Home Energy Efficiency Programs
NYSERDA offers a range of residential programs designed to help New York State residents identify areas where their homes are driving up energy costs. These programs assist in completing energy efficiency improvements for a healthier, more comfortable home. New Yorkers can often combine these incentives with energy efficiency tax credits and rebates to lower the cost of home energy upgrades.
Find a NYSERDA Program
EmPower+
EmPower+ helps low- and moderate-income households save energy and money toward energy efficiency improvements made to their property.
Available Incentives
- Tier 1-Low Income, single-family households are eligible for no-cost energy efficiency improvements capped at $10,000 per project.
- Tier 3-Moderate Income single-family households are eligible for a discount of up to 50% of the cost of eligible work capped at $5,000 per project.
Through EmPower+:
- Households can receive a no cost comprehensive home energy assessment to pinpoint where energy and dollars are being wasted and receive a customized plan to lower energy usage.
- No-cost direct install improvements identified during the assessment can be installed by participating program contractors like Insulation Man
- Households can receive financial discounts on the cost of energy efficiency improvements.
The program is open to income-eligible owners and renters of 1-4 family households.
How to Claim NYSERDA EmPower+ Rebates
Step 1: First, you can review the eligibility requirements for EmPower+.
EmPower+ Eligibility Guidelines
Homeowners and renters must meet income requirements to qualify for EmPower+. You may be eligible if you can answer “yes” to these statements:
- My household income is below 80 percent of the State/Area Median Income or lower
OR - I participate in a utility payment assistance program
Tier 1-Low Income Level Single Family Homes
EmPower + provides pre-qualified measures and no-cost energy efficient solutions to residents whose combined income is less than 60% of the gross median state income.
EmPower + New York Tier 1-Low Income Eligibility Guidelines 2024
| Household Size | Monthly Income Under | Annual Income Under |
| 1 | $3,035 | $36,420 |
| 2 | $3,970 | $47,640 |
| 3 | $4,874 | $58,848 |
| 4 | $5,838 | $70,056 |
| 5 | $6,772 | $81,264 |
| 6 | $7,706 | $92,472 |
| 7 | $7,881 | $94,572 |
Tier 3-Moderate Income Level Single Family Homes
EmPower + provides a discount of up to 50% of the cost of eligible energy measures up to $5000 per project. Heating system replacement measure incentives are $2000 per project depending on the existing insulation and heating system proposed.
EmPower + New York Tier 3-Moderate Income Eligibility Guidelines 2024
| Household Size | Monthly Income Under | Annual Income Under |
| 1 | $4,047 | $48,560 |
| 2 | $5,293 | $63,520 |
| 3 | $6,539 | $78,464 |
| 4 | $7,784 | $93,408 |
| 5 | $9,029 | $108,352 |
| 6 | $10,275 | $123,296 |
| 7 | $10,758 | $126,096 |
Renters and 2-4 Multi Family Households
Though EmPower+, both income-eligible owners and renters of 1-4 family homes are eligible for project incentives. For a project to receive core energy efficiency improvements, rental properties must have approval from the landlord/building owner for work to proceed. For both low income and moderate income 2-4 multi family homes, each individual unit must be deemed income-eligible before the entire building is considered eligible for EmPower+.
Tier 1 Low-Income Units
Units with a combined income less than or equal to 60% of the State Median Income can receive:
- No-cost home energy assessment.
- No-cost measures installed at the time of the home energy assessment.
- For single-family owners and rental properties, the project funding cap is $10,000 per project.
- For 2-4 multi family rental units, project funding caps are based on $10,000 for the initial unit and $5,000 for each additional income eligible unit.
- Buildings with 100 units or less occupied by low-income tenants are able to be served with in-unit direct install measures.
- Heating system replacement measure incentives are capped at $8000, regardless of the number of units. Not eligible unless the landlord qualifies and resides in the building.
Tier 3 Moderate-Income Units
Units with incomes less than or equal to 80% of the State/ Area Median Income, whichever is greater can receive:
- No-cost comprehensive home energy assessments.
- No-cost measures installed at the time of the home energy assessment.
- Households can apply for a discount of up to 50% of the cost of eligible energy efficiency improvements
- For single-family owner/rental properties, the project funding cap is $5,000 per project.
- For 2-4 family rental units, project funding caps are based upon $5,000 for the initial unit and $2,500 for each additional income qualified unit.
- Heating system replacement measure incentives are capped at $4000, regardless of the number of units. Not eligible unless the landlord qualifies and resides in the building.
- Access to low-interest financing through Green Jobs – Green NY (GJGNY) Financing.
Step 2: Complete and submit an EmPower+ Application. The application can be completed online, or it can be downloaded, printed, and mailed in.
Step 3: When you apply for the program, you will have the opportunity to select a program contractor, if you would like Insulation Man* to be your contractor of choice, please select us during the application process.
Step 4: Following the approval of your EmPower+ Application, we will call you, typically within a week, to schedule a home energy assessment of your home
Step 5: Perform the home energy assessment which identifies opportunities for energy efficiency improvements in the home.
A home energy assessment must be performed by a participating Home Performance contractor recognized by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) as a BPI GoldStar Contractor, like Insulation Man. Our experienced team uses state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment including blower doors and infrared thermal cameras to provide homeowners with a comprehensive analysis of their home’s energy efficiency.
The energy assessment tests and analyzes how all the elements of your home work together to affect the amount of electricity and fuel used. The
result is a top-to-bottom look at where your home is wasting energy. We will evaluate the following to reduce electric and heating costs:
- Install no cost measures to reduce your electric usage and improve the health and safety of your home. This may include: high efficiency lighting, carbon monoxide/smoke detectors, furnace slot covers, door sweeps and weather stripping.
- Assess the insulation levels in the home, which usually involves probing the walls for insulation, inspecting the attic or roof insulation, measuring the home, and ensuring that insulation is in all the right places.
- Measure the air leakage in the home, using a “blower door.” This device helps determine if the house is drafty, find the leaks, and make sure that the home still has sufficient fresh air after the work is done.
- Check for gas leaks if natural gas or propane are in use at the home.
- Evaluate your existing heating and cooling system and identify opportunities for switching to clean heat alternatives.
- Inspect the heating distribution system: the ducts or pipes that bring you heat.
Step 6: After the home energy assessment, you will get a report identifying the ways for the household to save energy.
Step 7: We will develop a work scope based on the assessment findings and provide it to NYSERDA for approval.
Step 8: Following Program approval, we will go over the work scope with you, discuss out of pocket expenses, if any, and install the approved energy efficiency improvements.
Financing for Home Improvements
Customers can apply for low-interest financing through NYSERDA’s Residential Financing offers. Additional information on financing options can be found on the NYSERDA website and NEIF website.
Let’s Get Started
Setting up an account and applying online is the fastest way to apply for a NYSERDA no-cost home energy assessment and incentives. Once you set up an account you can save your in-progress application, submit your application and supporting documents for review, and check on your application status.
Set up an account here and follow the on-screen instructions to apply .
Prefer paper? Download a printable application to mail to us [PDF].
If you would like to receive a copy of the application by mail, please fill out the application request below.
When you receive the application, follow the instructions for completing and returning it.
Please return the application via mail to the address listed below:
TRC Companies
3 Corporate Drive, Suite 202
Clifton Park, NY 12065
