Government Funding Programs

Following are notable government funding programs:

Bay Area Regional Energy Network: Single-Family Home Upgrades

The Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) offers programs for residents of single-family homes looking to make energy-efficient home improvements. The BayREN EASE Home Program offers income-eligible residents of single-family homes customized and low-cost energy upgrades to improve comfort and health at home. Core measures focus on weatherization, energy efficiency, and health and safety improvements. Measures include insulation, duct sealing, and more. BayREN offers comprehensive support for these upgrades and covers 80% of the cost of these core energy efficiency upgrades; participating households are responsible for the remaining 20% of the project cost. Average project costs range from $5,000 to $7,000.

Wondering if the BayREN EASE Home Program or MCE Home Energy Savings Program is a better fit? The BayREN EASE Home Program serves income-qualified residents of single-family homes in all nine By Area counties and requires participants to pay an up to 20% copayment. The MCE Home Energy Savings Program serves income-qualified residents of single-family homes within MCE’s service territory at no cost to the customer. Lafayette residents may find the MCE Home Energy Savings Program is a better fit depending on household income.

Energy Upgrade California in the Bay Area offers free energy planning assistance and cash rebates for multifamily properties that undertake energy and green upgrades. The program assists in planning energy saving improvements designed to save 10% or more of a building’s energy usage and provides $750 per unit in rebates to help pay for the upgrade. Additionally, the program offers customized energy consultation of up to $5,000.  The program is open to multifamily buildings with five or more attached dwelling units.  Visit Multifamily.EnergyUpgradeCA.org for more information.

Reserve your space by:

1. Submit the Online Interest Form, or
2. Email multifamily@stopwaste.org, or
3. Call (510) 891-6558.

The California Housing Finance Agency (Cal HFA) has a loan program that can help to provide down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. The Forgivable Equity Builder Loan helps with a head start on building equity immediately in homes via a loan of up to 10% of the purchase price of the home. The loan is forgivable if the borrower continuously occupies the home as their primary residence for five years.  More information on how to apply can be found on the Cal HFA website here.

The Go Solar California! campaign is a joint effort of the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission with the goal to encourage Californians to install 3,000 megawatts of solar energy systems on homes and businesses by the end of 2016. The Go Solar California website provides California consumers a “one-stop shop” for information on solar programs, rebate programs (like the California Solar Initiative and New Solar Home Partnership), and other information on installing and interconnecting solar electric and solar thermal systems.

Property Assessed Clean Energy ("PACE") is a financing mechanism that offers a way for property owners to receive upfront funding for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water efficiency improvements for their home or business -- and to repay on their property tax bill over the course of up to 20-years and allows property owners to save money and energy.  For more information on PACE Financing Programs that are currently available, click here.

The Weatherization Program is a federal and state funded program whose purpose is to assist low and/or fixed income people in making their homes more energy efficient. The program is available regardless of whether you own or rent, live in a house or an apartment. Upon submission of an approved application, a qualified representative of the program will do an on-site assessment of the residence to determine what energy saving measures are needed. Improvements may include: installation of ceiling installation, gas furnace and appliance repair or replacement, weather-stripping of exterior doors, replacement of exterior doors and windows, installation of carbon monoxide alarms, plug gaskets, installation of programmable thermostats, installation of water saving devices, and other minor repairs. Check it out at http://www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/index.aspx?nid=282.

Neighborhood Preservation Program

The Neighborhood Preservation Program is a program that provides loans to low and moderate-income persons to improve their homes by correcting health and safety problems and improving livability. Work completed may include re-roofing, plumbing, heating, and electrical repairs, termite and dry rot repair, security, exterior painting, and improving disabled accessibility. Available loans include low-interest loans (3%) and zero-interest deferred payment loans for up to $40,000. The loan assistance program allows you (particularly seniors) to use your equity that you have accumulated over the years, rather than make monthly payments. Check it out at http://ca-contracostacounty.civicplus.com/index.aspx?nid=287.