NEW UPDATE: The County of San Mateo is now offering MATCHING INCENTIVES to PG&Es upgrade packages. This means that you can receive from $2,000 up to $8,000 in incentives for your Energy Upgrade project! This matching rebates amount will last until the end of 2011 or until funds run out. Visit www.energyupgradeca.org and call a participating contractor to get started on your upgrade and ensure you receive the additional funds!
San Mateo County is part of new statewide program that offers rebate money to county residents that retrofit their homes with energy efficient functions. The program, Energy Upgrade California, is a one-stop-shop for home improvement projects that lower energy use, conserve water and natural resources, and make the home healthier and more comfortable.
The program guides you through the energy-efficiency upgrade process by:
- Selecting an incentive package that suits your home’s needs
- Finding a participating contractor to do the work
- Applying for financing to help pay for your upgrade
- Basic Upgrade ($1,000): The Basic Upgrade Package is designed to help save energy and keep your home comfortable. Most of your home’s energy loss happens due to leaks and insufficient insulation. In the winter, warm air escapes through your attic and old ducts. In the summer, hot sun bakes the shell of your house and creates an oven inside, making your air conditioning work harder than it should. The Basic Upgrade Package is an easy way to take care of those problems and improve your home’s comfort and efficiency by at least 10%. This will involve:
- Air sealing
- Attic insulation
- Duct sealing
- Hot water pipe insulation, where accessible
- Thermostatic shut-off valve
- Combustion appliance safety testing including installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) monitor
- Recommended: Low flow shower-head
- Advanced Upgrade ($1,500-$4,000): The Advanced Upgrade Package is an energy efficiency solution customized for your home and and your needs that may include such items as energy-efficient windows, wall insulation, duct replacement, heating and cooling systems, and high efficiency water heating systems. The Advanced Upgrade Package begins with an Energy Assessment to help optimizes the energy savings you can achieve and rewards you accordingly—the more energy you save, the higher your incentive. Potential energy savings are between 15% and 40%.
