Key takeaways
- Mass Save® is funded by a charge on Massachusetts utility bills, so most customers of the sponsoring utilities are already paying for it.
- It starts with a no-cost Home Energy Assessment, then rebates for insulation, air sealing, heat pumps and more.
- Insulation incentives are generous: a large share of the approved cost is covered, and income-eligible households can get upgrades at no cost.
- A Mass Save® partner contractor like BCI Group handles the paperwork, the work and the final inspection for you.
What is Mass Save®?
Mass Save® is the statewide energy-efficiency program run by the Massachusetts gas and electric utilities and energy providers: Berkshire Gas, Cape Light Compact, Eversource, Liberty, National Grid and Unitil. It is funded through a small energy-efficiency charge that appears on most Massachusetts utility bills. In other words, if you are a customer of one of those companies, you are already paying into the program, and the incentives exist so you can get that money back as lower bills and a more comfortable home.
The program covers far more than insulation. It offers rebates for heat pumps, water heaters, smart thermostats and appliances, plus 0% financing through the HEAT Loan. But for most older Massachusetts homes, the biggest and fastest win is the same: seal the air leaks and add insulation. That is where Mass Save® is most generous, and it is the work BCI Group does every week as a Mass Save® partner.
How the process works, step by step
- Schedule a no-cost Home Energy Assessment. An energy specialist visits your home (or does a virtual assessment) and looks at the attic, walls, basement, heating system and ventilation.
- Get a list of recommended improvements. You receive a report with the upgrades your home qualifies for and the incentive attached to each one.
- Choose a participating contractor. Approved insulation and air sealing is installed by a contractor working within the program, at the rebated price.
- Installation and air sealing. The crew seals the leaks first, then insulates. Most attic and wall jobs take one to three days.
- Final check. Combustion safety and ventilation are confirmed, and the paperwork is closed out. With a partner contractor you do not chase the rebate yourself: it is applied to the price.
Have your last 12 months of heating bills handy before the assessment. They help the energy specialist understand how your home really performs.
What Mass Save® typically covers
Incentives change from one program year to the next, so always confirm the current numbers at the time of your assessment. In recent years the main residential offers have included:
| Upgrade | Typical incentive | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Home Energy Assessment | No cost | In-home or virtual |
| Targeted air sealing | No cost | Done before or with insulation |
| Approved insulation | 75% or more of the cost | Up to 100% for income-eligible households |
| Heat pumps | Rebates per system or per home | Requirements depend on the home and heating fuel |
| HEAT Loan | 0% interest financing | For qualifying energy upgrades |
Moderate-income households can qualify for enhanced rebates, and income-eligible households can receive many upgrades at no cost through their utility or local community action agency. We explain how that works in our guide to income-eligible Mass Save® programs.
Who qualifies
Most Massachusetts residents who heat their home with gas from a sponsoring utility, or who buy electricity from one, can take part. Owners of single-family homes and of buildings with up to four units use the residential program; renters can take part with the landlord's permission. There is one important exception: towns served by a municipal light plant for electricity (such as Shrewsbury, Holden or Hudson) are not Mass Save® electric customers, although gas customers in those towns may still qualify on the gas side. Our guide to Mass Save® eligibility by utility explains the details.
Why air sealing and insulation come first
A typical older Massachusetts home loses a large share of its heat through the attic and basement. Warm air rises and escapes through gaps around chimneys, plumbing stacks, light fixtures and the attic hatch, while cold air is pulled in at the bottom of the house. That is the "stack effect", and it is why upstairs rooms can be cold and drafty while the boiler or furnace runs constantly.
Sealing those leaks and then insulating the attic floor to current recommendations (around R-49 to R-60 for Massachusetts, according to ENERGY STAR) stops the problem at the source. It also makes any future heat pump smaller, cheaper and more effective. That is why Mass Save® funds air sealing at no cost and why a good contractor always seals before insulating. Learn more in why air sealing comes before insulation.
Common reasons a project gets delayed
Some homes have conditions that must be fixed before insulation can be installed safely. The most common in Massachusetts are:
- Knob-and-tube wiring that is still live in the walls or attic.
- Vermiculite insulation, which may contain asbestos and must be tested or handled by a specialist.
- Combustion safety issues, such as a heating appliance that does not vent properly.
- Mold or roof leaks in the attic.
Mass Save® calls these "pre-weatherization barriers", and some programs offer help to remediate them. We cover each one in our guide to pre-weatherization barriers.
How to get the most out of Mass Save®
- Do the whole attic, not just part of it. Partial jobs leave the biggest leaks untouched.
- Ask about the walls. Many pre-1960 Massachusetts homes have empty exterior walls that can be dense-packed with blown-in cellulose through small holes.
- Plan heat pumps after insulation. A tighter house needs a smaller system.
- Use the HEAT Loan for the rest. It can spread your share of the cost over time at 0% interest. See our HEAT Loan guide.
Mass Save® myths we hear every week
"It is only for low-income families"
No. Every eligible customer of the sponsoring utilities can get a no-cost assessment and standard incentives. Income only changes how much extra help is available.
"The free assessment is a sales pitch"
The assessment is a program service. You are under no obligation to do the recommended work, and you can choose a participating contractor for the installation.
"Rebates take months to arrive"
With a partner contractor, insulation incentives are applied to your price, so there is no check to wait for.
"My house is too old"
Older homes are exactly where the program does the most good. Barriers like knob-and-tube wiring may need attention first, but they are a delay, not a disqualification.
A sample project, step by step
Here is how a typical project looks for a 1950s cape in Worcester County, described in general terms:
- Week 1: the homeowner schedules a Home Energy Assessment. The specialist finds 4 inches of old insulation in the attic, uninsulated knee walls and leaky rim joists.
- Week 2: the homeowner receives the report with no-cost air sealing and rebated insulation for the attic, knee walls, slopes and basement rim.
- Weeks 3 to 5: the contractor confirms the scope and schedules installation. No knob-and-tube or vermiculite is found, so there are no barriers.
- Installation (2 days): the crew air seals the attic floor and knee wall areas, blocks the floor joists behind the knee walls, dense-packs the slopes, blows cellulose in the top attic and sprays foam on the rim joists.
- After: safety checks are completed, paperwork is closed out and the homeowner pays only their share.
Every home is different, but that rhythm, assessment, proposal, scheduling and a short installation, is typical.
How Mass Save® fits with other upgrades
| If you are planning... | Do this first |
|---|---|
| A heat pump | Air seal and insulate, then size the heat pump |
| New windows | Air seal and insulate; windows often matter less than expected |
| A roof replacement | Air seal and insulate the attic floor; consider roof insulation during re-roofing |
| Finishing the basement | Seal rim joists and insulate foundation walls with moisture-safe materials |
| Solar panels | Reduce energy use first so the system can be smaller |
Questions to ask your contractor
- Are you a participating Mass Save® contractor?
- Will your own crew do the air sealing and insulation?
- How will you protect my home and clean up?
- Will you test or document the results?
- What happens if a barrier is found during the job?
Working with BCI Group
BCI Group, through BCI Pro Energy, is a Mass Save® partner based in Westborough, MA. Our own crews handle the air sealing and insulation, and our team handles the paperwork so the rebate is applied to your price. We also work with churches and nonprofits across the Commonwealth, which have their own paths to the same incentives.
If you have never had an assessment, or had one years ago and never acted on it, now is a good time to start. Call (774) 278-8256 or request a free estimate below.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mass Save® Home Energy Assessment really free?
Yes. The Home Energy Assessment is offered at no cost to eligible residential customers of the sponsoring utilities, either in person or virtually.
How much of my insulation does Mass Save® pay for?
In recent program years Mass Save® has covered 75% or more of the cost of approved insulation, and up to 100% for income-eligible households. The exact incentive is confirmed in your assessment report.
Can renters use Mass Save®?
Yes. Renters can take part with the property owner’s permission, and landlords of buildings with up to four units can use the residential program.
Do I have to use a specific contractor?
Insulation incentives are paid through participating contractors. A partner contractor such as BCI Group applies the rebate directly to your price and handles the paperwork.
How long does the whole process take?
It varies with the season and the work needed, but most homes go from assessment to finished attic in a few weeks. The installation itself usually takes one to three days.
Is Mass Save® available outside Massachusetts?
No. Mass Save® is only for Massachusetts customers. New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Maine have their own programs: NHSaves, Rhode Island Energy, Energize CT and Efficiency Maine.
Services mentioned in this article
Mass Save® Upgrades near you in Massachusetts
BCI Group crews work in these communities every week. See local details for Mass Save® in your town:
