Free Home Weatherization in San Antonio (2026)

If your CPS Energy bill jumps every summer and your air conditioner seems to run all day, the problem may not be the AC at all. Many San Antonio homes leak cooled air through thin attic insulation, gaps around doors, and unsealed ducts. Weatherization fixes those leaks — and two programs can do the work at no cost if your household qualifies: the federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and CPS Energy’s Casa Verde program.

This guide explains what each program covers, who qualifies in 2026, and exactly how to apply. Help applying and guidance are free. The upgrades themselves are free for households that qualify — but no program promises that your whole bill will disappear. What weatherization does is lower how much energy your home wastes, month after month.

What weatherization actually does

Weatherization is not a one-time bill payment. It is hands-on work inside your home, chosen after an energy audit finds where your home loses the most energy. According to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), which runs WAP in Texas, the work can include:

• An energy audit — a review of your home’s efficiency that finds air leaks and inefficient equipment
• Caulking and weather-stripping around doors and windows
• Adding ceiling, wall, and floor insulation
• Patching holes in the building envelope (the walls, roof, and floors that separate inside from outside)
• Duct work — sealing and repairing the ducts that carry cooled and heated air
• Tune-up, repair, or replacement of energy-inefficient heating and cooling systems

TDHCA notes the measures installed have to meet specific energy-savings goals — the audit decides what makes sense for your home, so two houses on the same street can get different work. The U.S. Department of Energy figures cited by TDHCA say some people who weatherized their homes saved an average of about $300 a year in utility costs.

Program 1: Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) through TDHCA

WAP is the big federal program. TDHCA operates it in Texas with funds from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). It is designed to help low-income customers control energy costs through weatherization materials and education, and to reduce the energy cost burden on low-income households.

You do not apply to TDHCA directly. WAP is delivered through local subrecipient agencies that together cover all 254 Texas counties. For Bexar County, the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) is the regional agency listed for the San Antonio area. The fastest ways to reach the provider for your address are in the Helpful Links section below — including a toll-free landline number that connects you straight to the WAP provider in your county.

Who qualifies for WAP?

Under U.S. Department of Energy guidelines, households at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines are considered eligible, and households that receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) also qualify. Providers give priority to people over 60, families with a member who has a disability, families with children, and households with high energy use or a high energy burden — meaning energy takes a big share of what the household earns.

Both homeowners and renters can be served, but renters need their landlord’s permission, because the work changes the home. When you call, have ready:

• Proof of income for the household (pay stubs, a Social Security or SSI award letter, or similar)
• A recent CPS Energy bill
• Photo ID and proof of your San Antonio address
• If you rent, your landlord’s contact information

Program 2: CPS Energy Casa Verde

Casa Verde is San Antonio’s own weatherization program, run by CPS Energy. It helps income-qualifying homeowners and renters reduce energy loss and costs with free energy-efficiency improvements. CPS Energy says Casa Verde has weatherized tens of thousands of San Antonio homes since it began, and participants save an average of about $30–$40 on monthly energy bills.

Today Casa Verde works as a rebate program: you apply, CPS Energy verifies your eligibility, you choose a registered Trade Ally contractor, that contractor does a full home assessment, and CPS Energy rebates the cost of the eligible upgrades. You can choose to receive the rebate yourself after paying the contractor, or assign it to the Trade Ally up front to reduce or eliminate your out-of-pocket cost for approved work — ask which option fits you before work starts.

What Casa Verde covers

• Attic, wall, and floor insulation
• Air sealing (air infiltration reduction)
• Duct sealing and duct repair
• Solar screens
• Central air conditioner tune-ups
• LED bulbs
• WiFi-enabled smart thermostats
• Low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators
• Window A/C replacement

Casa Verde income guidelines for 2026

You can qualify in any one of three ways: your household income is under the guideline for your family size, your energy burden is 10% or more of your annual income, or you already receive income-based assistance from a local, state, or federal program. The 2026 gross monthly income guidelines are:

• 1 person: less than $2,660 a month
• 2 people: less than $3,607 a month
• 3 people: less than $4,554 a month
• 4 people: less than $5,550 a month
• 5 people: less than $6,447 a month
• 6 people: less than $7,394 a month
• 7 people: less than $8,340 a month
• 8 people: less than $9,287 a month

For households larger than 8, add $947 for each additional person. If your income is a little over the line, still apply — the energy-burden and assistance routes may still qualify you.

WAP or Casa Verde — which should you try first?

Try both. They are separate programs with separate funding, and applying to one does not block the other. A simple order that works for most San Antonio households:

1. If you are a CPS Energy customer (almost everyone in San Antonio is), start with Casa Verde — the application is online and the income table above is current for 2026.
2. If your home needs deeper work — for example a failing heating or cooling system — also call about WAP, which can include tune-up, repair, or replacement of inefficient systems when the audit supports it.
3. If your bill is due right now, weatherization will not stop a shutoff this week. Ask about bill-payment help at the same time — see our guides to free utility bill help in San Antonio, help paying your CPS Energy bill, and CEAP heating bill assistance.

One honest warning: weatherization programs are popular and funding is limited, so there can be a wait after you apply. Applying early — before the worst summer heat — gives you the best place in line.

How to apply, step by step

1. Pick your first program. Casa Verde if you want the online CPS Energy route; WAP if you want the federal program through the local provider.
2. Gather your papers. Income proof for the household, a recent energy bill, photo ID, and proof of address. Renters: get your landlord’s permission.
3. Apply. For Casa Verde, complete the online application on the CPS Energy Casa Verde page and select a registered Trade Ally. For WAP, use Help for Texans (select “Weatherization”) or call the numbers below to reach the provider for Bexar County.
4. Home assessment. An auditor or Trade Ally inspects your home and lists the upgrades that will save the most energy.
5. Work and inspection. The crew installs the approved measures, and the work is checked when it is done.

Frequently asked questions

Is weatherization really free?

For households that qualify, yes — WAP covers the cost of the approved work, and Casa Verde rebates the cost of eligible upgrades. You should never be asked to pay the program itself. With Casa Verde’s rebate model, ask your Trade Ally up front whether you are assigning the rebate to them or paying first and receiving the rebate after, so there are no surprises.

Can renters get weatherization in San Antonio?

Yes. Both WAP and Casa Verde serve renters as well as homeowners. Because insulation and sealing change the property, your landlord has to agree to the work. Bring your landlord’s contact information when you apply.

How much will my bill go down?

It depends on your home. TDHCA cites U.S. Department of Energy figures of about $300 a year in average utility savings for weatherized homes, and CPS Energy says Casa Verde participants save an average of about $30–$40 a month. A drafty home with thin insulation usually sees the biggest change. No honest program can promise an exact amount for your house before the audit.

What if my home needs repairs before it can be weatherized?

Sometimes a home is deferred until a problem like an active roof leak is fixed, because insulation would be wasted. If that happens, ask the provider what repair help exists and stay on their list if they offer one. Dialing 2-1-1 can also connect you with local home-repair help in Bexar County.

Helpful links & phone numbers

• TDHCA Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) — the state page explaining the federal weatherization program in Texas.
• TDHCA Home Weatherization Tips — do-it-yourself steps plus how to find your local WAP provider through Help for Texans.
• CPS Energy Casa Verde — apply online, see the 2026 income guidelines, and choose a registered Trade Ally.
• Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) — the regional council for the San Antonio area, listed for weatherization in this region.
• 2-1-1 Texas — free, confidential help finding local assistance, 24 hours a day.

• CPS Energy Casa Verde: 210-353-2272 (210-353-CASA) — questions about Casa Verde eligibility and applications.
• WAP provider locator (landline): 888-606-8889 — call from a landline, Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m., to be connected directly with the WAP provider in your county.
• Texas Information and Referral Network: 877-541-7905 — or simply dial 2-1-1 — for weatherization and other local utility help.
• AACOG main line: 210-362-5200 — Alamo Area Council of Governments, 2700 NE Loop 410, Suite 101, San Antonio, TX 78217.
• CPS Energy customer service: 210-353-2222 — billing questions and payment arrangements.

Program details can change. Income guidelines above are the 2026 figures published by CPS Energy and TDHCA guidance as of October 2026 — confirm your eligibility with the program when you apply.