Illinois home energy programs

Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP)

IHWAP is the oldest and most substantive energy program for Illinois households that qualify by income — and the one most often confused with a rebate. It is not: you do not buy equipment and get paid back. An auditor assesses the house, and the agency decides which measures the home gets.

Active — income-qualified

Funding and waitlists vary by agency and change through the year. Confirm current availability with your local agency before assuming a timeline.

Administered by Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, delivered by local community action agencies. Last reviewed November 6, 2026.

Independent guidance — Illinois RDN is not a government agency and does not administer these programs.

At a glance

Type: Weatherization work performed for you, not a cash rebate
Who applies: Owner-occupants and renters, subject to income limits and landlord consent
Where to apply: Your county's local community action agency
Cost to you: No charge to an eligible household; measures are set by the program

Who it is for

Household income must fall within the program's current income limit, which your local agency recalculates from household size — ask for the figure rather than relying on last year's number.
Both owners and renters can qualify, but a rental property generally needs the landlord's written consent before work is authorized.
Priority categories, such as households with young children, older adults, or high energy burdens, can affect how quickly an application moves.
The home must be the household's primary residence; seasonal and second homes do not qualify.

What it covers

Air sealing and insulation in attics, walls and rim joists, based on what the audit finds.
Heating system repair or replacement where the program determines it is needed, along with water-heating measures.
Ventilation and moisture work when tighter construction requires it.
Health and safety measures that must be resolved before other work can proceed — the reason some homes receive less weatherization than expected.

How to apply

01
Find your agency
Weatherization is delivered county by county. DCEO publishes the list of local community action agencies; your agency, not the state, takes the application.
02
Ask two questions first
Ask for the current income limit for your household size, and whether the agency is accepting applications or maintaining a waitlist. Both answers change during the year.
03
Apply with documentation
Submit the application with proof of income and residency. Incomplete income documentation is the most common reason an application stalls.
04
Energy audit
A qualified auditor visits, tests the house and produces the work scope. You do not choose the measures; the audit does.
05
Work and inspection
The agency schedules contractors and inspects the completed work. Ask who to call if something needs correcting afterward.

What to have ready

Proof of income for everyone in the household, for the period the agency specifies.
Proof of residence and identification for the applicant.
Your most recent utility bills, which help the agency document the energy burden.
For renters, written landlord consent and the lease.

Where homeowners get stuck

Treating it as a rebate. There is no purchase to make first; if a contractor offers to 'get you the weatherization grant' for work you buy, that is not IHWAP.
Assuming the work is comprehensive. Health and safety corrections and budget limits mean the scope is often narrower than a homeowner expects.
Starting work before the audit. Measures installed ahead of the assessment are not reimbursed.
Ignoring the waitlist. Applying in a high-demand period can mean months before an audit.

How it combines with other programs

Weatherization work and utility rebates are separate tracks, and the same measure generally cannot be paid for twice. Tell the agency what a utility has already rebated, and tell the utility what the weatherization program has already installed.

Official links

Questions homeowners ask

Is IHWAP free?

For an eligible household the program covers the work it authorizes, with no charge to you. What it does not do is cover work you arranged yourself, or guarantee a particular set of improvements.

Can renters apply?

Yes, with the property owner's written consent. The agency will explain what documentation it needs from the landlord before scheduling an audit.

How long does it take?

It depends on the agency's backlog and on the house. Ask your agency for its current waitlist length rather than relying on a general estimate — the range is wide and changes seasonally.

Does it cover a new furnace?

Sometimes. Heating-system work is one of the measures the audit can authorize, but it is not automatic and competes with other measures inside the program's per-home budget.

What if I was denied?

Ask which criterion failed — income calculation, residency, rental status, or an unresolved health and safety condition — and whether the agency can reconsider with different documentation.

Illinois insulation planner Housing age by county All Illinois energy programs

Other Illinois energy programs

Sources

Illinois data behind this guide

Housing age by countyHow much of the local stock predates 1940 and 1960
Property tax by countyMedian bills, effective rates and share of income
Illinois Permit FinderThe building and zoning authority for a specific address
Illinois home energy programsRebates, weatherization and solar incentives, with current status