How much you get
Xcel Energy's Colorado home rebate catalog is built around five equipment categories: cold-climate ducted heat pumps, cold-climate ductless mini-splits, standard ducted heat pumps, standard ductless mini-splits, and heat pump water heaters. HRVs and ERVs aren't among them — even though ventilation-sizing rules (0.35 natural air changes per hour, ENERGY STAR labeling) show up in the fine print of related county-level programs that Xcel doesn't itself fund citywide in Denver.
Denver's dry, high-altitude climate plus the wave of heat pump conversions Xcel is actively rebating both point toward the same conclusion: airtightening a home for efficiency, without adding balanced ventilation behind it, is an easy way to end up with stale indoor air. The heat pump rebate exists; the ventilation rebate that should logically follow it doesn't.
The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C) expired December 31, 2025 and never covered HRV or ERV equipment while it was active, so there's no federal credit to lean on either. An HRV or ERV in Denver is currently a full out-of-pocket cost.
Source: Xcel Energy Colorado residential rebates, UniColorado, IRS Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C)
Source
UniColorado — Xcel Energy HVAC Rebates Colorado →
Xcel Energy — Colorado residential home rebates →
Installers
Browse HVAC and ventilation installers near Denver →
Common questions
Does Xcel Energy offer an HRV or ERV rebate in Denver?
No. Xcel Energy's residential rebate catalog covers other equipment, but heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) aren't a funded category as of this writing.
What should a Denver homeowner do instead of waiting for an HRV rebate?
Treat it as a straight equipment-and-install cost, get quotes from a couple of local installers, and fold it into a broader retrofit plan rather than delaying for a rebate that doesn't currently exist. See our general guide to HRV and ERV systems for how the equipment works and what it costs.
Other rebates in Denver
Ventilation is one piece of a whole-home retrofit. See what else Denver homeowners can claim:
- Heat Pump Rebates in Denver
- Insulation Rebates in Denver
- Solar Rebates in Denver
- Battery Storage Rebates in Denver
- Water Heater Rebates in Denver
- Smart Thermostat Rebates in Denver
- EV Charger Rebates in Denver
- Windows & Doors Rebates in Denver
Next steps
View all Denver rebate programs → or get matched with local installers through our free quote tool →. Read our general HRV & ERV guide → for how the equipment works, or see all Colorado coverage →.