California residents have access to so many great financing options and generous rebates for efficiency improvements. When you pair these options with the cost savings and improved comfort for your family, you’ll want to get started right away! The experts at All Things Good can help you sort through these options to find the perfect solution for your project in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties.
PG&E
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) offers customers rebates through their Upgrade California® Home Upgrade program. The program offers two levels of participation:
Home Upgrade Program
This program offers rebates using a point system for up to $2500 in rebates. Qualifying upgrades include:
Duct replacement
Attic insulation
Efficient HVAC replacement, including furnaces and heat pumps
Advanced Home Upgrade Program
This program offers rebates for $500 up to $5500 for two or more bundled energy efficiency improvements that are calculated to save 10% or more on energy usage.
PACE
Property Assessed Clean Energy (or PACE) programs provide affordable financing for energy saving improvements. The loan is paid back through an assessment on your property tax bill. Benefits include no credit score required, the loan transfers with the property and no upfront money is required. The loans are administered through private-public lenders:
HERO
HERO is a residential-only PACE program serviced by Renovate America that offers financing for home efficiency improvements for up to 15% of home value with terms up to 25 years. Like other PACE programs, the loan is transferrable and appears on the property tax bill as a line item.
CaliforniaFIRST
CaliforniaFIRST is a residential and commercial PACE program administered by Renew Financial, a national clean energy finance company. The program offers 100% financing with no credit score required for up to 15% of the home’s value. Terms of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years are available and there’s no prepayment penalty. The loan also doesn’t appear on your credit report.
REEL
The Residential Energy Efficiency Loan Assistance program, or REEL, helps traditional lenders offer favorable financing for energy efficiency improvements on residential properties with 1-4 units. Rates and terms may vary among lenders. Applicants must receive their electricity or gas from PG&E, must have a FICO score of 580 or above and 70% of the property improvements must be qualifying energy-saving improvements. The remaining financing may include other improvements like kitchen or bathroom renovations.