-
Tom Butt for Richmond City Council The Tom Butt E-Forum About Tom Butt Platform Endorsements of Richmond Councilmember Tom Butt Accomplishments Contribute to Tom Butt for Richmond City Council Contact Tom Butt Tom Butt Archives
-
  E-Mail Forum
  RETURN
  New California program Offers Homeowners Rebates for Making Energy-Efficient Improvements
March 4, 2011
 

New California program offers homeowners rebates for making energy-efficient improvements

Energy Upgrade California program wants to reduce energy use, help consumers save money and create jobs
By Dana Hull dhull@mercurynews.com
Posted: 02/28/2011 05:00:15 PM PST
Updated: 03/01/2011 10:41:49 AM PST

A new statewide program launching Tuesday will give homeowners rebates worth up to $4,000 if they make significant energy-efficient improvements to their houses.
The $300 million program, called "Energy Upgrade California," was developed by the California Energy Commission, local governments, utilities, the California Public Utilities Commission and contractors who specialize in home energy audits, upgrades and retrofits. The goal of the program, which has been in the works for over a year, is threefold: reduce household energy use, save consumers money on utility bills and create jobs in the state's "building performance" industry. Funding for the program comes from several sources, including federal stimulus dollars and surcharges that consumers already pay on their utility bills.
Consumers who want to make their homes more energy efficient -- whether by adding insulation to the attic or purchasing a new hot water heater -- are often at a loss as to where to begin, or what project to tackle first. It's hard to keep up with an ever-changing menu of federal tax credits. And rebates often vary based on who your utility company is.
Energy Upgrade California hopes to streamline the process, so there's one-stop shopping for consumers from San Jose to San Diego.
"The whole goal is to reduce consumer confusion," said Panama Bartholomy, deputy director for efficiency and renewable energy for the California Energy Commission. "Instead of figuring out what PG&E offers, what your city offers and what the state and federal government offer, now there's one source that streamlines all of that information."
There are about 13 million homes in California, and many of them -- about 9 million -- were built before the state's energy-efficient building codes were adopted in the 1970s. Older as well as some newer homes typically have single-paned windows, outdated heating and cooling systems or inadequate insulation. Other houses may suffer from mold, poor indoor air quality or uneven heating and cooling. After transportation, buildings account for the biggest chunk of California's greenhouse gas emissions.
"Do we invest in building more power plants, or do we try to reduce the demand?" said Bartholomy. "It's far more cost-effective for us as a state to invest in energy efficiency."
Homeowners are still expected to pay for the upfront cost of any upgrades, which can cost about $10,000, and not every homeowner will want to spend that kind of money. But pilot studies showed that rebates were a driving factor for many homeowners, and the upfront costs will be offset, in part, by the rebates and federal tax credits that are part of this program, as well as lower monthly utility bills.
Homeowners who pursue a "basic" energy efficient upgrade will get a rebate of $1,000. Property owners who choose an advanced package qualify for rebates from $1,250 to $4,000. The rebates depend on the energy savings achieved and the utility provider. Homeowners must work with contractors approved by Energy Upgrade California to qualify for rebates; the website www.EnergyUpgradeCA.org includes a list of all qualified contractors.
Contractors who are participating in the state program are thrilled that there's now a coordinated effort to market the concept of energy efficiency. Many contractors are small, family-owned businesses who have struggled amid the recession.
"Everyone knows what a new kitchen is, but no one knows what a home energy assessment is," said Caroline Hawkins of Allterra Environmental, a seven-person company in Santa Cruz. "We've worked on gorgeous 5,000-square-foot homes where the bedroom is freezing."
Hawkins hopes that Energy Upgrade California will drive more customers to Allterra.
"We're thrilled that someone else is doing the marketing for us," Hawkins said. "The rebates really get people perked up."
Contact Dana Hull at 408-920-2706. Follow her at Twitter.com/danahull.
Energy upgrade California
·  To learn more about available rebates, tax credits and the benefits of a home energy upgrade, or for help finding a qualified local contractor, visit www.EnergyUpgradeCA.org and enter the name of your county.
·  Bay Area residents can also call the Bay Area Energy Upgrade California Hotline at 855-464-8484 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

How much are the rebates?
$1,000
Homeowners who pursue a "basic" energy-efficient upgrade will qualify for this.
$1,250
to $4,000
Property owners who choose an advanced package could qualify for rebates in this range.
·  The rebates depend on the energy savings achieved and the utility provider.

 

 

  RETURN