To qualify for an EECBG rebate, households shall fall in a community served by an Energy Smart Partner and be the primary residence.
Households shall also meet at least one of the eligibility pathways below. Eligibility will be verified by our Energy Smart Partner.
Option A: Income-Based Eligibility
Annual household income falls at or below 150% of Area Median Income (AMI) for the county of residence.
Income eligibility is verified using a household’s 1040 tax return, Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).
Option B: Community Priority Participant (CPP) Eligibility
A household may also qualify through the Community Priority pathway, regardless of income, if at least one household member meets one of the criteria below.
- Active military
- Childcare staff
- Deed-restricted homeowner
- Essential worker
- Firefighter, police officer, ski patrol, or other first responder
- Front-line lodging staff
- Local government employee
- Nonprofit employee
- Restaurant or retail staff
- Teacher or school district employee
- Resident of workforce housing
To confirm Community Priority eligibility, applicants may be required to provide one or more of the following:
- A recent pay stub
- A letter from your employer on organization letterhead stating your current employment
- A copy of your driver’s license or military id (for Active Military)
- A copy of the home’s deed restriction or documentation confirming workforce housing
Documentation must clearly demonstrate the qualifying employment, service, or housing status.
A home energy assessment completed through Energy Smart Colorado is required before any work begins.
- The assessment produces a personalized report with recommended energy efficiency improvements
- The assessment date, project start date and project end date are used to verify rebate eligibility timing
Projects started before the date of assessment are not eligible for EECBG rebates.
The specific upgrade for which an EECBG rebate is requested must be explicitly recommended in the home energy assessment report. Qualified improvements include:
- Air Sealing
- Insulation (including Walls, Attic, Roof, Floors)
- Electrification (including Electrical Upgrades, Cold Climate Heat Pumps or Heat Pump Water Heaters)
EECBG rebates are limited to air sealing, insulation and electrification improvements. Cost-effective weatherization or electrification improvements not listed in the assessment report’s recommendations are not eligible.
Energy Smart partners can connect households with local contractors to complete energy efficiency improvements. Improvements must meet program technical standards.
Weatherization (Air Sealing and Insulation) upgrades
Air Sealing rebate guidelines:
• An Energy Smart home energy assessment is required prior to starting air sealing work
• Pre- and post-project blower door testing is required
• The project must demonstrate at least a 10% air leakage reduction – or achieve 0.35 Natural Air Changes per Hour (NACH) (as measured in CFM50 from the blower door test)
• If blower door results are at or below 0.35 NACH (before or after improvement), you must meet with an Energy Advisor to review ventilation needs and identify existing ventilation in the home
Insulation rebate guidelines:
• Air sealing must be completed prior to adding insulation, unless the home is already at or below 0.35 NACH
• A blower door test is required to confirm that air sealing achieved at least a 10% air leakage reduction or that the home is already at or below 0.35 NACH
• Insulation improvements must reach the following R-Values:
- Attic (roof or floor): R-60
- Vaulted ceiling: R-49
- Crawlspace ceiling: R-30
- Exterior or crawlspace walls: R-19
- Floors (over unconditioned space or cantilever floor): R-30
For weatherization (air sealing and insulation) measures completed on your own (DIY), the rebate may cover materials purchased for the improvement. You will be asked to submit paid receipts for materials purchased. To confirm the improvements achieved at least a 10% air leakage reduction or that the home is now at or below 0.35 NACH, a post blower door test is also required for DIY projects.
Electrification upgrades
All electrification improvements must be completed by a qualified contractor. Weatherization requirements (see Weatherization upgrades above) must be met to qualify for Electrification rebates.
Cold climate heat pump (ductless, ducted, or hydronic) guidelines:
• An Energy Smart home energy assessment is required prior to installation
• The new system must be recommended in the energy assessment report
• Unless the home already measures at or below 0.35 NACH, air sealing and insulation improvements, as recommended by the assessment report, must be completed in advance of the heat pump installation
• A blower door test is required to confirm that the air sealing improvements achieved at least a 10% air leakage reduction or that the home is already at or below 0.35 NACH
• Heat pump must be rated for cold climates and provide heating down to -5°F or lower (systems rated to -13°F or lower are recommended)
• Minimum Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF2) aligned with local utility and/or ESC Partner requirements (typically 8.1, 8.5, 9, or 9.5 minimum) — a higher HSPF2 number means greater system efficiency
• A load calculation is required to properly size the system and account for elevation
• Must serve as the primary heat source
Heat pump water heater rebate guidelines:
• An Energy Smart home energy assessment is required prior to installation
• The system must be recommended in the energy assessment report
• Weatherization (air sealing and insulation improvements as recommended by the assessment report) must be completed in advance of electrification improvements
• A blower door test is required to confirm that weatherization improvements achieved at least a 10% air leakage reduction or that the home is already at or below 0.35 NACH
• Equipment must be ENERGY STAR certified and use heat pump technology
Electrical panel upgrade rebate guidelines:
• An Energy Smart home energy assessment is required prior to installation
• The upgrade must be recommended in the energy assessment report
• Weatherization (air sealing and insulation improvements as recommended by the assessment report) must be completed in advance of electrification improvements
• A blower door test is required to confirm that weatherization improvements achieved at least a 10% air leakage reduction or that the home is already at or below 0.35 NACH
• The upgrade must be necessary to support installation of a cold climate heat pump or heat pump water heater
• The invoice must clearly state the purpose of the electrical upgrade
Contractor documentation may be required to verify compliance.
To receive an EECBG rebate, applicants must submit:
- Itemized, paid invoices or receipts
- Proof of completed work (such as before and after photos)
- Any applicable specification sheets
Estimates and unpaid invoices will not qualify.
