There are number of tax provisions and extensions in the new Build Back Better (BBB) Act, including a 10 year extension of the 45L energy efficient home tax credit through 2031. This bill awaits a Senate vote likely to be scheduled in December. There are some key changes to the 45L energy tax credit including increasing the credit to $2,500 per home, even more for a new zero energy rated home. The key change from a qualification standard is moving away from IECC, the International Energy Conservation Code – the 45L energy efficient home tax credit has always been based on comparing the new home to the 2006 IECC and the new home must be more than 50% better on specs (in the 45L software) than the 2006 reference home. The bill which passed the House changes this to comparing to a model home under ENERGY STAR; if this proposal stands, there likely will be additional checklists/forms and possibly some stricter standards around ventilation and insulation, at least compared to the 2006 IECC and even more recent IECC versions.
With 45L credits, on the multifamily side, the credit can extend up to $3,000 if the apartment developer pays prevailing wages to workers as well as meeting the energy standards under ENERGY STAR National Program Requirements.