Rebates and tax credits in Massachusetts

Money toward an HRV or ERV

Programs that pay toward the unit itself. Some take the money off at the distributor, so ask whether an installer’s price already includes it.

• Mass Save instant discount on Heat and Energy Recovery Ventilators (HRV/ERV)

  Mass Save (Berkshire Gas, Cape Light Compact, Eversource, Liberty Utilities, National Grid, Unitil) · Residentially metered customers of the Mass Save sponsors in Massachusetts

  $500 instant discount

  Retrofit projects only, no new construction. The unit must be on the Mass Save approved equipment list and bought at a participating distributor; the discount is taken at purchase. The contractor gives the distributor the installation address, customer name and phone number.

  Names HRVs or ERVs

Federal home energy rebates

Federal money that Massachusetts runs. HEAR has a category for “insulation, air sealing, and ventilation” worth up to $1,600 for households under 150% of area median income; each state decides what counts as ventilation. ENERGY STAR’s table for HEAR says this category requires ENERGY STAR certification, and ENERGY STAR’s U.S. criteria for ventilation cover fans, not HRVs or ERVs, so ask the program whether an HRV or ERV counts before relying on it. HOMES pays toward whole-home upgrades modeled to save energy.

Air sealing and insulation

These programs are more common than ventilation rebates, and sealing a house is often what makes it need planned fresh air. If a program is sealing yours, ask whether it requires ventilation afterward and whether it pays for it.

• Mass Save Insulation and Air Sealing

  Mass Save sponsors · 1 to 4 unit homes served by Mass Save (not municipal light plant customers)

  75% to 100% off approved insulation and air sealing; no cost for income-eligible residents; 100% off weatherization in designated equity communities; 0% HEAT Loan up to $25,000. Usually starts with a no-cost Home Energy Assessment, or a Direct Weatherization contractor without the assessment.

  Ventilation not mentioned in what we read

State tax credits

We didn’t find a Massachusetts tax credit for ventilation, air sealing or insulation, and couldn’t confirm there is none.

Low-income help

The federal Weatherization Assistance Program can pay for air sealing and insulation for households that qualify by income. Your state energy office can say who runs it.

Before you sign

1. Don’t start work yet. Many programs need pre-approval, a participating contractor or a test first, and work begun early often can’t qualify.
2. Write down your electric and gas utilities. Rebates usually follow the utility, not the town.
3. Read the conditions: a listed contractor, a qualifying model, your heating fuel, income limits, and install and claim deadlines.
4. Ask each installer whether any discount is already in their price, and who files the paperwork.
5. Get it in writing: each rebate, who applies for it, and what happens to the price if it’s denied.

More on costs and how to check: What drives the cost of ventilation and How to compare quotes.

Worth knowing

• Mass Save's insulation page does not say whether it requires or pays for mechanical ventilation after air sealing. Ask the assessor. (source s4)
• Customers of municipal light plants are not part of Mass Save, so the Mass Save HRV/ERV discount and insulation offers do not apply to them. (source s4)
• DOE changed the federal HEAR rules in May 2026 (Program Notice 26-2, effective May 29, 2026): HEAR can no longer pay to replace gas, oil or propane equipment with electric, homes generally must use rebates for insulation and air sealing before heating and cooling upgrades, and ventilation is still a HEAR project type that can be claimed in stages. (sources s39, s40)
• We did not confirm the Massachusetts Weatherization Assistance Program administrator or any state tax break yet.