🔋 Grants, Rebates & No-Cost Upgrades for Homeowners in NY
✅ 1. Free or Discounted Home Energy Audit
Albany County, through the
Green Jobs Green New York initiative, offers homeowners and renters
free or low-cost home energy audits. This professional assessment identifies areas for improvement, such as insulation, air leaks, and outdated equipment.
👉 This is often the
first step to qualify for deeper incentives.
💸 2. EmPower+ Program (NYSERDA)
Income-qualified households may be eligible for up to $10,000 in free home improvements, including:
- Attic, wall, and floor insulation
- Air sealing and ventilation upgrades
- LED lighting and energy-efficient refrigerators
- Smoke/CO detectors and other health & safety measures
Additional bonuses from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) include:
- Up to $8,000 for heat pump systems
- Up to $1,600 for air sealing & insulation
- Up to $4,000 for electrical panel upgrades
- Up to $1,750 for heat pump water heaters
Eligibility: Based on household size and income. For example, a family of 4 may qualify with income under ~$76,680/year.
🌡️ 3. Clean Heat NY – Heat Pump Rebates
The Clean Heat NY program provides generous rebates for energy-efficient heating and cooling systems:
- Air-Source Heat Pumps
- Ground-Source (Geothermal) Heat Pumps
- Heat Pump Water Heaters
These incentives are available to all homeowners, regardless of income, and are stackable with federal tax credits and EmPower+ benefits.
🔌 4. Utility Rebates (Albany Region)
➤ Central Hudson
- $500–$1,000 per 10,000 BTU for air-source heat pumps
- $2,000 per 10,000 BTU for ground-source heat pumps
- Additional rebates for smart thermostats and advanced controls
➤ National Grid
- 50% of total project cost for heat pump installations
- Up to $700 for heat pump water heaters
These rebates are processed through participating contractors in the NY Clean Heat network.
🏠 5. Comfort Home Program (NYSERDA)
This package-based program helps homeowners bundle energy upgrades for deeper savings:
- $1,000–$4,000 in cash-back for insulation, sealing, and ENERGY STAR window upgrades
- Additional rebates if you install a heat pump within 24 months of your insulation project
💵 6. Federal Tax Credits
Thanks to the 25C Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credit:
- Claim 30% of project costs (up to $3,200 per year)
- Includes insulation, air sealing, heat pumps, and electrical upgrades
- No lifetime cap (renewable each tax year through 2032)
Use IRS Form 5695 when filing.
🧭 7. Capital Region Clean Energy Hub
Need help navigating all of these programs? The Capital Region Clean Energy Hub (run by Cornell Cooperative Extension) provides:
- Assistance with applications and paperwork
- Referrals to trusted local contractors
- Personalized energy upgrade planning
