Energy Upgrade Your Home

There are many ways you can increase the energy efficiency and improve the comfort of your home, from making sure you are using LED light bulbs to switching to all-electric appliances. 

Energy efficiency kit from Rising Sun Center

Figure: Home energy efficiency kit from Rising Sun Center

Energy-Efficient Home

Explore resources at Energy Upgrade CA on insulation, air conditioning, central heating, water heating, appliances, lighting, and more.  

Induction Cooktops

Induction cooking uses magnets and electric currents to create heat for cooking. Induction cooking is cleaner, quicker, and safer than cooking with gas or coil electric resistance. BayREN offers a $300 rebate for residents who purchase a qualifying full-range induction cooktop. To learn more about induction cooking, visit East Bay Community Energy's informational page here.

East Bay Community Energy: Clean Power Appliances

East Bay Community Energy (EBCE), San Leandro's local electricity utility, offers rebates and incentives for residents and businesses to purchase more energy efficient and clean power appliances such as induction stoves and efficient heat pump water heaters. Learn more here for residents.

PACE Financing

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), a state financing program, can help fund residential property improvements associated with energy and water conservation. Property owners repay loans through an annual assessment on their tax bill. Note that interest rates apply.

PACE finances costs for projects such as: 

  • Energy efficient heating/cooling systems
  • Solar panels
  • Low-flow toilets
  • Home insulation
  • Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations

Authorized Residential PACE Providers in San Leandro:

NOT SURE WHERE TO START?

Aren't sure where to start? Home Plus is a BayREN program specifically for Bay Area homeowners and implemented by local county governments. The free Home Energy Advisors are Building Performance Institute certified energy efficiency professionals who can work with you every step of the way before, during, and after an upgrade. The Home Plus program also offers rebates depending on the scope of your project.

Switch is On

East Bay Community Energy, the Building Decarbonization Coalition, PG&E, and local governments have partnered to create the Switch is On campaign. Find out more about clean power appliances, financial incentives to reduce the cost, and locate contractors in your area to help you install them at the Switch is On website.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR RENTERS

Green House Calls

Rising Sun Center for Opportunity is a nonprofit organization working at the intersection of economic equity and climate resilience. Rising Sun hires and trains local youth energy specialists to serve communities across the Bay Area with no-cost home energy and water assessments, called Green House Calls. During Green House Calls, energy specialists check homes for efficiency, and install energy and water-saving equipment such as energy-efficient lighting, high-efficiency aerators, showerheads, clotheslines, and power strips. Energy specialists also provide personalized recommendations for further savings.

Due to COVID-19, the summer Green House Call program is now a contact-free experience. Those interested in participating should start by taking the GHC survey online or at (510) 665-1501 ext 300 with a trained staff member. Approved participants will be mailed kits which include replacement fixtures like LED lightbulbs, advanced power strips, sink aerators, and more. The kits also contain information about programs to achieve deeper energy savings, such as PG&E’s Home Energy Analytics and Home Energy Checkup programs.

For more information about eligibility and how to participate in the Green House Call program, visit https://risingsunopp.org/programs/ghc/.