There are three levels of incentive programs for residents based on income that can cover all or part of the cost of improvements. There is also low interest financing available.
All residents may be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to 1,200 dollars a year for insulation and other energy efficiency improvements. Learn more on our Inflation Reduction Act page or on the Department of Energy website .
Additional incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act became available in 2024. The IRA provided new funding to the EmPower Plus program, which is described below (see an IRA calculator from Rewiring America ).
EmPower Plus (formerly EmPower New York)
If your family makes less than 60 percent of the state median income 76,680 dollars for a family of four in 2024 and 2025, you may qualify for the EmPower Plus program, which covers the full cost of qualifying energy improvements such as insulation, air sealing, replacement of inefficient lighting, and more. Previously, the maximum you could receive was 10,000 dollars, but thanks to new Inflation Reduction Act funding, the maximum assistance amount is 24,000 dollars. Some exceptions apply. EmPower Plus also serves level II households described below. You can apply online .
The Weatherization Assistance Program WAP, a federal program, uses the same eligibility criteria as EmPower New York and provides additional energy improvements at no cost. Find WAP application resources here .
Both of these programs are available for homeowners as well as renters, though landlord permission is required. Contact a Community Energy Advisor with questions about applying.
EmPower Plus (formerly Assisted Home Performance with Energy Star)
For renter and homeowner households below 80 percent of area median income in most counties, this is 102,240 dollars for a family of four in 2024 and 2025. This program covers eligible improvements up to 19,000 dollars, previously a 5,000 dollar matching grant before Inflation Reduction Act funding. You can apply online . You can also download an EmPower Plus application as a PDF to print and mail.
Residential Energy Assessment Program
Learn more about what to expect from NYSERDA next generation no cost energy assessment program. Contact a participating Residential Energy Assessment contractor to schedule your energy assessment.
This NYSERDA program provides rebates of 1,000 to 4,000 dollars for air sealing and insulation packages, and additional rebates when installing heat pumps in combination as part of the package. It is currently available to all counties in the Southern Tier. Find out if these packages could apply to your home by contacting a participating Comfort Home contractor .
Home Insulation and Air Sealing Program HIASP
NYSEG offers rebates starting at 2,000 dollars for home insulation and air sealing projects, with increased rebates possible for some larger projects or for pairing with a Clean Heat heat pump project. Contact a participating HIASP contractor to get started with a home energy assessment.
Customers of municipal electric utilities may be eligible for NYSERDA programs above such as EmPower Plus. However, many municipal electric utilities have special rebates and programs to help with energy efficiency through the Independent Energy Efficiency Program IEEP. See what your municipal electric utility offers and chat with your local Community Energy Advisor for more detailed information.
In addition to the rebates mentioned above, there are a number of financing options to help pay for energy related improvements. Contractors and Community Energy Advisors can provide additional information on these options, and an overview appears below.
The On Bill Recovery Loan is a NYSERDA loan in which your loan payments are built into your utility bill. With this loan, your monthly payments may not exceed your estimated average monthly energy cost savings, so your energy savings can cover the work.
The Smart Energy Loan is another NYSERDA loan with a traditional monthly payment to NYSERDA loan servicer. Amounts range from 1,500 to 25,000 dollars with terms of 5, 10, and 15 years. Rates range from 3.49 percent for lower income households who pay by auto payment to 7.49 percent for higher income households who pay by check.
Your contractor may be able to offer other financing options. You may also want to consider a loan through a local bank. Home equity loans can often be useful for energy related improvements and some banks offer special loans for energy projects.
Last updated November 21, 2025