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Your First Step to Lower Energy Bills
The HESP assessment is your roadmap to insulation rebates, heat pump incentives, and a more comfortable Maine home. A 3-5 hour evaluation that identifies exactly where your home is losing energy and money.
Updated February 2026
The Home Energy Savings Program (HESP) assessment is Efficiency Maine Trust's comprehensive home energy evaluation. During a 3-5 hour visit, an EMT-registered contractor performs diagnostic testing to identify where your home is losing energy and what upgrades will deliver the best return on investment.
Unlike Mass Save and Energize CT (which have fixed $0-$50 copays), the HESP assessment cost varies by contractor -- typically $200-$400 depending on home size and contractor pricing. You choose your own contractor from EMT's registered directory, so it pays to get quotes from multiple providers.
The assessment is your gateway to Efficiency Maine's most valuable rebates: 80% off insulation (up to $4,000 or $8,000 income-eligible), heat pump rebates ($1,000-$3,000/unit), and HPWH rebates ($850). For a home heating with oil at $3.82/gallon, the assessment often pays for itself many times over through the upgrades it enables.
Eight comprehensive evaluation areas covering your home's building envelope, heating systems, and energy use patterns.
Thermal camera imaging identifies missing or thin insulation. Measure R-values in all accessible areas. Maine homes often have severe under-insulation, especially in Zone 6 (northern ME).
Depressurize the home to measure total air leakage in CFM50. Identify specific leak locations with smoke pencils and thermal cameras. Maine homes average 30-50% more air leakage than code-compliant new construction.
Combustion safety test for oil/gas systems. Check efficiency ratings, age, and condition. Evaluate heat pump candidacy. Over 60% of Maine homes heat with oil — most systems are 15-30+ years old.
Check temperature setting (120F recommended), pipe insulation, age, and efficiency. Evaluate HPWH candidacy — $850 EMT rebate available.
Check for drafts, broken seals, missing weather stripping. Note window condition. Many older Maine homes still have single-pane windows.
Check for moisture problems, condensation, and mold risk. Maine basements are notoriously damp — moisture management is critical before insulation.
Replace remaining incandescent/CFL bulbs with LEDs if available. Less extensive than MA/CT free-install programs.
Visual inspection for disconnected, leaky, or uninsulated ducts. Check baseboard heating distribution for hydronic systems.
EMT HESP provides fewer free installations than Mass Save or Energize CT. The primary value is the assessment itself and qualification for insulation rebates.
Limited LED replacements during assessment — less extensive than MA/CT programs
WaterSense certified, 2.0 GPM or less
Kitchen and bathroom faucets — reduces water flow
EMT vs Mass Save / Energize CT Free Installations
EMT HESP provides about $30-$70 in free items, compared to $195-$500 from Mass Save and Energize CT (which include smart thermostats, advanced power strips, and more extensive LED replacements). The primary value of the HESP assessment in Maine is the evaluation itself and the rebates it unlocks -- not the free items.
Six steps from assessment to completed upgrades. Most homeowners complete the process in 4-12 weeks.
Detailed report within 1-2 weeks identifying insulation needs, air leakage numbers, and equipment upgrade recommendations ranked by ROI.
Report specifies which EMT rebates apply to your home — insulation (80% off), heat pumps ($1,000-$3,000/unit), HPWH ($850).
Must use EMT-registered contractors for insulation work to receive rebates. EMT website has a searchable contractor directory.
Check PACE availability in your municipality, or MaineHousing energy loans if income-qualified. No statewide 0% loan like MA or CT.
Insulation work typically starts within 2-6 weeks. Heat pump installations may take 4-8 weeks depending on equipment availability.
Insulation rebate is typically processed as a discount at installation or mail-in rebate within 6-8 weeks. Heat pump rebates processed within 4-8 weeks after documentation.
The Section 25C energy efficiency tax credit, which previously provided up to $150 for home energy audits, expired December 31, 2025 and provides $0 in 2026. The HESP assessment copay ($200-$400) is your responsibility. Income-eligible households may receive a reduced or free assessment through MaineHousing referral.
The HESP assessment costs $200-$400 as a copay, depending on the contractor and home size. This is not a fixed statewide fee like the $50 Mass Save or Energize CT assessments. You choose your own EMT-registered contractor, so it pays to get quotes from 2-3 contractors. Income-eligible households may receive a reduced or free assessment through MaineHousing referral.
The HESP assessment is recommended but not always strictly required before insulation rebates -- check with your EMT-registered contractor. However, the assessment identifies exactly what insulation measures your home needs and documents your home's current condition, which helps contractors scope the work properly and ensures you maximize your rebate.
A 3-5 hour comprehensive evaluation including: blower door test (measures air leakage in CFM50), thermal camera imaging (identifies missing insulation), combustion safety testing (for oil/gas systems), inspection of insulation levels in attic/walls/basement, hot water system evaluation, window and door condition check, moisture assessment, and ductwork inspection. You receive a detailed report within 1-2 weeks.
EMT HESP provides limited free installations -- typically some LED lightbulbs, low-flow showerheads, and faucet aerators ($30-$70 total value). This is significantly less than Mass Save ($195-$500 in free items including smart thermostat) or Energize CT ($195-$500 including smart thermostat and advanced power strips). The primary value of the HESP assessment is the evaluation itself and qualification for rebates.
Typically 1-2 weeks after the on-site visit. The report includes detailed findings for each area inspected, prioritized recommendations ranked by ROI, estimated costs for each improvement, and the specific EMT rebates available for your home. This report is your roadmap for insulation, heat pump, and HPWH upgrades.
Yes. Unlike Mass Save (which assigns contractors), Efficiency Maine lets you choose your own EMT-registered contractor from their searchable directory at efficiencymaine.com. Since assessment costs vary ($200-$400), it is worth getting quotes from 2-3 contractors in your area.
No. The Section 25C energy efficiency tax credit, which previously covered home energy audits, expired December 31, 2025 and provides $0 in 2026. The HESP assessment cost is your responsibility, though income-eligible households may receive a reduced or free assessment through MaineHousing.
NuWatt Energy provides this guide as an educational resource to help Maine homeowners understand the HESP assessment process. Program details are sourced from efficiencymaine.com and MaineHousing. Verify current availability by calling EMT at 866-376-2463.
80% off attic, wall, and basement insulation. Up to $4,000 or $8,000.
$1,000-$3,000/unit. Max 3 units per household.
Highest HPWH rebate in New England. Replace oil-fired water heater.
PACE, on-bill, and MaineHousing loans for energy improvements.
60%+ of ME homes heat with oil. Full conversion economics.
Complete overview of all Efficiency Maine programs.
Find an EMT-registered contractor and schedule your assessment. Your roadmap to 80% off insulation, heat pump rebates, and lower energy bills starts here.
Find contractors at efficiencymaine.com/vendor-locator