Energy Upgrade California:

L.A. County's Plan To Save Homeowners Money, Create Green Jobs & Reduce Carbon Footprint

The extra energy that could be made available from conservation measures is one of our most underused and invisible resources. Yet, it is cheap, safe, and available in abundance everywhere from our overconsuming ways. Most older homes were built with scant regard for the energy they used and although more care is taken now, many newer ones are ill prepared for an era of energy scarcity.

-The New Natural House Book, 1998.

Author David Pearson's words are as accurate today as they were in l998-because a wide-scale transformation of our residential housing stock has not yet occurred. And in these Uncertain economic times, everyone is looking to save where they can-yet many homeowners put off energy, efficient home retrofit due to a lack of clear and accessible information Who should I contact, and what type of rebates are available? What type of work would provide the greatest energy savings?

In California, our homes account for 32% of state electricity and 35% of state natural gas consumption. Home energy efficiency is clearly a strategic opportunity to reduce energy use and lower costs for homeowners.

Energy Upgrade California in Los Angeles County

Energy Upgrade California an expansive new statewide program offered in Los Angeles County by an alliance among the County of Los Angeles, Southern California Gas Company and Southern, California Edison, could remove these barriers. Energy Upgrade California will allow you to plan your retrofit project locate trained, participating contractors and find, available rebates and incentives. It will show you how to save energy and water, increase your homes comfort, improve indoor air quality and save on utility bills. And by upgrading your home you will have improved a system that all works together-insulation, ducts, windows, furnaces air-conditioning and more.

Through these measures, the program seeks to help homeowners save money on energy costs, be prepared for an era of energy scarcity, and reduce carbon footprint. It will also create good local green jobs.

Funded in part by the California Energy Commission (CEC), and the California Public Utilities Commission (CRUC), as well as the U.S. Department of Energy's Better Buildings Program, Energy Upgrade California in Los Angeles County reflects a comprehensive program outlined by AB 758, which directed CEC to achieve energy savings in California's existing building stock in coordination with the CPUC and all stakeholders.

The program is also guided by California's Long, Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan calls for one quarter of existing homes to have 70% decrease in purchased energy as compared to 2008, and for the rest of homes to decrease usage by 30% or more as compared to 2008. Multi-family homes are to have a 40% decrease.

The County of Los Angeles describes Energy Upgrade California as an unprecedented alliance among the CEC and CPUC, with coordination among local governments. Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Company and municipally owned utilities. The County has involved nonprofits Build-it-Green; Renewable Funding, LLC and the Energy Coalition as program consultant, further underscoring the quality of this program.

Energy Upgrade California in Los Angeles County provides all the necessary support for homeowners to evaluate the need for a home energy upgrade. The program coordinates federal, state and local incentives (some of which are limited-time) based on homeowner location.

The program is designed to begin a necessary transformation of existing-housing stock in California through energy efficiency retrofit. A key program goal is 20,000 home energy retrofit by June 2013.

Residential energy efficient retrofit becomes easily accessible

A visit to the Energy Upgrade California website solves nearly every problem homeowners have previously associated with green retrofits. A green 'upgrade' experience on the part of a typical homeowner is shown in video format. A thorough description of energy efficiency measures is provided. Visitors can also create a coordinated list of all energy efficiency rebates and incentives associated with their address. A strong database cross-referencing state, local, and utility criteria allows for selection of geographic location and program-based contractors.

Energy Upgrade California promotes wide scale adoption of energy efficient residential retrofits by homeowners. The program moves far beyond individual utility incentive programs of the past, which tended to be piecemeal by comparison. The program also allows homeowners to begin to understand a home as an integrated energy system.

Quality of work is a strong element of program design

Contractor and worker certification is a critical feature of Energy Upgrade California. Energy Upgrade web pages provide listings of certified contractors and specific credentials. Contractors and workers may be certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI), Build it Green, California Solar Initiative, among others, as well as individual utility accreditation programs.

In addition to contractor and worker certifications, the program has addressed additional green workforce training, related marketing and business skills, related education for real estate professionals, contractor scholarship programs, employment matching and newsletters-all serving to create a residential retrofit business community.

Homeowners may select a Basic or Advanced Upgrade

A visit to the Energy Upgrade California website provides details on two available upgrade options. The Basic Upgrade consists of simple but effective efficiency measures-air sealing, attic insulation, duct sealing, low flow showerheads and a required combustion safety test. The Advanced Upgrade includes the Basic Upgrade, pius a range of additional energy efficiency measures and a requirement for home energy modeling tests.

To a significant degree, this is a contractor-based program. Contractor and workforce training and certification are critical element of program design, as is provision of high quality work. Contractors can visit the site to learn about scheduled workforce training opportunities from a variety of providers, as well as how to become a participating contractor. A visit to the website confirms Energy Upgrade California is an effective one-stop shop.

If you choose a Basic Upgrade, you will receive a $1,000 incentive. Advanced Path incentives are tiered in relation to the percentage of specific increase in energy efficiency. A typical family's experience and related costs are described at the Energy Upgrade website. However, each homeowner upgrade experience will differ, as each upgrade is unique.

Calling on Angeles Chapter members to become energy efficiency leaders now

Energy Upgrade California provides Angeles Chapter members an opportunity to help begin widespread retrofit of housing stock statewide. A significant element of program outreach is intended to occur at a grassroots level by means of trusted messengers, and Angeles Chapter is one such messenger. Additional information will be provided at the Chapter website. Look for Angeles Chapter and group events with program related speakers in the months ahead.

Visit the Energy Upgrade California website, to locate a certified contractor and get an assessment of your present home potential for conservation, efficiency and energy upgrades. After you receive a report from a selected contractor, you can sign on for the level of upgrade you prefer.

The chapter Green Building Committee is preparing materials for Angeles Chapter groups outings, and task forces to distribute at meetings, hikes and tabling events. Call the Chapter office to have these materials sent to you-particularly for Earth Day. Also call the Chapter office to have a member of the Chapter Green Building Committee come to speak to your Angeles Chapter Group, or to other organizations

And when you elect an upgrade be sure to indicate you heard about this program from Angeles Chapter Also send an email to AngeleGBCommittee@gmail.com and/or leave a message on Angeles Chapter's general mailbox at (213) 387-4287 giving your name, address and contact information.