What insulation rebates pay in Minneapolis
Xcel and CenterPoint pay for work on a home that uses their service. The city rebate is open to single-family homes and buildings of up to four units inside Minneapolis.
City of Minneapolis Green Cost Share
Covers attic, wall and rim joist insulation as well as heat pumps and other upgrades. Apply through the Center for Energy and Environment within 60 days of finishing.
Xcel Energy air sealing
Leaks must fall by at least 15 percent, proved by a blower door test before and after the work.
Xcel Energy attic insulation
The attic must start at an insulation level of R-19 or less and end at R-49 or more.
Xcel Energy wall insulation
The wall cavity must be empty before the work and reach R-11 or more after.
CenterPoint air sealing and attic insulation
$750 for air sealing alone, $1,300 for air sealing with attic insulation. Attic insulation alone earns nothing.
CenterPoint wall insulation
Plus $200 for the rim joist when done with another measure.
R-value in plain words
R-value is a number that says how well a material resists heat flow. A higher number means better insulation. Xcel asks that an attic go from R-19 or less to R-49 or more. If your attic is already above R-19, Xcel's attic rebate does not apply.
Why insulation is a Minneapolis story
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey for 2020 to 2024 counts 209,080 homes in Minneapolis. 72% were built before 1980 and 43% before 1940. Only 18% went up in 2000 or later. Houses from before 1940 were often built with no insulation in the walls. About 40% of the city's homes are detached houses and about 12% are in buildings of two to four units, which are the types the city rebate covers.
With about 70% of homes heating with natural gas and 25% with electricity, a heat loss fix reduces either bill. The census table does not say which homes are insulated, so we cannot say how many still need work. An energy visit will tell you.
Start with a Home Energy Squad visit
The city recommends a Home Energy Squad visit before you plan projects, and the visit is not required for the rebate. The Xcel page lists two visit types. The Energy Saver visit costs $70 and the Energy Planner visit costs $100, with a blower door test, an infrared camera check of attic and walls and a written report. Income-qualified customers may qualify for a free visit. The visit is for homes with electric service from Xcel and gas from Xcel or CenterPoint.
Pick the stack that fits your house
Programs differ in what they ask. Xcel pays a share of the project cost, up to its cap, and needs the blower door test. CenterPoint pays a flat amount for each measure and requires air sealing for attic work. The city has a larger cap that includes other work. If your home uses both Xcel and CenterPoint, you may be eligible for each company's rebate on different work, but a rebate from one program may not be claimed again from another Xcel program, according to Xcel's rules. Ask each program whether it counts the work for you before you sign the contract.
Xcel also pays a $600 bonus when a qualifying heat pump follows within two years of qualifying insulation work. If you plan both, do the insulation first so the heat pump can be smaller.
Who can do the work
Both utilities require approved installers. Xcel says only registered insulation contractors can file the rebate and that self-installed insulation does not qualify. CenterPoint lists its eligible installers by service area on its page. The city works through the Center for Energy and Environment, which helps you find contractors. Get more than one bid. The CenterPoint page recommends comparing bids to find competitive pricing and an installer you trust.
How to claim Minneapolis insulation rebates
- Schedule a Home Energy Squad visit, or ask a participating contractor for an air leak test.
- Choose a contractor who is on the list for the utility that serves your gas or electricity.
- Have the contractor do the blower door test before and after.
- Ask the contractor to file the Xcel or CenterPoint rebate for you.
- Apply to the city within 60 days of finishing the work.
Common questions
How much can I get for insulation in Minneapolis?
Xcel can pay up to $3,000 for air sealing plus attic and wall insulation, CenterPoint up to about $3,000 with all measures, and the city up to $5,000, or $14,000 in a Green Zone, across all projects. Which apply depends on who serves your home.
Does attic insulation alone earn a rebate?
Not from CenterPoint. Its page says attic insulation only has no rebate. Xcel requires air sealing with attic or wall insulation.
Do I need a blower door test?
For Xcel's rebate, yes, before and after. A blower door test uses a fan in a doorway to measure how leaky a home is.
Is the city rebate only for low-income homes?
No. The city rebate page asks that your home is in Minneapolis and is a single-family home or a building with two to four units. The loan has an income limit.
What to do next
If you plan a heat pump too, read our Minneapolis heat pump rebate page, or go back to the Minneapolis rebate hub. The Xcel guide explains each insulation rule.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 6, 2026: Xcel Energy Minnesota insulation and air sealing, CenterPoint Energy air sealing and insulation, City of Minneapolis residential energy efficiency rebates, Xcel Energy Home Energy Squad, ACS housing facts (Census Bureau). All Minneapolis rebates → Every CenterPoint Energy Minnesota rebate →