Current pathways at a glance
| Program | Who it is designed for | Amount checked 17 Aug 2026 | Key condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort Home Good | Market-rate homeowners using a participating contractor | $2,500 | Air sealing plus attic and rim-joist insulation package |
| Comfort Home Better | Market-rate homeowners using a participating contractor | $3,000 | Good package plus wall and floor insulation |
| Comfort Home windows add-on | Homes completing qualifying air sealing and insulation | $2,000 | ENERGY STAR window add-on rules apply |
| EmPower+ low-income, upstate | Eligible single-family households | Up to $12,000 per project | Income or program eligibility, assessment, approved pathway |
| EmPower+ moderate-income, upstate | Eligible single-family households | 50% up to $6,000 per project | Income or program eligibility, assessment, approved pathway |
| HEAR envelope measures | Eligible households | Up to $1,600 combined | Air sealing, insulation, and ventilation rules apply |
Use this table for orientation only. NYSERDA's live program pages control current eligibility and funding.
Comfort Home for attic, rim-joist, wall, and floor work
Comfort Home organizes work into packages rather than paying a generic percentage of any insulation invoice.
Good package
The published Good package combines air sealing with attic and rim-joist insulation. NYSERDA listed a $2,500 incentive and estimated about 14% heating and cooling savings for the package. That savings figure belongs to NYSERDA and is not a promise for a specific house.
Better package
The Better package adds wall and floor insulation to the Good package. NYSERDA listed $3,000 and estimated about 20% heating and cooling savings. Actual savings depend on the building, starting condition, systems, weather, energy use, and completed measures.
Windows add-on
NYSERDA listed a $2,000 ENERGY STAR windows add-on for homes that complete the qualifying air-sealing and insulation work. A window-only project should not assume this amount applies.
The homeowner begins through NYSERDA's process and works with an approved participating Comfort Home contractor. This site does not claim that every foam contractor participates. Verify the contractor in the program route before relying on the incentive.
EmPower+ for income-eligible households
EmPower+ begins with eligibility and a home energy assessment. Published 2026 guidance described:
- A no-cost comprehensive home energy assessment for eligible households
- Up to $12,000 per project for eligible low-income single-family households in upstate New York
- 50% of project cost, capped at $6,000, for eligible moderate-income single-family households in upstate New York
Income thresholds vary by county and household size. Some households may also qualify through participation in a utility-payment assistance program. Do not use an old income chart or a neighbor's approval as proof. Check the current EmPower+ eligibility guidelines.
A typical application sequence
- Review the current eligibility page.
- Gather household, residence, utility, and income or assistance-program documents.
- Create or use the required NYSERDA portal account.
- Complete the application before starting work.
- Wait for eligibility review and contractor or assessment instructions.
- Complete the home energy assessment.
- Review which measures, amounts, and contractor pathway are approved.
- Authorize and schedule only the approved scope.
- Keep completion records and final program documents.
Skipping ahead can make otherwise useful work ineligible.
HEAR and the $1,600 envelope category
The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate expansion described up to $1,600 for combined air sealing, insulation, and ventilation for eligible households. This is not necessarily $1,600 for spray foam alone, and it should not be assumed to stack on top of another NYSERDA amount.
Ask the program:
- Which household eligibility rules apply?
- Which envelope measures qualify?
- Is an assessment required?
- Must a specific contractor perform the work?
- Can the amount combine with Comfort Home or EmPower+?
- Is the payment deducted from the invoice or handled another way?
Get the answer for your application in writing.
Is spray foam itself eligible?
Possibly, but programs approve measures and assemblies, not marketing labels. An attic or rim-joist package may be eligible while a particular foam product, roofline conversion, pole barn, or removal scope is not.
The assessment may favor air sealing plus cellulose or fiberglass, targeted rim-joist work, wall insulation, or another measure. A contractor should not redesign the house around spray foam merely to pursue an incentive. The approved solution must still handle water, vapor, ventilation, combustion equipment, wiring, and future access.
What most people miss
The incentive decision and the building-science decision are separate gates. Program approval does not prove that a wet roof deck is ready to spray, and a technically sound foam scope does not prove that a program will fund it. You need both answers before work.
Questions to answer before signing a contract
Program and timing
- Which exact program and package is proposed?
- Has the application been approved, or is the amount only an estimate?
- Must the assessment or authorization happen before the contract or before installation?
- What happens if funding changes or the application is denied?
Contractor status
- Does the program require an approved participating contractor?
- Is this contractor listed for this program and measure?
- Who is responsible for program paperwork and corrections?
Scope and payment
- Which line items are eligible and which are homeowner-paid?
- Is the incentive shown separately from the full contract price?
- Who receives the payment?
- When is the homeowner responsible for the balance?
- Can the scope change after assessment, and who approves the change?
Records
- Which audit, product, installation, and completion documents will the homeowner receive?
- What photographs or verification does the program require?
- Who keeps the final approval and payment record?
Do not confuse rebates, tax credits, and utility offers
A NYSERDA incentive, a utility program, and a federal tax credit can have different eligibility, timing, contractor, product, and documentation rules. Approval for one does not prove eligibility for another.
Do not subtract a tax credit from the contractor invoice unless the program explicitly works that way. Tax treatment depends on current federal rules and the taxpayer's situation. Use current US Department of Energy insulation and air-sealing guidance and a qualified tax professional for tax questions.
Renters, landlords, and multifamily properties
Some income-eligible NYSERDA pathways can include renters, homeowners, and owners of qualifying multifamily or affordable properties. Authorization, account-holder information, tenant access, and building-wide assessment can change the process.
A renter should not authorize structural or insulation work without the property owner's approval. A landlord should confirm whether eligibility follows the household, utility account, building, or ownership structure for the specific program.
Warning signs in a rebate sales pitch
- "Everyone qualifies"
- "The rebate is guaranteed"
- "Sign today or the money disappears"
- "We can apply after the work is finished"
- "Any contractor can perform the program work"
- "The program will pay the entire spray foam project"
- "You do not need to see the full contract price"
Verify the program through NYSERDA's own website or assistance line, not only through a contractor's brochure or social post.
Frequently asked incentive questions
Can I get a rebate after insulation is already installed?
Many programs require application, assessment, contractor approval, or authorization before work. Do not assume completed work can be reimbursed. Ask the program about the exact project status.
Does Comfort Home cover only spray foam?
No. It is an envelope package program. The approved contractor and assessment determine the measures and materials that fit the package and building.
Can Comfort Home and EmPower+ be combined?
Do not assume they stack. Ask NYSERDA which program applies and whether any combined funding is allowed for the same measure.
Are income limits the same throughout New York?
No. Published eligibility can vary by county, household size, program, and year. Use the live guidelines rather than copying a fixed threshold.
Can a renter apply?
Some income-eligible pathways may include renters, but owner authorization, utility information, and program rules still apply. Confirm the process before scheduling an assessment.
Does NYSERDA pay for a new roof?
No general NYSERDA roof-replacement rebate was identified. Air sealing and insulation measures may be eligible, but a roofing contract is a separate scope.
Will a rebate guarantee lower energy bills?
No. NYSERDA publishes estimated package-level savings, but a specific result depends on the house, completed work, systems, weather, and occupant use.
Sources and verification date
- NYSERDA Comfort Home Program
- NYSERDA EmPower+
- NYSERDA EmPower+ eligibility guidelines
- US Department of Energy: Energy-efficient home improvement credit for insulation and air sealing
Program facts and amounts on this page were checked 17 August 2026. Re-check immediately before applying or publishing a project estimate.
Verify the program before pricing the project
Confirm eligibility, timing, contractor status, approved measures, and payment path first. Then compare the full written insulation scope without treating a possible incentive as guaranteed money.