Rebates and tax credits in Wisconsin

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.

We didn’t find a program in Wisconsin that names HRVs or ERVs. Your electric and gas utilities are still worth asking: search “[utility] HRV rebate” and “[utility] ERV rebate”.

Federal home energy rebates

Federal money that Wisconsin 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.

• Insulation and air sealing rebates (2026)

  Focus on Energy (statewide program of Wisconsin utilities) · Single-family (1 to 3 unit) existing homes where at least 51% of heating comes from a participating utility

  By income (above 150% AMI / 80% to 150% AMI / below 80% AMI): ENERGY STAR air sealing $850 / $1,160 / $1,475; attic insulation $650 / $750 / $850; sill and foundation insulation $90 / $120 / $150; wall insulation $575; duct sealing in unconditioned space $1,000. DIY attic insulation and air sealing $200. Rebates cannot exceed project cost.

  Ventilation not mentioned in what we readProgram page: Improvements on or after 2026-01-01, completed by 2026-12-31

• Air sealing and insulation cash back (Wisconsin)

  Alliant Energy, in partnership with Focus on Energy · Alliant Energy Wisconsin customers

  Typically up to 25% cash back; the average rebate last year was $800

  Ventilation not mentioned in what we read

State tax credits

We didn’t find a Wisconsin 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, insulation and, where needed, ventilation at no cost to households that qualify by income. In Wisconsin it’s run by Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources (Home Energy Plus), delivered by local agencies.

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

• Focus on Energy's insulation and air sealing work must be done by a participating Trade Ally. ENERGY STAR air sealing requires an energy assessment and must be done with Trade Ally attic or wall insulation. Combustion safety testing and carbon monoxide alarms on all conditioned floors are required, and the 2026 application asks for a combustion safety/ventilation notification where applicable. [s_foe_wholehome, s_foe_ias_form]
• Focus on Energy deadlines conflict across its pages. An older overview PDF said projects had to be done by June 30, 2026; the May 2026 application update says projects completed on or before December 31, 2026, applied for within 60 days. The final application date is listed as January 31, 2027 on one page and February 28, 2027 on another. Confirm with Focus on Energy (800.762.7077). [s_foe_ias_pdf_old, s_foe_ias_form, s_foe_ias_online, s_foe_wholehome]
• Focus on Energy's 2026 business HVAC catalog lists per-CFM incentives for commercial ERVs (AHRI 1060 certified). That is for business customers, not homeowners. [s_foe_bus_catalog]
• In May 2026 the U.S. Department of Energy changed the HEAR rules, including ending rebates for replacing gas or other non-electric equipment with electric. Wisconsin's approved measures list was revised effective September 1, 2026. [s_doe_pn262, s_foe_hear_measures]