Frequently Asked Questions

Standard Rebates: To apply for an EnergySmart rebate you will need to complete the rebate claim form and submit the required supporting documents once your project is completed. We offer a couple of ways to complete the claim form, visit our Rebate Application page to find the claim form and next steps to apply.

Income Qualified Rebate: Connect with your advisor or email info@energysmartyes.com to learn more about applying for the income-qualified rebate. The rebate claim form and steps to apply for the rebate will be shared with you once your income is approved through our verification process.

The rebate will arrive as a check in the mail. It typically takes around 8-10 weeks after rebate approval and confirmation from the EnergySmart team. The timing of the rebate check arrival can sometimes vary.

Standard Rebates: Yes, the EnergySmart Boulder County rebates can be stacked with other eligible EnergySmart rebates through eligible jurisdictions. The EnergySmart rebate(s) can also be stacked with other, non-EnergySmart rebates including State and Federal rebates, utility rebates, or other rebates/incentives. The cost of all rebates/incentives when added together cannot exceed the total project cost.

Income-Qualified Rebate: This rebate can be stacked with other rebates including State and Federal rebates, utility rebates, etc. The rebate cannot be stacked with the EnergySmart standard rebates through Boulder County and other jurisdictions. Keep in mind your total rebate amount, including other rebates, cannot exceed 70% of the project cost.

No, EnergySmart cannot retroactively rebate projects completed in previous years. Rebates must be issued within the year the project was completed and invoiced.

Below are the contractor requirements for the various utilities in Boulder County. If your electric utility requires the use of a registered contractor to receive a rebate on a certain project, EnergySmart follows that contractor requirement.

• Xcel Energy – Contractor must be listed on eligible installer list for insulation/air sealing, ducted or partially ducted air source heat pump, and ground source heat pump projects.
• Longmont Power Company/City of Longmont (Efficiency Works) – Contractor must be listed on eligible installer list for insulation/air sealing, air source heat pump, mini-split heat pump, and ground source heat pump projects
• Poudre Valley REA – Open to any licensed contractor
• United Power – Open to any licensed contractor
• Lyons Power – Open to any licensed contractor

EnergySmart provides lists of contractors who have completed a rebate-eligible project in the program on our find a contractor webpage. The lists provided offer columns to show which contractors are registered on the appropriate lists and lists are updated quarterly.

It depends on the project. If the project you are pursuing requires the use of a certain contractor (based on your primarily electric utility requirements), a self-installation would not be allowed. Projects that don’t require the use of a contractor can be self-installed. Projects like induction cooktops and heat pump dryers do not require the use of a certain contractor and can be self-installed.

If you are unsure if your project requires a contractor, connect with an advisor at info@energysmartyes.com.

Standard Rebates: Project pre-qualification is not required but encouraged to ensure eligibility due to the various EnergySmart rebate requirements related to a project’s scope of work, equipment, contractor, and/or other eligibility requirements.

Income-Qualified Rebates: Project pre-qualification is required to confirm eligibility and access the EnergySmart income-qualified rebate.

Share your project details with an advisor by emailing info@energysmartyes.com. Please include as many details as possible including project estimates, cost details, contractor names, equipment specifics, etc.

EnergySmart requires the following documents to successfully approve and process a rebate:

1. A completed rebate claim form
2. A final invoice or other proof of installation/completion
   • Invoices should be detailed, and as applicable include the scope of work, equipment model numbers, status of previous appliance fuel source (gas, propane or electric) as applicable, and broken out costs if multiple rebate-eligible projects were completed
   • Invoices should indicate the project is complete, if an invoice does not note this, the EnergySmart team may request additional documents like proof of payment or completion
3. Proof of purchase and clear before and after installation photos are required instead of final invoices for projects where a self-installation occurred (like induction cooktops or heat pump dryers). Please see the documents for self-installation FAQ for more details.

EnergySmart requires clear before and after photos showing the old appliance and newly installed appliance. If the old appliance was gas-fueled, be sure the before photo clearly shows the fuel type. Additionally, proof of purchase (receipt, purchase order, etc.) for the new eligible appliance or equipment is required.

Requirements will vary based on the type of project you complete. Most requirements are detailed on the specific EnergySmart rebate eligible measures lists for Boulder County, City of Boulder, City of Louisville, or the Income-Qualified rebates.

Here are some requirements to keep in mind:

• Any Insulation/Air Sealing Project – requires the completion of blower door testing and where applicable CAZ (combustion appliance zone) testing. Utilities like Xcel Energy and Efficiency Works also requires these tests for accessing utility rebates. Cellular shade installations are exempt from this requirement.
• Air Source Heat Pumps, Mini-split Heat Pumps, and Ground Source Heat Pumps – must be AHRI rated and EnergySmart is required to collect the AHRI certificate.
  For the cold climate air source or mini-split heat pump rebates – heat pumps must be deemed cold climate rated by one of three options:
  • ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Certified
  • COP ≥ 1.75@5◦F
  • Have a capacity @ 5◦F of at least 70% of BTU @ 47◦F
• Heat Pump Water Heaters and Heat Pump Dryers – must be ENERGY STAR Rated
• Electrical Panel Upgrades – Must be increasing capacity to 200 amps (or 150amps if going from 100amp panel). Must be completed with an eligible electrification project (heat pumps for HVAC, heat pump water heater, heat pump dryer, induction cooktop, solar PV, or EV Charger).

A blower door test depressurizes your home to measure the home’s overall air leakage or air tightness. Blower door testing is required when any change is made that results in tightening the thermal envelope of the home. It’s important to make sure the home is airtight but also has adequate ventilation, the blower door testing will measure how airtight the home is after a project to know if additional ventilation should be considered. When a home gets to a certain level of airtightness, you will want to start considering mechanical ventilation to ensure the home has healthy and safe indoor air quality.

Below is a list of EnergySmart rebate-eligible projects that require blower door testing. If you are unsure if your project requires blower door testing, check with an advisor by emailing info@energysmartyes.com.

• Attic Insulation with Air Sealing
• Wall Insulation
• Foundation (Basement or Crawlspace) Insulation and Air Sealing
• Sub-Floor or Frame Floor Insulation and Air Sealing
• Professionally Applied Air Sealing

The Combustion Appliance Zone is the area(s) where gas appliances (furnace, water heater, etc.) are located in the home. These gas appliances, sometimes referred to as combustion appliances, need to exhaust all combustion by-products to the outside of the home. A CAZ test will check that the combustion appliances are venting and exhausting properly even under worst-case scenarios. This test is especially important health and safety test to ensure there are no harmful combustion by-products being released in the home.

Similar to Blower Door Testing, CAZ testing is required when any change is made that results in tightening the thermal envelope of the home. When a home with a combustion appliance is made to be more airtight, it might affect the ability of a gas appliance to exhaust properly. By performing the CAZ test after certain project(s) are completed, you can confirm the combustion appliance(s) are operating safely despite the changes made to the home.

Below is a list of potential EnergySmart rebate-eligible projects that require CAZ testing. If you are unsure if your project requires a CAZ test, speak with your advisor.

• Attic Insulation with Air Sealing
• Wall Insulation
• Foundation (Basement or Crawlspace) Insulation and Air Sealing
• Professionally Applied Air Sealing
• Sub-Floor or Frame Floor Insulation and Air Sealing

Exterior top plates are the top framing members of your exterior walls and are often points of air leakage in attic spaces. Due to the low angle of the roof deck, exterior top plates can be more difficult to access. Despite this, it is still important to seal all accessible exterior top plates to ensure the effectiveness of insulation in the attic to maximize your home’s efficiency and comfort. By sealing the exterior top plates with 2-part spray foam, you are not only better sealing the attic but also maximizing the R-value of the insulation.

EnergySmart views exterior top plate air sealing as best practice and therefore offers a bonus rebate for completing exterior to plate sealing in attic spaces, provided it’s listed on the final invoice.

No, exterior top plate air sealing is not required to receive the EnergySmart attic insulation and air sealing rebate as of 2025. However, if you complete exterior top plate air sealing you may be able to receive a bonus rebate through EnergySmart.

A heat pump must have a minimum HSPF2 rating of 8.1 or higher and meet one of the three below options to be considered cold climate rated:

• ENERGY STAR Cold Climate Certified
• Have a COP ≥ 1.75@5◦F
• Have a capacity @ 5◦F of at least 70% of BTU @ 47◦F

EnergySmart utilizes the AHRI (Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute) database and AHRI certificates to confirm a heat pump meets the cold climate requirements. In most instances the AHRI provides all of the needed details. If the AHRI does not provide all the needed details, we may also utilize the NEEP Cold Climate Database or ENERGY STAR Cold Climate product lists to confirm the cold climate requirements are met. Please be aware that other entities who provide rebates like utilities may utilize different requirements for cold climate heat pumps. Talk to your contractor or advisor to learn more about other rebate cold climate requirements.

ENERGY STAR rated appliances can be confirmed on the Energy Star website using their Product Finder. Product specification sheets may also confirm ENERGY STAR ratings.

If your projects occur at a property located in one of the eligible municipalities, the additional rebates will be applied for during your EnergySmart rebate claim form review and approval. You do not need to take any extra action to receive the additional municipality rebates.

Please note additional municipality rebates are not available for those pursuing the income-qualified EnergySmart rebate, the income-qualified rebate replaces those rebates.

Yes, EnergySmart allows up to two rebates per house for eligible air source heat pump or mini-split heat pump installation.

No, energy audits are not required to access EnergySmart rebates. However, energy audits may be required to access other rebates/incentives such as state or utility incentives. Additionally, energy audits can be a valuable step to take before completing projects.

MFUs with 4 are fewer units are eligible to access the EnergySmart rebates. MFUs with 5 or more units are not eligible to access the EnergySmart rebates but may qualify for Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE) rebates, contact a PACE advisor to learn more.

All EnergySmart rebates are set yearly, typically any changes to rebates will occur when the new year’s rebates are released. Rebates are subject to change based on funding or other factors throughout the year.

EnergySmart rebates must be applied for within the same year that the project is completed. If your project is going to be completed at the end of the year, check with your advisor for important year-end rebate paperwork deadlines. Since the EnergySmart rebate funding is limited, we highly encourage applying for the rebate as soon as possible once the project is completed. 

EnergySmart currently uses total income from your most recent tax form to verify eligibility for the income-qualified rebates.

Your income is verified by accessing your most recent tax form on file with the IRS. EnergySmart contractors a third party to complete the income verification process and application.

Complete our pre-approval form. Once your preapproval form is reviewed and approved, an advisor will be in touch to share the income verification application.

Your income approval lasts 1-year from the approval date. After that you will be asked to re-verify your income.

The income-qualified rebate is 70% of the project cost up to $4,000. Other incentives like utility and state incentives are accounted for when determining the 70% rebate calculation since the income-qualified rebate cannot exceed 70% of project cost after other rebates/incentives are applied.

You can complete multiple projects and receive the income-qualified rebate. Keep in mind, the maximum amount you can receive in a year through the income-qualified rebate is $4,000. Once you hit that cap you cannot receive any more rebates through EnergySmart in that calendar year. The $4,000 cap resets yearly.

No, if you are receiving the income-qualified rebate you cannot access the “Standard” EnergySmart rebates available through Boulder County and other eligible City or Town municipalities. The large income-qualified rebate replaces the “Standard” EnergySmart rebates.

Yes, this rebate can be stacked with other rebates like utility, state, federal, or other available rebates/incentives. Keep in mind your total EnergySmart rebate amount, including other rebates, cannot exceed 70% of the project cost.

Yes, but an attestation of landlord or property owner approval is required.

Yes, rebate reservations are available to reserve funds once you are approved for a project. Talk to your advisor if you are interested in reserving a rebate to learn the next steps.

No, rebate reservations are available for the income-qualified rebate but not required. Rebate funds are limited and issued on a first come, first served basis so reservations are encouraged to ensure funding availability for your project.

Reservations are held for up to 120 days from the date the reservation was completed and signed.

Once your project is completed and an invoice is available. Your advisor will work with you to help apply and share the relevant forms to complete.

Eligible projects are based on your home type can be found on our income-qualified rebate page. Your EnergySmart advisor can also help confirm project eligibility based on quotes or other project information.

Manufactured homes, also known as mobile homes, are prefabricated homes that can be transferred to permanent or semi-permanent location. These homes typically do not have a fixed foundation. Manufactured or mobile homes typically are located in a manufactured/mobile home park and will have a lot number associated with the address. If you are unsure of your home type, email info@energysmartyes.com with your address to confirm with an advisor.

The CARE (Colorado Residential Affordable Energy) Program works in collaboration with your utility and Boulder County to provide free energy-efficiency improvements to income-qualified households. Your advisor will notify you of the CARE program if it appears you might income-qualify (household income below 80% AMI) for the program. If you qualify CARE program it’s certainly worth considering since it can offer certain projects at no upfront cost to you, whereas the EnergySmart rebate will not offer full cost coverage.

It depends. Since CARE offers full cost coverage on certain projects, EnergySmart cannot provide rebates on projects completed by CARE. You can access the EnergySmart rebate for projects not completed or covered by CARE.