Energy efficiency news.
Rebate updates, policy changes, and technology developments — aggregated from 50+ sources, AI-enriched, and scored for relevance.
Maine Increases Heat Pump Rebates for 2026, Adds Whole-Home Bonus
Efficiency Maine has increased heat pump rebate amounts for 2026 and added a $500 whole-home heat pump bonus for upgrades completed between March 1 and December 31, 2026. Low-income households can receive up to $3,000 per unit (max $9,000), moderate-income up to $2,000 per unit (max $6,000), and any-income homeowners up to $1,000 per unit (max $3,000). The whole-home bonus requires that systems be sized for at least 80% of the home's peak heating load.
IRA Home Energy Rebates: Which States Have Launched Programs?
The Inflation Reduction Act allocated $8.8 billion for home energy rebates through two programs: HEAR (Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates) and HOMES (Home Efficiency Rebates). Implementation varies dramatically by state. California was oversubscribed within weeks. Texas has $690M allocated but no programs launched. Florida, South Dakota, Idaho, and Wyoming have declined or returned funding. States like Connecticut, Vermont, and New York have active programs integrated with existing efficiency infrastructure.
Mass Save Now Covers 100% of Weatherization Costs for Income-Eligible Households
Mass Save has expanded its income-eligible weatherization program to cover 100% of insulation and air sealing costs, up from 75%. The program includes no-cost energy assessments, insulation installation, and air sealing work performed by BPI-certified Home Performance Contractors. Income eligibility thresholds vary by utility territory. The HEAT Loan program continues to offer 0% interest financing up to $25,000 for homeowners who don't qualify for the income-eligible tier.
Cold Climate Heat Pumps Now Maintain Full Capacity Below -15°F
The latest generation of cold-climate heat pumps from Mitsubishi (Hyper-Heating), Fujitsu (XLTH), and LG (Arctic Engineering) are now rated to maintain full heating capacity at -15°F and continue operating down to -22°F. Field data from Vermont and Maine installations shows that properly sized cold-climate heat pumps can serve as the sole heating source in Climate Zones 5-7 without backup, provided the building envelope is adequately insulated and air-sealed. COP at 5°F ranges from 2.2 to 2.8 depending on model.
New Study Confirms Dense-Pack Cellulose Outperforms Fiberglass in Fire Resistance
A Building Science Corporation study comparing fire performance of dense-pack cellulose, fiberglass batts, and open-cell spray foam found that cellulose-insulated wall assemblies maintained structural integrity 40% longer than fiberglass and 25% longer than spray foam in standardized fire testing. The borate fire retardant in cellulose creates a char layer that slows flame spread. The study also noted that cellulose's air-sealing properties when dense-packed reduce oxygen flow through wall cavities, further slowing fire progression.
Federal 25C and 25D Energy Efficiency Tax Credits Terminated by OBBB
The federal tax credits for energy efficiency (Section 25C) and residential clean energy (Section 25D) are no longer available in 2026. Both were terminated by the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) signed into law on July 4, 2025. The 25C credit is not allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, and the 25D credit is not allowed for expenditures made after December 31, 2025. State-level rebate programs funded by ratepayers are unaffected. IRA home energy rebates (HEAR and HOMES) are separate programs and remain funded where states have opted in.
NYSERDA Increases Comfort Home Insulation Rebates for 2026
NYSERDA has updated its Comfort Home program rebates for 2026. Attic and rim joist insulation rebates increased to $2,500 (from $1,600). Wall insulation rebates are now $3,000. Window replacement rebates were reduced to $2,000 (from $4,000). The EmPower+ program for income-eligible households now offers up to $24,000 by combining state and federal HEAR funding. All work must be performed by BPI-certified contractors listed in the NYSERDA contractor directory.
Understanding Blower Door Testing: What ACH50 Means for Your Home
A blower door test measures a home's air infiltration rate in air changes per hour at 50 pascals of pressure (ACH50). A typical older home measures 8-15 ACH50. Energy Star certification requires 5 ACH50 or less in Climate Zones 1-2 and 3 ACH50 or less in Zones 3-8. Passive House standard is 0.6 ACH50. For every 1 ACH50 reduction through air sealing, expect roughly 3-5% reduction in heating energy use. The test costs $150-400 when done standalone, or is often included free as part of a state-subsidized energy assessment.
Heat Pump Water Heaters: $300/Year Savings and a 2-3 Year Payback
Consumer Reports' updated analysis of heat pump water heaters shows an average annual savings of $300 versus electric resistance and $150 versus gas water heaters. With federal and state rebates, net installed cost ranges from $800 to $2,000 depending on location, yielding a 2-3 year payback. Top-rated models include the Rheem ProTerra ($1,800 MSRP), AO Smith Voltex ($1,700), and Bradford White AeroTherm ($1,900). The main installation consideration is space: HPWHs need 700+ cubic feet of air volume and produce cool, dehumidified exhaust air.
Efficiency Vermont Launches HEAR Rebates Through Existing Program Infrastructure
Vermont is among the first states to deploy IRA HEAR (Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates) funding by integrating it into Efficiency Vermont's existing program structure. Income-eligible households can now receive enhanced rebates for heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and electrical panel upgrades. The integration means homeowners apply through the same Efficiency Vermont process they already know, with HEAR funding layered on top of existing state rebates for qualifying households.