Current as of June 2026. Rebate and tax-credit programs change often, so confirm the latest details on each program’s official page before you plan a project.
For a few years, paying for attic insulation came with a nice federal kicker. You did the work, you claimed a tax credit, and the government covered a slice of the cost. A lot of homeowners built that credit into their budget. As of 2026, that math no longer works the way it used to, and it is better to hear it now than after the job is done.
The local picture is brighter than the federal one. There is still real money available for Bay Area homeowners, you just have to know where it actually lives now.
First, the part people need to hear: the federal credit is gone
The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, known as 25C, used to cover 30 percent of qualifying insulation and air-sealing costs, up to $1,200 a year. It was scheduled to run through 2032. It did not make it. The law signed in July 2025 moved up the expiration date, and the IRS now states the 25C credit is not allowed for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025.
“Placed in service” is the strict part. The work had to be finished and in use by the end of 2025, not just paid for or under contract. So if you are insulating your attic in 2026, the federal credit is not available to you. Any article or contractor still promising a 30 percent federal write-off for this year is working from old information. We would rather you plan around what is true.
The good news: BayREN’s EASE program is alive and local
Here is where Bay Area homeowners get a break that most of the country does not. BayREN, the regional energy network run by the nine Bay Area counties, operates the EASE Home program, and it is built around exactly the work we do.
For income-qualified households, EASE covers 80 percent of the cost of core weatherization upgrades, which includes insulation, duct sealing, and whole-home air sealing. The homeowner’s share is capped at 20 percent of the project, and no more than $1,000 out of pocket. The program also assigns you an energy advisor, uses vetted contractors, and backs the work with a one-year warranty. For the kind of attic and crawl space work that pays you back every month afterward, that is a meaningful head start.
Eighty percent of core weatherization covered, with your share capped at $1,000. That is a real local break the rest of the country does not get.
Do you qualify for BayREN EASE?
The program is income-qualified. To be eligible, your household income needs to be at or under 120 percent of the area median income for your county, and the thresholds are higher than people assume. They reach well into six figures for larger households in counties like Marin, San Mateo, and Santa Clara. Because those numbers update every year, the smart move is to check the current figure for your county and household size on BayREN’s official income guidelines rather than trust a number you read somewhere months ago.
The home itself has to be a single-family property of four units or fewer, built before 2010, and served by PG&E. Renters can participate with the owner’s permission. The process starts with a quick eligibility check online, then a complimentary in-home visit to scope the work. If your attic or crawl space is overdue for attention, this is the first door to knock on.
PG&E’s no-cost program for income-qualified homes
If your income falls lower on the scale, PG&E runs its own Energy Savings Assistance program, which provides free weatherization and energy upgrades to qualifying customers. The home generally needs to be at least five years old, and eligibility is tied to household income near the federal poverty guidelines. It overlaps with BayREN’s audience, so it is worth checking both to see which one fits your situation.
What about the state’s heat-pump money?
You may have read about California programs like HEEHRA and TECH Clean California offering thousands of dollars in rebates. Two things to know. First, those programs target electrification, meaning heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, not standalone insulation or air sealing. Second, as of early 2026 the single-family funds for both were fully reserved and pushing new requests to a waitlist. The money may reopen as new budget arrives, so it is worth watching the California Energy Commission’s rebate page, but it is not something to count on for an insulation project today.
Why the savings outlast any rebate
It is easy to fixate on rebates and lose sight of the bigger return. A rebate happens once. The energy savings happen every month for as long as you own the house. ENERGY STAR estimates that air sealing and insulation save about 15 percent on heating and cooling costs, and at PG&E rates that adds up year after year. The rebate is a nice push to get started. The lower bills are the actual payoff.
So the loss of the federal credit stings, but it does not change the underlying case. A well-sealed, properly insulated home costs less to run in any rate environment, and Bay Area rates are not getting cheaper.
How to start without leaving money on the table
Our advice is straightforward. Before you commit to a project, check your BayREN EASE eligibility, since that is the program most likely to cover real money on insulation and air sealing right now. If you qualify, it can fold neatly into the attic insulation, crawl space, and duct work we do.
When you want a real look at what your home needs and a same-day estimate, one of our family members will come out, inspect the attic and crawl space, and lay out the scope. Get in touch and we will help you sort out what is worth doing and what help you might qualify for.
