San Rafael, CA – One of the top priorities of the County of Marin government is to address climate change and encourage residents to live as sustainably as possible. An Energy Upgrade California Home Upgrade can help the County and help local residents simultaneously by providing a rebate of up to $5,500 to those making energy efficiency improvements to a home.
In 2017, 66 Marin homes underwent a home upgrade project, such as new attic insulation, through Energy Upgrade California.Case in point: Janice Walsh and her husband Lee Loretz of San Rafael live in a home built in 1963 and decided the time was right to take advantage of rebate incentives and make their home more energy efficient. They wanted to get rid of their ancient furnace and leaky duct system, so they worked with Energy Upgrade California through a trusted contractor. Loretz got free one-on-one assistance from a Home Upgrade Advisor by calling 866-878-6008 and explored the project options. In the end, the couple made $12,750 worth of upgrades and received $2,050 in rebates through Energy Upgrade California.
“The house heats up incredibly fast, the system circulates well, and the air quality has improved,” Loretz said after his project was completed.
In 2017, 66 Marin homes underwent a home upgrade project through Energy Upgrade California, and 25 more completed a more thorough advanced home upgrade project that requires an initial whole home energy assessment to establish baseline efficiency rates for the home. The households that completed projects averaged $240 in annual energy bill savings based on kilowatt hours and therms saved. Savings vary based on energy usage, energy service provider, and rate plans.
Projects eligible for rebates include: upgrading a furnace, sealing/replacing ducts, improving insulation, sealing the building envelope, and installing new windows. The rebate calculation is based on how much energy your project saves. The more efficient you make your home, the bigger the rebate.
The Energy Upgrade California Home Upgrade rebate program is available statewide, but it is administered in the Bay Area by the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN). BayREN is comprised of public agencies representing the nine counties in the Bay Area, including Marin. The Marin County Community Development Agency’s Sustainability Team is promoting the Home Upgrade program so residents can take advantage of rebates, lower greenhouse gas emissions and utility bills, improve the building stock, and foster local job growth.
Energy upgrades not only help residents save energy and money but also enhance indoor air quality, making homes healthier and more livable, and keep families more comfortable all year long. The rebates and personalized assistance from the Home Upgrade Advisor make it easy to enjoy the benefits of energy efficiency upgrades and get cash back.
You can get started by calling a Home Upgrade Advisor at 866-878-6008, or you can start browsing the list of certified program contractors at www.bayareaenergyupgrade.org.
Since 2001, the County’s Sustainability Team has supported healthy, safe and sustainable communities while preserving Marin’s unique environmental heritage. The team develops programs to promote renewable energy, tackle climate protection, encourage green building, certify green businesses and implement energy efficiency in schools, cities and special districts.
The County has been ambitious with its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, shooting much higher than most counties. As detailed in its Climate Action Plan, the County wants to reduce emissions to 30 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. Since we’ve already cut emissions by 20 percent since 1990, the momentum is building.