The honest answer: no standalone HRV program in Cambridge
Mass Save doesn't market ventilation the way it markets heat pumps in Cambridge — there's no dedicated landing page, no big headline number. The rebate is real, but it's quieter.
The first is an instant discount: Mass Save pays qualifying equipment vendors and contractors up to $500 off a qualifying HRV or ERV unit at the point of sale, no separate rebate application needed on your end. The second is a weatherization-linked rebate, cited by contractor guides tracking Mass Save's 2026 program at $400 to $800, available when the ventilation unit is installed as part of a broader insulation or air-sealing project through Mass Save. As an Eversource customer, your Mass Save home energy assessment and any resulting HRV/ERV paperwork route through Eversource's program administration.
Instant discount at point of sale on qualifying HRV/ERV equipment, applied by the vendor or contractor.
Rebate when HRV/ERV is installed as part of a Mass Save insulation or weatherization project.
Ventilation installed with no other Mass Save-eligible project underway — the instant discount still applies to qualifying equipment, but nothing else does.
What the equipment has to meet
- Energy recovery ventilators (ERV) need an enthalpy recovery ratio of at least 75% at both heating and cooling design conditions, tested to AHRI Standard 1060
- Heat recovery ventilators (HRV) need a sensible energy recovery ratio of at least 75% at heating design conditions, tested to the same AHRI standard
- Installation has to go through a Mass Save-authorized contractor who can apply the instant discount and, if applicable, file the weatherization-linked rebate
Why Cambridge homes end up needing HRV anyway
The more effective the air sealing on a Cambridge retrofit, the more a home needs mechanical ventilation to replace the natural air exchange it lost. HRV and ERV units handle that swap while recovering the bulk of the heat that would otherwise leave with the stale air — a reasonable case for why Mass Save pairs the incentive with weatherization rather than funding it independently.
How to claim it in Cambridge
- Book a free Mass Save home energy assessment — it's the same required first step as every other Mass Save rebate, including this one
- Ask your assessor or contractor whether an HRV or ERV makes sense for your project, especially if you're already sealing the attic, walls, or basement
- Confirm the equipment meets the AHRI 1060 recovery-ratio thresholds before you buy — your contractor should know which units qualify
- Have your Mass Save-authorized contractor apply the instant discount at purchase, and file the weatherization-linked rebate if the ventilation work is bundled with an insulation or air-sealing project
Full walkthrough of the assessment itself: Mass Save home energy assessment, explained →
Find an installer in Cambridge
If you're pairing ventilation with insulation or a heat pump project, browse HVAC and weatherization contractors serving Cambridge in our installer directory.
See all Cambridge installers → or get matched with a contractor →
Common questions
Is there a standalone Mass Save HRV rebate in Cambridge?
No. Mass Save has never built HRV/ERV into a dedicated standalone rebate program the way it has for heat pumps. Cambridge homeowners can still get a real instant discount of up to $500 on qualifying equipment at the point of purchase, or $400 to $800 when a heat or energy recovery ventilator is installed as part of a broader Mass Save insulation or weatherization project.
What equipment qualifies for the Cambridge HRV/ERV discount?
The unit has to meet Mass Save's efficiency threshold under AHRI Standard 1060: an energy recovery ventilator needs an enthalpy recovery ratio of at least 75%, and a heat recovery ventilator needs a sensible energy recovery ratio of at least 75%, both at design heating and cooling conditions. Installation has to go through a Mass Save-authorized contractor.
Compared to what Cambridge homeowners can get for a heat pump, this is a rounding error — but it's real money if you're already having the work done.
Other rebates in Cambridge
Next steps
View all Cambridge rebate programs →, get matched with installers via Get Quotes, or check the official Mass Save heating & cooling page → for the current source of truth.