Energy Commission Helps Launch New Energy Upgrade California Program

Energy Efficiency Program to Reach 100,000 Homes and Create Clean Energy Jobs for Californians

The California Energy Commission joined regional efforts to increase energy efficiency and encourage clean jobs with the statewide launch of Energy Upgrade California, the new energy efficiency program. Part of this comprehensive program is the integrated Web Portal, which provides easy to use tools and resources to property owners to help them improve their energy and water efficiency, save money and increase building comfort.

"Energy Upgrade California is exactly the kind of innovative program that will help Californians do more for less money by encouraging property owners and contractors to take advantage of energy efficiency information, incentives, rebates and financing options," said Robert Weisenmiller, Ph.D., Chair of the Energy Commission. "Consumers can put more money in their pockets by investing in the long-term benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy property improvements."

Energy Upgrade California is an unprecedented collaboration between the California Energy Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, utilities, local governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to promote and finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for homes and businesses, reduce energy use and help train contractors and building professionals. These efforts will support construction-related jobs that lead to increased sales for local building suppliers and retailers.

More than $1.2 billion from a variety of funding sources will be leveraged through Energy Upgrade California including $146 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) State Energy Program and Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants awards administered by the Energy Commission, $13 million from Employment Development Department Workforce Investment and more than $1 billion from investor-owned utilities for residential and commercial building upgrades

Through Energy Upgrade California, local governments and utilities are supporting a suite of consumer and contractor resources including the web portal that features consumer and contractor information on energy efficiency and renewable energy building improvements, residential and commercial financing options and utility incentives, and scholarships and training for contractors.

The Energy Upgrade web portal is a one-stop clearinghouse for information, incentives, scholarship and rebates including alternative financing for residential and commercial building improvements and financial incentives by lenders. All 58 counties have their own page that highlights the services and energy efficiency opportunities available for their residents.

Using the program's Web portal, property owners can enter their zip code or county name to learn about available upgrade programs, rebates, financing options and participating contractors available to them. Initially, the program will be available for single-family homes and multi-family properties of up to four units. Later in 2011, the program will expand to multi-family properties of five or more units. In fall 2011, the program will be expanded to include commercial properties.

Upgrades are available in two rebate packages: the Basic Upgrade Package and the Advanced Upgrade Package. The Basic Package consists of seven required elements designed to improve energy efficiency by approximately 10 percent, and includes a fixed rebate of $1,000. The Advanced Package is customized for the property owner, with rebates based on the energy savings achieved between 15-40 percent, with rebates ranging from $1,250 to more than $4,000 (depending on the utility provider and energy savings achieved).

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Role of Local Governments in Energy Upgrade California

The Local Government Commission is overseeing the Statewide Energy Upgrade program which includes assistance to local governments to help them reach their constituents, inform them of the service, and encourage its use. The program will spur local job creation by increasing demand for upgrades and will help cities and counties meet their climate change goals by reducing energy use.

While Energy Upgrade California serves all 58 counties, 29 counties will soon be receiving special support because they either have energy upgrade programs already in place, have demonstrated leadership in energy efficiency/renewable energy generation and/or have green jobs programs. For the sake of efficiency, the 29 counties have been clustered into six service regions — the North Coast, Bay Area, Capitol, Central Coast, Central Valley and Southern California. Each of these regions now has a program manager and two energy upgrade specialists who will work with major stakeholders in the regions (including local government staff, property owners, contractors and educational institutions). These staff will be in charge of getting regionally-specific information on line, spreading the word about the energy upgrade program, and supporting its use.

A "Local Government Advisory Committee" will be established in each of these regions. These committees will provide guidance to the regional program manager on the design and administration of the Energy Upgrade program and help to identify region specific information to post on the local webpages.

In addition, the Counties of Sonoma and Placer, the Community Redevelopment
Agency of Los Angeles, and the City and County of San Francisco were chosen as PACE pilot communities. They will receive help from the CA Energy Commission to identify alternative methods of financing in response to challenges brought on by FHWA. They will provide technical assistance to other regions and create models for commercial and residential PACE programs that can be replicated.

Through the web portal all California counties will have access to templates they can use in spreading the word about the program to their residents. The regional program managers will help the communities they serve customize outreach toolkits to a city or county’s urban, suburban, or rural situation.

To find out if you are in one of the 29 counties receiving special assistance, to learn the name of the program manager for your region, if you would like to serve on a Local Advisory Committee, or need more information, contact Aatisha Singh (asingh@lgc.org) at the LGC.