By Jim Cavan

Despite a still struggling economy, all is not dour, at least with respect to the housing market: interest rates remain low, financing is available, and home prices are starting to once again stabilize. In many ways, there’s rarely been a better time to buy. To bolster recovery, the federal government recently extended its First Time Homebuyer’s credit -- $8000 or 10% of the home’s value -- through April of this year, as well as providing a similar $6500 credit for existing buyers.

But often lost in the stimulus shuffle are the many rebates available for existing homeowners looking to make their homes more energy efficient. The Federal Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes a number of provisions providing federal credits and rebates for a whole host of alternative energy systems and initiatives, including solar, wind, and geothermal, as well as rebates for hybrid vehicles, EnergyStar certification, and improvements in overall home efficiency. They Include:

* A tax credit for 30% of the cost, or up to $1,500, for consumers who purchase and install new energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in existing homes.

* A 30% tax credit for consumers who install solar energy systems (including solar water heating and solar electric systems), small wind systems, geothermal heat pumps, and residential fuel cell and microturbine systems.

While often more nuanced, incentives are also available at the state level:

* New Hampshire is offering a one-time rebate of $6,000, or 50 percent of the cost of an alternative energy system, whichever is less. These rebates apply to wind, geothermal, 

and solar PV systems, while incentives for solar hot water systems are slated to be available in April.

*New Hampshire also offers a wide range of rebates and incentives for homeowners and businesses through various public and private utility companies.

* In Maine, state rebates are available for a number of home efficiency measures, including water heaters, energy management systems, windows, and more, amounting to 30 to 50% off the total cost, anywhere from $1500 to $300.

* Maine is also offering rebates of up to $2,000 for solar PV systems, $1,000 or 25% of the cost of a solar-thermal system, and up to $2,000 for a residential wind system.

* Both Maine and New Hampshire also have incentives available through various public and private utility commissions for some systems not covered by the state rebate programs.

When combined, the homebuyer’s credit, coupled with the rebates for energy efficiency -- be they state sponsored, federally sponsored, or both -- mean potentially huge savings for many looking for new homes. Also, in most cases the federal and state rebates for home energy efficiency can be combined, meaning even more savings.

These are just some of the rebates available. For specifics and stipulations regarding federal rebates and credits, go to www.energy.gov

To find out more about rebates available in your state, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency at www.dsireusa.org