NYSERDA Rebate Programs
Making your home more comfortable and cheaper to run is easier than most New Yorkers expect. Through NYSERDA, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, residents can claim rebates and incentives that cut the upfront cost of insulation, heat pumps, water heaters, and other energy upgrades, while lowering monthly bills at the same time. This guide explains what is on offer, who qualifies, and how to claim it, in plain language. Amounts and eligibility change over time, so treat the figures here as a guide and confirm the current numbers on the official NYSERDA website before you plan a project.
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How Do NYSERDA Rebate Programs Work?
NYSERDA is New York State’s public energy authority. It is a public benefit corporation, which means it works in the public interest rather than for profit. Its goal is simple: help New Yorkers waste less energy, switch to cleaner equipment, and spend less on their bills.
The programs are funded by a mix of state money, partnerships with the utility companies that serve your area, and federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. Because the money comes from several places, the help you can get often depends on where you live, who your utility is, and your household income. Many of the programs are open to both homeowners and renters, though renters usually need the building owner’s permission for major work.
Who is eligible for NYSERDA rebates
For income-eligible homeowners and renters, EmPower+ offers the most complete support of any program here. In 2022 alone it served more than 14,000 New York households with upgrades worth up to $10,000 per home. With new federal funding through the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate program, known as HEAR, the maximum support has risen to $24,000 for qualifying households. The program covers improvements at no cost for families earning below 60 percent of the state median income, and offers strong incentives for households up to 80 percent of the area median income.
Who qualifies: households earning below 80 percent of the area median income, which in most counties was around $102,240 for a family of four in 2024 to 2025. You may also qualify if you take part in a utility payment assistance program.
What is covered: air sealing, insulation, heating system upgrades, heat pump water heaters, health and safety improvements, and the electrical service upgrades needed for clean energy equipment.
NYSERDA Rebate Programs for New York Homeowners
Here are the main residential programs and what each one does.
EmPower+ Program
EmPower+ is the state’s flagship program for income-eligible households, and it offers the deepest help of any program here. It is open to owners and renters of one-to-four-family homes, and it starts with a no-cost home energy assessment that maps out what your home needs.
From there, EmPower+ can fund a whole-home set of improvements: air sealing to stop drafts, insulation, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and the electrical upgrades sometimes needed to run new equipment. Lower-income households can have eligible work done at no cost, generally capped around $10,000 per project, while moderate-income households receive a partial discount. You may qualify based on income, usually at or below 80 percent of the state or area median income for your county and household size, or automatically if you take part in a program such as HEAP, SNAP, or Supplemental Security Income.
Comfort Home Program
The Comfort Home program changed in 2025 to focus on the upgrades that have the biggest impact, with attic insulation now the top priority because it usually delivers the greatest savings.
Current rebate structure:
- Attic and rim joist insulation: up to $2,500, increased from $1,600
- Wall insulation: up to $3,000
- High-performance windows: up to $2,000, reduced from $4,000
- Combined package maximum: $3,000 total
These changes reflect NYSERDA’s data showing that insulation improvements pay back faster and save more over time than window replacements on their own.
NYS Clean Heat: Rebates for Heat Pumps
NYS Clean Heat is the statewide route to heat pump incentives, run in partnership with the utilities. It covers cold-climate air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps (also called geothermal), and heat pump water heaters.
A heat pump is one system that both heats and cools. Instead of burning fuel, it moves heat in or out of your home, so it warms the house in winter and cools it in summer using the same unit. Cold-climate models are built to keep working through New York winters. Rebate amounts vary by the type of system, its efficiency, and your utility, so the official rebate lookup asks for your address. Ground-source systems usually carry larger rebates than air-source ones because they cost more to install, and geothermal projects can also qualify for a New York State income tax credit worth 25 percent of the project cost, capped at $5,000.
Heat Pump Water Heater Rebates
Rebates vary by your utility:
- NYSEG and RG&E customers: up to $1,250 as an instant rebate at checkout or by mail-in
- National Grid customers: up to $1,000 instant rebate
- Con Edison customers: rebates available through participating distributors
- Orange and Rockland customers: up to $1,500, with that offer ending December 30, 2025
- PSEG Long Island customers: rebates available for ENERGY STAR certified models
Beyond the utility rebate, you can stack federal tax credits worth 30 percent of equipment costs, up to $2,000 for heat pumps and up to $600 for heat pump water heaters, under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Start Saving Today
Ready to reduce your energy bills, upgrade your home, and claim thousands in rebates? We’ll guide you step-by-step through the process from audit to incentive and help you secure every dollar you deserve.
Why Energy Efficiency Upgrades Matter
The numbers make a strong case for why New York invests so heavily in home energy improvements.
Financial Impact
According to the EPA, homeowners can save an average of 15 percent on heating and cooling costs by properly air sealing their homes and adding insulation in key areas like attics, floors over crawl spaces, and accessible basements. That works out to about 11 percent off total energy costs.
For a typical New York home, air sealing alone can save up to $200 a year in wasted energy. Combined with proper insulation, these savings build year after year and often pay back the initial cost within two to five years, even after rebates.
Standard Eligibility Requirements
Most programs require New York residency and ownership or tenancy in an eligible property, which can be single-family, multi-family up to four units, or commercial. Work must use approved contractors and meet efficiency standards. Documentation usually includes proof of ownership, proof of income where it applies, and utility bills.
Health and Comfort Benefits
The benefits go well beyond lower bills. Americans spend roughly 90 percent of their time indoors, where the air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, and in some cases far worse.
Proper air sealing and insulation make a home healthier by reducing drafts, removing cold spots, preventing the moisture problems that lead to mold, and keeping outdoor allergens and pollutants out. Research suggests that improving indoor air quality through better ventilation and fewer volatile compounds can lift cognitive performance noticeably, and the benefits are greater still for the many Americans whose asthma or allergies are aggravated by poor indoor air.
Environmental Impact
Nine out of ten homes are under-insulated. Add up all the leaks and gaps in a typical home and it is roughly the same as leaving a window open every day of the year.
By fixing these problems, New York homeowners support the state’s climate goals and help build more sustainable communities. The energy saved reduces demand on power plants and lowers greenhouse gas emissions.
Maximizing Your Savings: Combining Federal and State Benefits
The real power of these programs comes from stacking several incentives. Here is how savvy homeowners do it.
Layer 1: NYSERDA Rebates
Start with the state rebates that lower the upfront cost of equipment and installation.
Layer 2: Federal Tax Credits
The Inflation Reduction Act offers tax credits worth 30 percent of qualified expenses through 2032, including up to $2,000 for heat pump heating and cooling systems, up to $600 for heat pump water heaters, up to $1,200 for other improvements such as insulation and air sealing, and up to $150 for home energy audits.
Home Energy Assessments
A home energy assessment (also called an energy audit) is the first step in unlocking rebates. It evaluates:
- Heat loss and air leakage
- Insulation effectiveness
- HVAC system efficiency
- Opportunities for appliance upgrades
As part of the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program, we offer free or low-cost energy audits for eligible households.
Layer 3: Utility Incentives
Many utilities add their own rebates on top of NYSERDA programs, especially for customers in certain service territories.
Layer 4: Low-Interest Financing
NYSERDA offers On-Bill Recovery Loans, where the monthly payment is added to your utility bill and cannot exceed your estimated average monthly energy savings. In effect, the improvements pay for themselves while you enjoy the added comfort.
If cost is still a barrier after rebates, the income-eligible programs go further.
Service-Specific Opportunities
Heat Pump Water Heater Installation
Water heating is 18 to 19 percent of home energy use, the second-biggest cost after heating and cooling. A heat pump water heater is up to three times more efficient than a standard electric one. A family of four saves about $330 a year, or thousands over the unit’s 10 to 15 year life. Rebates of $700 to $1,500 plus federal tax credits can cover 50 to 60 percent of the installation.
Home Energy Audits
Every project starts with an audit. Most homes lose 25 to 40 percent of their heating and cooling energy through leaks, poor insulation, and old equipment. The two to four hour assessment finds these problems, ranks the fixes, and qualifies you for rebates and financing.
Home Insulation
Nine out of ten homes are under-insulated. Adding insulation to attics, walls, and basements cuts heating and cooling costs by 10 to 15 percent a year. Attic insulation has the fastest payback, because heat rises and escapes through the ceiling, and it now carries rebates of up to $2,500. It also removes cold floors, reduces ice dams in winter, and keeps upstairs rooms cooler in summer.
Indoor Air Quality Solutions
The EPA ranks indoor air quality among the top five environmental health risks. Poor air quality causes breathing problems, allergies, fatigue, headaches, and reduced focus. Better ventilation and fewer indoor pollutants can cut the spread of respiratory illness by up to 80 percent and reduce student absences by 13 percent. NYSERDA supports this through ventilation upgrades, air sealing, and moisture control, often bundled with other work.
Air Sealing
Air sealing is the most cost-effective single upgrade. The EPA says air sealing plus insulation saves about 15 percent on heating and cooling. It targets attic bypasses, basement rim joists, gaps around windows and doors, openings for plumbing and electrical, and ductwork. Contractors use a blower door test to measure leakage and confirm the work, which is also what qualifies you for rebates. Air sealing alone saves up to $200 a year and usually pays back in under two years.
Getting Started: Your Action Plan
- Step 1: Book your free assessment. Call a NYSERDA-participating contractor, or call 1-866-NYSERDA, to arrange the no-cost home energy assessment.
- Step 2: Read your report. The contractor gives you a ranked list of recommended upgrades.
- Step 3: Check your eligibility. Your income, location, and utility decide which programs you can use, and your contractor helps you work this out.
- Step 4: Plan the work. Pick the upgrades with the best mix of savings, comfort, and rebates, and bundle them where it makes sense.
- Step 5: Apply. Your contractor files the rebate applications and the paperwork. Set up financing if you need it.
- Step 6: Get the work done. A certified contractor completes it to NYSERDA standards, often with follow-up testing.
- Step 7: Claim your tax credit. Use IRS Form 5695 at tax time and keep all your receipts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use a specific contractor?
Yes. To qualify for NYSERDA rebates, the work has to be done by a contractor who participates in NYSERDA programs. These contractors are certified and trained to meet program standards, and you can find them through the NYSERDA website.
How long do rebates take to process?
It depends on the program. Some are applied instantly at the point of sale. Others are processed after the work is finished and take a few weeks. Your contractor can tell you what to expect.
Can I combine different NYSERDA programs?
In most cases, yes. Many homeowners combine Comfort Home rebates with Clean Heat incentives and income-eligible programs where they apply. You cannot claim two rebates for the same improvement.
What if I do not qualify for income-eligible programs?
You still get a free energy assessment, and you can use Comfort Home rebates, Clean Heat incentives, and federal tax credits regardless of income. Income-eligible programs add deeper help on top for those who qualify.
Are there deadlines for these programs?
Some programs run first-come, first-served with limited funding, so apply early. Programs like the Appliance Upgrade Program can have enrollment caps, and program details change, so confirm the current rules before you plan around them.
What is the purpose of NYSERDA?
NYSERDA is New York State’s clean energy agency. Its purpose is to help residents and businesses use less energy, switch to cleaner equipment, and lower their energy bills, while moving the state toward its climate goals. For homeowners, that means funding rebates, no-cost home energy assessments, and low-interest financing for energy upgrades.
What is the NYS energy rebate program?
NYS energy rebate program is a general term for the rebates NYSERDA and the utilities offer on energy-efficient upgrades. It is not one program but a set of them, covering insulation, air sealing, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and efficient appliances. Each has its own rules and rebate amounts, and most start with a no-cost home energy assessment.
Who is eligible for NYSERDA rebates?
Eligibility depends on the program. Any New York homeowner can get a no-cost energy assessment and use market-rate programs like Comfort Home and NYS Clean Heat. Income-eligible programs like EmPower+ and the Appliance Upgrade Program are for households under set income limits, based on your county and household size. You usually also need to own or rent an eligible property and use an approved contractor.
How do I know if I will get a NYSERDA rebate check?
NYSERDA does not mail out unsolicited rebate checks. Rebates are tied to qualifying work you have completed, and they are usually applied by your contractor at installation or taken off the price at checkout for appliances. Some utility rebates, such as those for heat pump water heaters, can be claimed by mail-in after purchase. If you receive an unexpected message promising a NYSERDA rebate check, treat it with caution, because scams use that wording. To confirm what you are owed, ask your participating contractor or your utility.