What insulation help exists in Buffalo
We re-read National Grid's upstate program pages and NYSERDA's EmPower+ and Comfort Home pages on October 3, 2026. Erie County is not on NYSERDA's downstate list, so Buffalo gets the upstate EmPower+ caps.
EmPower+ low income
No-cost insulation, air sealing and safety work for income-eligible owners and renters of 1 to 4 family homes.
EmPower+ moderate income
Half the cost of approved work. Federal HEAR money can add up to $1,600 for air sealing, insulation and ventilation.
NYSERDA Comfort Home
Good package $2,500, Better package $3,000, windows add-on $2,000. Any income, through a Comfort Home contractor listed for your county.
National Grid health and safety
Safety repairs for EmPower+ eligible National Grid customers, after a free Health and Safety Assessment.
National Grid gas rebates (HEHE)
No longer accepting applications, and in-store rebates have ended.
Insulate first, then a heat pump
Since September 1, 2026, NYS Clean Heat pays a Weatherized Tier to homes that took part in an approved weatherization program, such as Comfort Home or National Grid Total Home Comfort. For a National Grid single-family home that replaces and removes its old system, the rebate goes from $7,000 to $12,000. In a Disadvantaged Community it goes from $9,000 to $14,000.
What Buffalo homes look like
The US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020 to 2024) counts about 136,900 homes in Buffalo. 90% were built before 1980, and 61% in 1939 or earlier. That is a very old housing stock. 36% of homes are single detached houses, and 43% are in buildings of 2 to 4 units. 43% of households own their home.
With homes this old, it pays to find out what is in your walls and attic. Attic and rim joist sealing is usually the cheapest first step, and it is exactly what Comfort Home's Good package covers.
Gas heat and what changes
The same Census survey shows 86% of Buffalo homes heat with piped gas and 10% with electricity. With National Grid's gas rebates closed, gas-heated homes that do not qualify on income have one main route: Comfort Home. The upside is that every bit of air sealing cuts your gas bill right away, and later makes a heat pump smaller and cheaper.
Two-family homes and renters
EmPower+ and Comfort Home both cover 1 to 4 family homes, so a two-family house qualifies. If you own one and live in one unit, a single project can treat the whole building. If you rent, EmPower+ is open to income-eligible tenants with the landlord's okay. National Grid's health and safety program also needs landlord approval for renters.
What we would do first
Check EmPower+ income limits before anything else. A low-income household can get up to $12,000 of work at no cost, which beats any other offer. If you are over the limit, book a free Comfort Home consultation, and ask the contractor whether your attic, rim joists and walls can all be done as one Better package. Keep every receipt and the program paperwork: it is your proof for the higher heat pump rebate later. Our Buffalo heat pump guide has the Clean Heat details.
How to get insulation help in Buffalo
- Check EmPower+ income limits for Erie County on NYSERDA's site.
- If you qualify, apply through the MyEnergy portal for a free home energy assessment.
- If not, create a MyEnergy account to check Comfort Home eligibility and pick a contractor from the Erie County list.
- Ask the contractor to quote the full package, since the home must meet the whole package to get the incentive.
- Keep your completion paperwork for the Clean Heat Weatherized Tier.
Common questions
Does National Grid still give insulation rebates in Buffalo?
Not through its gas rebate program. National Grid says its Gas Prescriptive Rebate (HEHE) program is no longer taking applications. Income-eligible customers can get no-cost safety work through its Weatherization Health and Safety Program, after EmPower+.
What does Comfort Home pay?
$2,500 for the Good package (seal and insulate the attic and rim joist), $3,000 for the Better package (adds walls and floors), and $2,000 more for ENERGY STAR windows after sealing and insulation.
Is Buffalo upstate or downstate for EmPower+?
Upstate. Erie County is not on NYSERDA's downstate list, so the caps are $12,000 for low income and $6,000 for moderate income.
Does insulating raise my heat pump rebate?
Yes, if you go through an approved program. For a National Grid single-family home with old-system removal, the Clean Heat rebate rises from $7,000 to $12,000.
Is there a federal tax credit for insulation in 2026?
No. The IRS says the 25C credit does not apply to work placed in service after December 31, 2025.
What to do next
Start with the EmPower+ income check. Then see all your options on the Buffalo rebate hub.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 3, 2026: NYSERDA: EmPower+, NYSERDA: Comfort Home, National Grid: Gas heating rebates, National Grid: Weatherization Health and Safety, NYS Clean Heat Program Manual. All Buffalo rebates → Every National Grid rebate →