Can You Get Free Home Insulation?

You just spent your entire savings on home renovations when you realized that the house still needs insulation to conserve energy. At this point, you’re at a crossroads. The question in your mind is, “Can you get free home insulation? 

Home insulation and weatherization can help you protect the interior of your home from the elements, keeping your living space cozy and comfortable regardless of the weather outside. Proper insulation and weatherization will also reduce your utility costs by optimizing the energy efficiency of your home through air sealing.

Heating and cooling your home for maximum comfort year round can be quite expensive, with energy costs rising steadily over time.

As a result, low- and middle-income households in various parts of the US have become vulnerable to ever-increasing energy bills. Efficient home insulation is an efficient way to help these groups save money on their utility bills.

Households without a lot of financial resources are particularly vulnerable to high energy costs. So federal, state, and local programs across the US use various subsidies, grants, rebates, loans, and tax credits to promote weatherization and home insulation for people at all household income levels.

The above initiatives are meant to conserve more energy throughout the country and reduce the burden on the national grid.

Why Local & State Governments Promote Home Insulation

Proper home insulation plays an important role in reducing overall fuel consumption in the country.

Apart from the financial aspect, a significant decrease in household energy consumption can also help minimize urban air quality problems.

Residential energy usage causes a great deal of air pollution, including the emission of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, and other harmful gasses.

Therefore, it is unsurprising that federal and local government agencies are eager to push weatherization and insulation through various programs.

If you meet the eligibility criteria for one or more of these programs, you could end up with free (or very cheap) home insulation and weatherization upgrades.

As early as 1976, the US Department of Energy (DOE) launched the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) to help low-income households in all fifty states reduce energy consumption and utility costs.

According to the latest DOE estimates, each dollar spent on weatherization programs generates, on average, $2.78 in direct and indirect benefits.

Families living in insulated, weatherized homes save around $358 in utility costs from the very first year of installing the upgrades.

For these reasons, many states have launched their own Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Programs to work alongside the federally-funded WAP. Together, these programs are expected to help alleviate energy poverty among Americans from all walks of life and improve environmental sustainability.  

Home Insulation & Weatherization: A Brief Overview

Home insulation and weatherization help tighten the thermal envelope of a house.

The windows, walls, roof, doors, and caulking are some of the most important elements of the thermal envelope. They help regulate the temperature in your living space, keeping it warm in the winter and cool during the summer.

By installing thermal envelope measures such as window film, caulking, or insulation, you can earn a rebate or tax credit from the government.

Later in this article, we will discuss at length some of the programs you can apply to for home insulation subsidies. 

Insulation

The purpose of home insulation is to minimize heat loss (and gain) by creating a barrier between your living space and the world outside.

In other words, the temperature inside a well-insulated home will remain consistent and comfortable, even when the air conditioner or the furnace is not constantly in use.

Since you no longer have to use central heating and cooling devices at all times, your energy bills will go down, and the energy efficiency of your home will automatically increase.

This is achieved by implementing home insulation measures that will effectively control the convection (airflow) and conduction (heat transfer) within your house. 

Weatherization

The leaks around your doors and windows cause more than 10 percent of the energy loss in your home. These leaks allow rain and wind to enter your living space, leading to premature heat loss.

Proper weatherization can help seal those leaks and prevent further loss of energy.

Weatherstripping seals the leaks around your doors and windows, helping to keep the air inside your home from leaking out. As a result, you will have to spend less on heating and air conditioning, since the temperature-controlled air inside will not be able to escape.

Before you begin the weatherization process, you might have to arrange for a home energy audit or evaluation. This audit will help you understand which areas of your home contribute the most to energy loss. You can use this information to determine the most beneficial weatherization processes.

Home Insulation & Weatherization Programs

An extensive network of loans, grants, subsidies, rebates, and services is provided to American households – by governments, nonprofits, and utility companies – to facilitate weatherization and home insulation.

These programs range from the federal to the city level and provide energy-saving assistance to those who can benefit from it the most.

For even more location-specific programs, take a look at the DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency) website.

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

Run by the US Department of Energy, WAP aims to help low-income families enhance the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce utility costs. Each year, funding for the program is allocated by the Senate along with the House Interior Appropriations Committees.

To apply for this program, you will have to submit to one or more energy audits of your home.

WAP technicians will perform these audits in order to identify the major energy-efficiency problems in the house.

After the audit is complete, the WAP technicians will help weatherize your home through steps like repairing and replacing combustion appliances, insulating the walls and windows, etc.

To be eligible for WAP assistance, your income level must be at (or below) 200 percent of the federal poverty line.

If your household receives Aid to Families with Dependent Children or Supplemental Security Income, that would also make you eligible for WAP assistance.

The good news is that the weatherization assistance program also provides government grants for spray foam insulation.

Every year, WAP provides weatherization services to more than 35,000 US homes. Find out how to apply here.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Established in 1981 and funded through annual Congressional appropriations, this program aims to assist low-income households that spend a significant portion of their income on the immediate energy requirements of their home.

Through LIHEAP, you can apply for federally funded assistance in energy-related home repairs, weatherization upgrades, and energy crises.

LIHEAP can also help you implement the repairs and upgrades needed to minimize the safety issues arising from unsafe or outdated heating and cooling appliances.

Before applying for assistance through this program, you should know that LIHEAP does not offer direct grants to individual citizens. The utility company that supplies power to your household must participate in the program.

The approval process for the program takes about 30 days. The first payments will typically be made within 15 days of approval. Learn more about this program here.

Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Program (EERE)

This is a tax credit program that can pay to insulate your primary residence, if you are a US citizen.

Under the EERE program, you can receive a tax credit of up to $1,500 USD, or about 30 percent of the amount you paid to insulate and weatherize your home.

If you are undertaking any projects to enhance the energy efficiency of your home, such as installing small solar or wind power generation systems, these might also be covered under the EERE program.

However, you can only claim this tax credit for your primary residence in the US and not for any vacation homes or rental properties that you might own.

The primary purpose of this tax credit program is to promote the use of renewable energy technologies that increase energy efficiency in residential and commercial establishments.

You can contact your state weatherization agency to apply for this tax credit or read answers to FAQs about EERE here.

Here are a few state-specific programs that might apply to you, depending on where you live:

California’s Low-Income Weatherization Program

The California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) works with local utilities and energy service providers to install weatherization and insulation measures in low-income homes throughout the state.

Both renters and homeowners can qualify for the weatherization assistance program.

When you apply for this program with the CSD, an energy audit (or assessment) of your home will be conducted by a group of designated community partners.

Through the audit, they will determine the best ways to improve the insulation and energy efficiency of your home.

Some of the common weatherization measures that are implemented under this program include:

• Repairing old, broken windows.
• Sealing cracks and leaks around pipes, doors, and windows.
• Replacing old, outdated, or malfunctioning furnaces and air conditioners.
• Repairing and replacing old or damaged water heaters.

These measures are designed to improve public health and the environment in the disadvantaged communities of California. Find out more here.

FERA/CARE Programs in California

Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) and California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) are programs established to provide discounted weatherization services and energy rates to low-income households.

To qualify for these programs, your household’s income must adhere to the established state median income thresholds.

Moreover, if you want to apply for the CARE program, your household’s annual income should be 200% of the federal poverty line.

According to the current income guidelines, the FERA program has a higher income limit between 200 and 250% of the federal poverty line.

The best part is that eligibility criteria for these programs are also open to those enrolled in public assistance programs like CalFresh, Medicaid, SSI, and Medi-Cal.

Applying for these programs is easy. All you need to do is visit your utility company’s website for an application form. You’ll be required to provide information about your household’s income, size, and any public assistance programs you participate in.

Alternatively, if you want to apply by mail, print the form from the website and fill in the required information. After that, mail the completed form and the required documents to the provided address.

Insulation Services From Energy Outreach, Colorado

Certain nonprofits and utilities, such as Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC), offer weatherization services designed to ensure that lower-income households can comfortably afford their energy needs.

They aim to help vulnerable households across Colorado reduce their expenses through home insulation and other energy-efficient modifications.

EOC offers various programs meant to help low-wage earners, veterans, the disabled, and the elderly minimize their energy costs and avoid the risk of energy poverty.

If you are a resident of Colorado and are suddenly faced with a crisis such as a utility shutoff or a malfunctioning furnace, then you can get immediate support from EOC and their programs.

Bill payment assistance, free energy efficiency upgrades, a crisis intervention program, and an energy education program are some of the benefits offered by EOC for vulnerable households and individuals in Colorado.

Through the bill payment assistance program, EOC makes direct payments to a local utility company on behalf of low-income households that are behind on their payments and at risk of having their energy supply shut off.

Weatherization Support From Oncor Electric, Texas

Established in 1912, Oncor Electric is the largest and one of the oldest energy delivery companies in Texas.

They offer weatherization support and services for low-income households in Texas.

Through their weatherization program, they offer various incentives to service providers in the area who implement energy-saving measures in qualifying homes.

If you qualify for their program, then these energy-saving upgrades will be installed in your home either free of charge or at a highly discounted price.

In order to qualify, your home must be located in Texas and should have Oncor as its energy provider. Moreover, your annual income should be at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line.

If you qualify for Oncor’s low-income weatherization program, then some of the services you might receive include ceiling insulation, central heat pump installation, residential wall insulation, and floor insulation.

In order to qualify for free or discounted weatherization services under this program, a family of four should have an annual income of $53,000 or less.

Energy Assistance Program (EAP)

This is your go-to program if you live in Minnesota. 

EAP offers free insulation and weatherization services. Moreover, the program provides financial assistance to cater for energy bills.

EAP is a free program that provides up to $1,400 energy-related assistance to qualifying households.

To be eligible, your household’s income is assessed based on the past three months of gross income and the number of members.

For example, for a household of one, its three-month gross income must be less or equal to $8,226. For a household of two, the gross income for the previous three months must not exceed $10,747. The gross income limit increases for bigger households.

What makes this program special is that it’s not only reserved for homeowners—you can qualify even if you’re renting the house. 

Applying For Free Energy-Efficiency Upgrades

Now that you know about the different weatherization assistance programs that you can apply to for free or discounted home insulation, here are the next steps for filing your application.

• Meet Agency Representatives: Set up an appointment to meet the representatives of a trusted local organization that offers weatherization services. Some providers might allow you to file your application directly through their website, but most will require you to meet (either virtually or in person) their representatives in order to discuss your weatherization needs. 

• Determine Program Availability: Before filing an application, you must check with your local utility provider and ensure that the program you are applying to is available in your area. Some weatherization assistance programs are restricted to certain states or counties, while others are available nationwide.

• Check the Offerings: Be sure to check whether or not a program offers the weatherization services that you require. Repairing and upgrading malfunctioning electrical appliances, sealing leaks and gaps around the doors and windows, and insulating the floors and ceiling are some of the common services offered by such programs. 

• Determine Your Eligibility: Check the eligibility criteria for your chosen program. Most weatherization assistance programs have location- and income-specific eligibility criteria. In other words, you may not be eligible if your household income exceeds a certain limit or if you live in an area not covered by the program. The household income eligible for any program is essential for being successful.

• Schedule an Energy Audit: Once you’re selected for weatherization assistance, you will be required to organize an energy audit of your home with the help of your local service provider. During the audit, your energy bills will be analyzed, and your electrical equipment will be inspected to assess the energy use patterns of your household.

Only after these steps have been completed will a work crew be assigned to make the necessary modifications to your home, insulating and weatherizing it for greater energy efficiency.

You can visit your local government offices for more clarification on the different home insulation and energy financing programs. 

Once complete, this process will help make your living space more comfortable, reduce your utility bills, and minimize your household’s carbon footprint.

If you still think home insulation is out of your budget, Home Insulation: Are There Energy-Efficient Tax Credits and Can You Get Free Home Insulation are your lifesavers in offsetting your costs!