EmPOWER insulation in Maryland.
EmPOWER MD pays up to $2,500 for whole-home insulation and air sealing, with a free BPI-certified home energy audit. Stack with the EmPOWER heat pump rebate for whole-home electrification.
Gas bills have climbed every year.
Maryland residential gas climbed from $1.15/therm in 2010 to $1.70/therm by 2025. PJM capacity costs and BGE/Pepco rate cases have pushed electric bills steadily upward. Insulation cuts your fuel usage by 25-30% on day one.
What a whole-home insulation project actually pays back.
A BPI-certified energy audit identifies where your home leaks heat, attic, walls, basement, around windows and doors. The rebate stack below shows what Maryland pays back on day one. The red line shows what staying with your current envelope costs you over 15 years.
See the pieces of the stackThe numbers that make Maryland insulation pencil.
Four reasons your insulation project pays you back on day one.
Every rebate line, spelled out.
Current 2026 rebate amounts under the EmPOWER traditional efficiency track. Verify against your utility at signing.
- Attic insulationUp to $1.50/sq ft
- Wall insulation (drill-and-fill)Up to $1.00/sq ft
- Basement / crawl-space insulationUp to $1.00/sq ft
- Air sealing (blower-door directed)Up to $400
- Duct sealing (insulated and tested)Up to $300
- Income-qualified track (LIEEP)100% covered
- HPwES home energy audit (homeowner co-pay)$100
- Maximum combined per home$10,000
From first call to a tighter envelope.
A typical Maryland insulation project runs 2–4 weeks from BPI audit to install completion.
The honest FAQ.
Actual questions that come up in the first installer conversation, answered for a typical Maryland homeowner in 2026.
Can I do weatherization without ever installing a heat pump?
Yes. The traditional efficiency track is fully standalone and caps at $10,000. Most Maryland homeowners do weatherization first because it pays back in under two years on its own and improves comfort immediately.
If I do weatherization now, can I still claim the $15,000 fossil-to-electric tier later?
Yes, on a separate project. EmPOWER's $15,000 cap applies to the heat pump conversion project; weatherization completed beforehand counts toward the prerequisite envelope work that often unlocks the higher tier.
Why does the audit cost $100 if my utility is funding the program?
The audit normally costs around $400. Maryland utilities subsidize $300 of that as a program incentive. The remaining $100 is your investment, refundable as a rebate credit if you proceed with any qualifying work.
Can I use any contractor I want?
No. Only HPwES-approved contractors can deliver work that qualifies for the rebate. We match you with a pre-vetted local partner so you don't have to research the network yourself.
My utility is Potomac Edison in western Maryland, is the rebate the same?
The cap is identical across all five EmPOWER utilities, but per-line rebate amounts can vary slightly. Potomac Edison customers in western counties typically see slightly different per-square-foot insulation rates than BGE customers; your audit pre-approval will lock in your specific numbers.
Other states and programs.
Looking for the same kind of program in another state, or a different program in yours? Tap any pill to jump.
Ready to see how EmPOWER weatherization applies to your home?
Your Home Efficiency Score shows your exact rebate stack, across this program and every other one you qualify for in 2026.
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