The federal government will cover up to 30 percent of the cost of a new oil boiler with an AFUE rating of 90 or higher through the federal Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credit. This will normally include 30 percent of the installation costs as well, but that depends on whether or not you will be paying your son to install the boiler.

NYSERDA also offers the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Homeowner Financing Incentive, but this program needs to begin with an energy audit, and you'd have to hire a contractor who is BPI certified and works with the program, so unless your son fits this criteria, he wouldn’t be able to install your new system.