The Energy Upgrade California incentive program was unveiled March 1. The program offers homeowners up to $4,000 to incorporate energy efficiency upgrades, including photovoltaics.

The program will offer rebates to 100,000 homeowners throughout the state. Homeowners that choose the Basic Package qualify for a $1,000 rebate through their utility. That incentive package helps homeowners pay for attic sealing, attic insulation, duct sealing, hot water pipe insulation and temperature-controlled shower heads.

Under the Advanced Upgrade Package, homeowners that get a Home Energy Assessment and make prescribed changes can qualify for a rebate of up to $4,000 through their utility. The advanced package includes support for photovoltaics and solar-water heaters.

It’s also part of a larger umbrella effort to educate homeowners about all the renewable energy and energy-efficiency incentives and rebates that they can qualify for, said Wendy Sommer, principal program manager at StopWaste.Org.

The organization is a local government agency that’s leading the Energy Upgrade California program in Alameda County and seven other counties.

The Energy Upgrade California site allows residents to enter in their county name to find out what incentives they can qualify for, including federal, state, county, municipality and utility.

“Some cities within Alameda County provide additional incentives for home energy assessments,” she said.

It’s a different approach that makes it easier for homeowners, according to Sommer.

“It’s a one-stop shop for homeowners. They can find out what programs, what contractors are available and finance and rebates. Formerly they had to go to various sites to get all the information,” she said. “This is a new approach of looking at the house as a whole system as opposed to rebates for particular upgrades.

“Homeowners make sure the house is energy efficient first, then add solar or green on top of that,” she said. “We’re looking at heating, cooling waste systems all working together to reach greater efficiency.”

Though the program was announced just two days ago, initial interest, at least at StopWaste.org has been high.

“I heard there were at least 7,000 hits to the site. Yesterday alone we got 75 calls. It seems like we’re getting a lot of interest,” Sommer said. “The goal we have [in Alameda County] is for 6,000 units to be retrofitted over the next two years.”

While programs are being coordinated by counties, it’s coordinated at the state level by the California Energy Commission.

Overall, the program is supported by more than $1.2 billion, including $1 billion leveraged through the state’s investor-owned utilities.

The program will receive $146 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) State Energy Program and Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants and $13 million from Employment Development Department Workforce Investment funding.

Image courtesy of NREL.

Energy Upgrade program's website.