It is getting cold, just in time for a crazy good rebate on heaters, insulation, and more. A very lucrative, new limited time California energy efficiency rebate is available where you can receive up to $4000 in rebates from Energy Upgrade California program. PG&E, SCE, San Diego Gas & Electric – SDG&E, or BVE. customers have this program available. This program is focused on a whole house approach to saving energy. San Francisco Bay Area information line 855-464-8484.

The goal of the program is:

• Get rebates, financing, and incentives to reduce the cost of your home upgrade
• Reduce energy use
• Live in a more comfortable home

Even Larger Rebates

If you live in San Mateo County, the County will match the rebate, raising the potential savings to $10,300 for advanced upgrades. You can thank Stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Expires March 2012 or earlier. More information.

Some Counties are even subsidizing the home energy audit costs.  Check with your local County.

Acterra has free energy audits for residents of:

• Atherton
• Los Altos Hills
• Monte Sereno
• Portola Valley
• Woodside

Funding for Energy Upgrade California comes from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, otherwise known as Federal Stimulus Funds, California utility ratepayers, and private contributions.

Qualification:

• You must own a single-family home, commercial, or multifamily property and be a qualifying California utility company customer.
• You must be current on property taxes and liens.
• Participating contractors are specially trained for this program.
• There are 2 upgrade packages:

1. Basic Upgrade Package – 7 required measures (Air sealing, attic insulation, duct sealing, hot water pipe insulation, thermostatic shutoff valve, carbon monoxide monitor) that together could reduce your energy consumption by an average of 10%. Up to $1000 rebate.
2. Advanced Upgrade Package - A home energy audit which includes energy modeling must be completed by a certified energy auditor. A customized solution (Basic upgrade package plus high-efficiency furnace, energy-efficient cooling, water heater system, energy efficient Windows, duct replacement, wall insulation) with energy savings of 15 to 40%, with incentives from $1250 – $4000 depending on efficiency improvement. The amount of the rebate you get is based on energy modeling software that shows how much energy your home will save after an energy upgrade remodel.

Energy Upgrade CA approves the project after the audit is done and before the work is done.

A verification test is done after the work is finished by PG&E auditors.

Contact your qualified local contractor or Home Energy Audit firm via the Energy Upgrade CA website today to participate in Energy Upgrade California.

GreenPoint rating

If you add green measures to the Upgrade Package, your home may qualify for the GreenPoint Rated label and receive up to $1000. This validates that your home has been remodeled according to established green standards.

Be sure to take advantage of the Federal Tax Credit to receive additional money back in addition to those received under Energy Upgrade California!

Recycling plastic bags is painful but very necessary.  Yes, the goal is not to have any in the first place. We have to gather them up and recycle them at our local grocery stores as there is no curbside recycling of them in our location. No one wants to add to the plastic soup of waste floating in the Pacific Ocean.

What is recyclable?

Plastic grocery bags Type 2 (high-density polyethylene film – HDPE) and Type 4 (low density or linear-low density polyethylene film – LDPE/LLDPE)

Newspaper bags, dry cleaning bags, bread bags, produce bags, toilet paper, napkin, and paper towel wraps, cereal box liners, diaper wrap, case wrap (water bottles, snacks)

Zip lock bags (Remove hard components)

Shrink Wrap or electronic wrap

Clean and dry bags thoroughly before recycling, making sure they are empty of any and all debris.

What is not recyclable?

Plastic bags that are dark in color or bags that have handles or drawstrings. Remove handles and drawstrings to recycle the rest.

No prepackaged food bags including frozen food bags (e.g., prewashed salad bags)
Film that has been painted or has excessive glue
Bio-based or compostable plastic bags. Compost them!
Plastic food packaging and plastic food or cling wrap (Saran wrap).
Type 7 plastic bags

Plastic Bag Industry’s Influence

(No this did not happen in China) — California schools included environmental curriculum sending positive messages about plastic shopping bags due to lobbying efforts by the  American Chemical Council.  An eleventh grade textbook called “The Advantages of Plastic Shopping Bags” had the title and sum of the text inserted almost verbatim from letters written by the Chemistry Council. This is obviously pretty disheartening to hear and shows the power of lobbyists.

Also see our article: Recycle tips plus hard to recycle items tip

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Costco.com now shows several solar power kits from Grape Solar starting from $3599.99 for a 880 W expandable grid tie solar kit.  There is a 5 kW kit for $17,999.99. Professional installation is a must unless you are really gifted. Grape Solar has a network of over 5,000 installers who will be available to provide local customer support. This kit is eligible for the 30% Federal solar tax credit and possibly state and local utility rebates, making it a pretty good deal.

Costco had a limited time special discount on Solar electric systems for Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, and Oregon for Costco members back in 2009, that may be available in your area.

A typical system priced 1/10/2009 for Colorado:

$ 9,697.22 Solar Equipment – 3Kw system
$13,162.97 Installation
————-
$22,860.19
- $10,780 Colorado rebate
————-
$12,080.19 Costco Member purchase price

Possible additional savings:
- $92.40 1% rebate from Amex TrueEarnings Card
-$184.80 2% Costco Executive member reward
-$3624 Federal Tax credit
————-
$8178.99

Pretty sweet deal!  Check with your local Costco and tax adviser for your current special deal.

Thinking about solar – Are Solar Panels for me? helps you decide if they are right for you.

Solar water heaters are placed on roofs and absorb the sun’s energy to heat water, which is then stored in a water tank for later use.  Some include a gas heating system for backup. Unobstructed Southern sky exposure is most optimal. Sometimes the units need to be tilted to face the sky, making for some unsightly installations.

California utility regulators have recently approved rebates of $350 million over the next 8 years to encourage the use of solar water heaters. The 30% Federal Tax credit for EnergyStar rated solar water heaters could reduce the cost of these expensive solar water heater by 15% to 25%. The Federal Tax Credit expires December 31, 2016. Average systems cost from $6500 to $8000.  Rebates are retroactive to August 2009, so apply if you already had a system put in. Many other states have similar rebates.

Multifamily and commercial buildings are also eligible for special rebates up to $500,000. The goal is to add solar water heating to reduce natural gas use by about 200,000 single-family homes.

Local utility companies administer the rebate, so check with your local utility company. PGE has a page outlining the program that also covers San Diego Gas and Electric Rebates (SDG&E), Southern California Edison Rebates (SCE) or Southern California Gas (SoCalGas). California’s rebate is in additional to the Federal Energy efficiency Tax Rebate on Water Heaters.

The payback of a Solar Water Heater occur over a long period. Water heating bills should drop 50%–80%, making payback times at least 10 years after rebates. Systems should last for 25+ years. Gas rates many rise in the future, helping to shorten payback times. SEIA.org has a dealer locater.