Can we claim residential clean energy and energy efficient credit on a home we are building?

You cannot claim the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit on a home that is newly constructed, this credit is only available for existing homes.

You may possibly be able to claim the Residential Clean Energy Credit, as this is available for both new and existing homes.  In order to claim the credit, you must be living in the home and the fixture you are claiming must be operable.  It does not matter if a contractor is installing it or if you are installing it yourself, you can still claim the credit as long as it meets the criteria to claim the credit. 

Since you are still building your home, if the items were not in use or you were not living there by December 31, 2024, you would not be able to claim the credit on your 2024 return.  You would need to wait until you move into the home and are using the energy products. 

The Residential Energy Credit is a nonrefundable credit, however it can be carried forward to future tax years until this credit goes away which is currently set to happen in 2034

This credit is worth up to 30% of the cost of the equipment, with no maximum limit.  The items that fall into this category are as follows:

• Geothermal Heat Pumps
• Small Wind Turbines
• Solar Energy Systems
• Fuel Cells
• Battery Storage Technology

To qualify

• The product must be installed on a home you live in, whether it is your first or second home
• You must have purchased the product new.  It cannot be used.