Key weatherization upgrades include caulking, weatherstripping, attic insulation and replacing doors and windows. Combined, a thorough audit and proper weatherization can reduce heating and cooling costs, improve indoor air quality and thermal comfort.
Program Pathways and Rebates
The program targets 30 local households through two distinct participation options tailored to household income levels:
• Standard Pathway: 18 households will receive a home energy audit and a rebate up to $880 to make energy efficiency improvements on their home. Any household above 80% Area Median Income (AMI) can apply for this pathway.
• Low-Income Pathway: 12 households with an income below 80% of the Area Median Income will receive a home energy audit and a rebate up to $2,000 to make energy efficiency improvements on their home.
Note on income eligibility: Households falling at or below 80% of the AMI qualify for the higher rebate tier under the Low-Income pathway.
The audits are performed by Craig Schneider from Sustained Ability Construction. Schneider has 20 years’ experience in sustainable and efficient construction and most recently has administered the city of Batavia’s GREEN Program. He possesses several professional accreditations, including a LEED AP cert and the HERS Rater designation from RESNET.
Application information
The application period is open from Sept. 1-30, 2026. Applications will be processed based on eligibility criteria and priority tiers. Every applicant will receive an email confirmation detailing whether they have been accepted, denied, or placed on a wait list.
More details on the program and the application link can be found on Kane County’s website, kanecountyil.gov, under Energy Audit and Rebate Program.