Incentive programs for building upgrades

BySLO Climate Coalition

Below is a list of current financial resources we know about. Policies and incentives are the tools frequently used to affect change. If you can help us keep this updated, we would REALLY appreciate it!

Home owners are eligible for these programs

This program provides low cost retrofits and education. (Single and multi-family homes) (Owner occupied and rentals)

  • https://www.ventura.org/environment/tricountyren/
  • Managed by Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN) and your local building department. Funded by the CPUC.
  • This program provides (1) residential energy efficiency (2) codes & standards support for cities (3) workforce training. This program is just getting started, if you subscribe to this website, you will receive notice when more information is available. (See form at the bottom of this post to sign up.)

Smart thermostats that are remotely controlled by the utility company. (All home types) (Owner occupied and rentals)

  • https://www3.socalgas.com/save-money-and-energy/rebates-and-incentives/smart-therm
  • Managed and funded by Southern California Gas Company
  • This is a voluntary natural gas conservation where smart thermostats. You will earn $50 for enrolling in the program and earn $25 for every winter season you remain enrolled. If a Smart Therm Event is activated, you can expect your thermostat to be adjusted up to four degrees for four hours. Enrollment for this program is currently closed. Please check back on December 1, 2019.

Energy upgrades for your home. (Owner occupied and rentals)

  • https://homeupgrade.org/pge-home-upgrade-rebates/
  • Managed and funded by PG&E.
  • The program categories for upgrades are insulation, HVAC, water heating, pool pump, smart thermostat, and lighting. To participate you must do a minimum of 4 measures, 2 of which are shell and 1 HVAC for a maximum rebate of $3,500.

Tax credits for electric and thermal solar (Everyone is eligible who has a federal tax liability. There is no upper limit.)

  • https://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/consumers/taxcredits.php
  • Funded thru the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.
  • The 30% rate is available for systems placed in service through December 31, 2019. The credit drops to 26% through the end of 2020, then 22% through 2021 before dropping to zero by the end of 2021.
  • Consult the above website and your tax advisor for details.

Energy upgrades and home safety services (low income) (Owner occupied and rentals)

  • https://www.capslo.org/departments/Energy-Services.html
  • Managed by CAPSLO. Funded by The Southern California Gas Company, PG&E, and federal programs such as LIHEAP and ECIP.
  • Programs include (1) Weatherization programs at no cost to income-eligible homeowners and renters. (2) Utility payment assistance for gas, electric or propane is also available to qualifying households through the HEAP program. (3) If over age 60 and income qualified, Minor Home Repair for accessibility improvements and smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. Funded by the Area Agency on Aging and Community Development Block Grants.

Renters are eligible for these programs

This program provided low cost retrofits and education. (Single and multi-family homes) (Owner occupied and rentals)

  • https://www.ventura.org/environment/tricountyren/
  • Managed by Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN) and your local building department. Funded by the CPUC.
  • This program provides (1) residential energy efficiency (2) codes & standards support for cities (3) workforce training. This program is just getting set up, so be sure to subscribe to this website to receive notice when more information is available.

Smart thermostats that are remotely controlled by the utility company.

  • https://www3.socalgas.com/save-money-and-energy/rebates-and-incentives/smart-therm
  • This is a voluntary natural gas conservation where smart thermostats. You will earn $50 for enrolling in the program and earn $25 for every winter season you remain enrolled. If a Smart Therm Event is activated, you can expect your thermostat to be adjusted up to four degrees for four hours. Enrollment for this program is currently closed. Please check back on December 1, 2019.

Energy upgrades for your home. (Single and multi-family homes) (Owner occupied and rentals)

  • https://homeupgrade.org/pge-home-upgrade-rebates/
  • Managed and funded by PG&E.
  • The program categories for upgrades are insulation, HVAC, water heating, pool pump, smart thermostat, and lighting. To participate you must do a minimum of 4 measures, 2 of which are shell and 1 HVAC for a maximum rebate of $3,500.

Energy upgrades and home safety services (low income) (Owner occupied and rentals)

  • https://www.capslo.org/departments/Energy-Services.html
  • Managed by CAPSLO. Funded by The Southern California Gas Company, PG&E, and federal programs such as LIHEAP and ECIP.
  • Programs include (1) Weatherization programs at no cost to income-eligible homeowners and renters. (2) Utility payment assistance for gas, electric or propane is also available to qualifying households through the HEAP program. (3) If over age 60 and income qualified, Minor Home Repair for accessibility improvements and smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. Funded by the Area Agency on Aging and Community Development Block Grants.

Multi-family properties (5+) are eligible for these programs

In addition to potential eligibility of the programs above, these ones are specifically targets at multi-family properties of 5 or more units.

Efficiency and renewables upgrades (low income, multi-family only 5+ units)

  • https://camultifamilyenergyefficiency.org/
  • Managed by AEA which is a service provider working directly with the California Department of Community Services Development (CSD) Funded by California Climate Investments, a statewide program that re-invests Cap and Trade dollars.
  • This program covers (1) heating and cooling systems (2) water heating systems (3) lighting and appliances (4) building sealing & insulation (5) solar PV and solar thermal. Funding up approximately 30%–100% of energy efficiency upgrades and 50–100% of solar installations needed for a building.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Contain at least 5 units
  • Be located in a disadvantaged community (DAC)
  • Meet affordability requirement of at least 66% of households at or below 80% of Area Median Income
  • Install cost-effective energy improvements that create at least 15% savings above existing conditions

Solar PV systems and energy efficiency retrofits (low income, multi-family only 5+ units and renters)

  • https://www.calsomah.org
  • Managed by the California Public Utilities Commission. Funded by the State of California.
  • Solar PV system assistance is targeted toward property owners and energy efficiency retrofits is targeted toward property owners and renters.

To be eligible a property must:

  • Have at least five units
  • Be deed-restricted low-income residential housing
  • Satisfy one of the following
  • 80% of property residents have incomes at or below 60% of the area median income (AMI)
  • Property is located in a defined disadvantaged community (DAC) that scores in the top 25% of census tracts statewide in the CalEnviroScreen
  • Be an existing building or retrofit (with Certificate of Occupancy)
  • Have separately metered units

PG&E multifamily upgrade program (all income levels, multi-family only 5+ units) (renters and owners)

To be eligible a property must:

  • Improve building energy efficiency by a minimum of 10 percent as compared to existing conditions
  • Install a minimum of two upgrade measures, in two of the four unique measure categories (envelope, heating/cooling, water heating, and appliances/lighting)
  • Engage the services of a participating program rater and contractor to conduct building audit, analysis, and verification

There could be a program we missed.

Check this database if you are interested in seeking additional programs. Please let us know if you find one we haven’t listed yet.
https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program?zipcode=93401

You Can Be Part of the #SLOLUTION
Learn how to save money, energy and reduce your carbon footprint with the rest of actionable suggestions in our building series at https://carbonfreeslo.org/slolution

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