The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) was approved for $10.7 million from the California Energy Commission to administer a region-wide energy retrofit program for residential home energy retrofits. The program will be offered in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Solano, and Sonoma Counties, beginning this Fall. ABAG is developing a convenient, user-friendly website and regional call-center for Bay Area residents to access information about the benefits of retrofit improvements, available incentives, and qualified contractors. The comprehensive community-scale home retrofit program is targeted to achieve energy efficiency upgrades in up to 15,000 single-family and 2,000 multi-family residences.
The program will help homeowners achieve a minimum of 20 percent energy savings on average with energy efficiency improvements. These improvements could include installing insulation or duct sealing or total home retrofits employing home energy raters and building performance contractors trained to accomplish deeper, comprehensive energy upgrades. The program is designed to achieve energy retrofits that will in turn create jobs and stimulate the economy, save energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Program elements include homeowner rebates to attract participation, as well as contractor scholarships, green workforce training, and an expansive outreach campaign developed to achieve California’s and the nation’s energy and climate change goals.
Funding for this program comes from the federal America Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The program will also leverage a diverse range of short and long term funds, including grant funds, State Energy Program funds, Workforce Training Grants, and others.