Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Kane County Energy Audit & Rebate Program is an initiative offered by Kane County in partnership with Sustained Ability Construction (SAC) to support residential energy efficiency upgrades in the community. Eligible homeowners receive a free professional energy audit and the opportunity to receive rebate funds to help offset the cost of recommended improvements.

Funding for the Energy Audit and Rebate Program comes from the Electric Aggregation Fund (fund 421). Kane County voters approved a referendum in 2014, affirming Kane County's authority to arrange for the supply of electricity (Ordinance No. 13-344). Civic contributions received as part of this program go directly to residents for energy efficiency and other measures to reduce their monthly bills.

The program is administered by Craig Schneider of Sustained Ability Construction (SAC). Craig is the primary point of contact for scheduling, audit coordination, and all program-related questions. He can be reached at craig@sustainedabilityconstruction.com or 630-677-1939.

Yes. Participation in the program, including energy audits and upgrades, is entirely voluntary and at the homeowner's discretion.

Key program dates are as follows:

• 09/01/2026 - The application period starts
• 10/01/2026 - The application period ends
• 10/12/2026 - Applicants will be informed of their acceptance status
• 11/20/2026 - Scheduling of audits needs to be set by this date
• 06/30/2027 - Last day for audits to be conducted
• 1 month is the anticipated turnaround for audit reports to be sent by SAC.
• 2 months from receipt of the audit report is the deadline to notify county staff of intent to proceed with a recommended improvement listed in the energy audit. You do not have to have contracted any work by this point.
• 6 months from energy audit receipt or 12/31/2027 (whichever occurs first) - Deadline for all work to be completed and a paid invoice emailed to Kane County staff.

NOTE: Links below will direct you to Youtube and content created by others.

• Replacing Weatherstripping: Video
• Sealing Window Rough Opening: Video 1 | Video 2
• Replacing Furnace Filters: Video
• Adjusting Duct Dampers: Video 1 | Video 2
• Insulation Type Benefits: Video
• Adjusting Thresholds: Video
• Water Heater Temperature Adjustment: Video 1 | Video 2
• Seal Baseboards at Carpet Areas: Video
• Seal Ducts in Basement: Video
• Plant Deciduous Trees for Energy Savings: Video
• Install Awings: Video
• Understanding Basements: Video

Yes. The program has multiple, simple deadlines that will need to be met. These relate to scheduling, program documentation and low-income eligibility verification, if applicable. Not satisfying these requirements may cause your spot to be awarded to another applicant.

All application questions are weighted ahead of time to reflect the overall goals of the program. A score will be generated based on your answers given in the application, with the highest scores initially selected for participation in the Energy Audit and Rebate Program. Points are awarded blindly and based solely upon this grading. After grading, the energy auditor and county staff will evaluate candidates for any potential disqualifications.

Only single family homes located in unincorporated Kane County, not part of a condo complex, can be audited. Applicants must be property owners and must have permission to schedule a contractor to visit the home. Homes must be free from any harmful conditions, regardless of environmental (e.g. Carbon Monoxide) or other (e.g. unsafe conditions due to participant attitude or belongings). All areas of the home must be accessible when the audit is taking place and interior doors must be able to be kept open during the inspection.

Scheduling takes place online and you'll receive a schedule link via email after your waiver is signed. You must finalize your audit scheduling by 11/20/2026. Audit site visits are conducted between 11/1/2026 and 06/30/2027, during normal business hours only.

Plan on the visit lasting a full morning or afternoon - approximately 3 to 4 hours.

Yes, but you must request this directly with SAC in advance prior to scheduling your audit so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Before the audit, you should:

• Submit your signed Waiver of Liability and Acknowledgment form;
• Remove any window air conditioners;
• Ensure all exterior doors and windows are closed prior to arrival;
• Straighten up all rooms and ensure all closets, walls, basements or attic hatches are accessible. Nothing needs to be taken off of walls and furniture shouldn’t need to be moved;
• Make arrangements for small children or skittish pets if needed, as some equipment may be noisy and frequent opening of the front door may be required during the visit.

Sharing detailed information about comfort, durability, or energy efficiency ahead of time ensures that the energy auditor can consider these concerns during the walkthrough. This avoids any concerns being missed because they’re not visible or not occurring while the auditor is present onsite.

You must submit an electronically signed Waiver of Liability and Acknowledgment form prior to the audit site visit. You must apply and provide all required information to become a Vendor to Kane County and the income qualified track participants must also provide income verification in person. County representatives will coordinate the financial steps of this program. Contact hinshawsarra@kanecountyil.gov with questions.

The audit includes a comprehensive review of your home developed with an energy model that quantifies the expected benefit of proposed improvements. This written report lists important data found during the visit, energy model results, photos and IR imagery, plus the list of recommended improvements that qualify for rebate funding.

The report is typically completed within one month of the site visit.

Not necessarily. The recommendations you see in the final report are weighted to several factors, such as “life safety” and “durability” concerns for the home. Beyond these factors, the energy auditor’s recommendations for improvement will include your return on investment (ROI), demonstrated roughly in a chart near the top of the report titled "Recommendations Summary". Completing and paying for work on one of these recommendations is what qualifies you for rebate funding.

Review the "Recommendations Summary" in your audit report and decide whether you want to proceed with any of the listed recommendations in the provided chart in order to qualify for program funding. While there is an estimated construction cost provided, we encourage you to seek proposals or estimates for work before deciding what you will proceed with. You must notify Kane County staff within two months of receiving the final report if you plan to proceed with any of the listed upgrades written in the "Recommendations Summary". Once you've made a decision on how to proceed, you must indicate how you are proceeding on your audit by selecting the appropriate option within the "Recommendations" chart. You are encouraged to download or print a copy of the report for your records.

Failure to submit your intention to implement one of the recommended improvements listed in the final audit report within two months of receiving the audit report will forfeit your eligibility for a rebate. You do get to keep the audit but have no obligation or further responsibility to the program.

All work must be completed within 6 months of receiving your audit or by December 31st, 2027, whichever occurs sooner.

You are free to choose whomever you would like to complete your work. Kane County, Sustained Ability Construction, or anyone representing the program has no part in selecting or contracting your chosen contractor.

Your contractor must issue an invoice marked "PAID IN FULL" for the work being performed at your home. The invoice must also clearly list all project costs. Failure to provide a copy of this paid invoice/receipt will result in you being ineligible to receive a rebate from Kane County.

You will need to submit the following to Kane County staff (NOTE: All participants must be approved Vendors to the county prior to reaching this stage of the program.)

• A copy of a paid invoice/receipt given to you by the contractor, marked PAID IN FULL (if applicable) OR...
• Receipts for any materials purchased to make an improvement without a contractor.

Participants must apply to be a qualified vendor with Kane County AND email county staff a copy of your paid project invoice/receipt to be eligible for a rebate. Once that has been submitted to county representatives, payment will be made in accordance with the schedule outlined in the published Kane County Step By Step Guide.

The Waiver of Liability and Acknowledgment is a required form that confirms your voluntary participation in the program, releases Kane County and SAC from liability related to the audit and home improvement process, and acknowledges your understanding of the program's rules and requirements. It must be signed and returned before your audit takes place.

By signing the Waiver of Liability, you consent to Kane County using your name, image, likeness, and statements in promotional materials for the program, including print, online, and social media. You will not receive compensation for such use, though the county will make reasonable efforts to coordinate with you for any promotional activities. Sensitive documentation (e.g., interior home photos) will not be shared without participant consent.

Any information provided as part of this program may be subject to disclosure under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Please note: personal information including personal identifying information, home interiors, home security measures, safety-related information, or other highly personal details are generally exempted from FOIA.