Weatherization rebates in New York (2026)

If you sat down a building scientist and asked them what to do first to cut a home's energy bill, they'd say air sealing, attic insulation, and duct sealing — in that order. None of those have brand names you'd recognize, none of them are exciting to show your neighbors, and most HVAC contractors don't lead with them because the margins are thin compared to selling you a $20,000 heat pump.

And yet: a $2,500 weatherization project routinely cuts annual heating and cooling bills by 15–25%. That's a payback under 6 years before rebates, and often under 2 years with them. It also makes whatever heating system you have — old gas furnace or new heat pump — work less hard, which makes the heat pump you might install next smaller, cheaper, and longer-lived.

It's a bundle, not one thing. A real weatherization project usually includes:

• Air sealing. Caulk, foam, and gaskets around top plates, recessed lights, attic hatches, rim joists, and penetrations. This is the highest-leverage single piece.
• Attic insulation. Most American homes have R-19 to R-30 in the attic; current code in most climates is R-38 to R-60. Topping up loose-fill cellulose or fiberglass is the cheapest insulation upgrade dollar-for-dollar.
• Duct sealing. Leaky ducts lose 20–30% of conditioned air in many homes. Sealing with mastic or aerosolized sealant (Aeroseal) is dramatic.
• Optional add-ons: wall insulation (often dense-pack cellulose blown into the cavity), basement rim joist insulation, exterior door weatherstripping.

Most projects start with a blower door test — a contractor seals your front door with a fan and measures how leaky the house is. That number (CFM50, or ACH50) tells you whether air sealing is the priority or whether you can jump straight to insulation.

• Federal HEAR: up to $1,600 for insulation, air sealing, and ventilation — income-tiered. 100% of cost ≤80% AMI, 50% of cost 80–150% AMI. Subject to your state's HEAR rollout.
• State weatherization assistance programs (WAP): Free weatherization for low-income households (typically ≤200% federal poverty level), administered through state community action agencies. Separate from HEAR, doesn't stack with it but is a better deal for very-low-income households.
• Utility weatherization programs: Most major utilities offer $300–$1,500 in rebates for attic insulation and air sealing through their efficiency programs.

Weatherization is genuinely hard to evaluate from a quote because the work is invisible afterward. A few rules:

• Insist on a pre- and post-blower door test. A real weatherization contractor will measure CFM50 before and after, and the difference is the proof of work. If they won't test, walk.
• Get a written scope. "Air seal attic and add R-19 insulation" is not a scope. You want square footage covered, R-value before and after, and specific air sealing tasks listed.
• Avoid "spray foam everything" upsells. Closed-cell spray foam is excellent for certain applications (rim joists, cathedralized attics) and overkill for most others. Cellulose or fiberglass in the attic is usually 1/3 the cost for the same R-value.
• Be skeptical of "energy audit" upsell traps. Free or cheap audits from contractors are sometimes lead-gen for selling you their highest-margin services. Independent BPI-certified or RESNET-certified auditors charge $300–$600 and give you an unbiased report.