The City of Hayward Residential Energy Efficiency Incentive Program is coming to an end. Between now and April 30, 2012, the City of Hayward will match PG&E energy efficiency rebates dollar for dollar up to a maximum of $4,000. Please note that all work and PG&E approval must be completed by April 30th. Consult with a participating contractor to ensure that your home improvements can be completed in time to maximize rebates.

Homeowners can get up to $8,000 in rebates to make their homes more energy efficient. Check the Energy Upgrade California website for details. Additionally, the City of Hayward will provide each homeowner and additional incentive of $250 to get an energy efficiency assessment from an Energy Upgrade California approved contractor.

Also, for home improvements that receive final approval from PG&E by February 15, 2012, additional rebates of $2,000 for the upgrade and $300 for the assessment are available through the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG).

Reservations for rebates from The City of Hayward Residential Energy Efficiency Incentive Program must be submitted by January 31, 2012. Contact your contractor today to reserve your rebate.

The City of Hayward Residential Energy Efficiency Incentive Program works in collaboration with Energy Upgrade California to provide Hayward homeowners financial incentives to make energy efficiency improvements to their homes. Energy Upgrade California is a statewide program that coordinates incentives offered by PG&E and other utilities to encourage California homeowners to make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes. Energy Upgrade California also identifies and trains approved contractors to make residential energy efficiency improvements. Energy efficiency improvements made by contractors trained by Energy Upgrade California will be eligible for rebates from PG&E and the City of Hayward.

Hayward’s Residential Energy Efficiency Incentive Program matches the PG&E rebates dollar for dollar to double the amount of money that Hayward homeowners can get when they hire contractors trained by Energy Upgrade California to make energy efficiency improvements to their home.

In certain cases, residents may not be eligible for PG&E rebates throughEnergy Upgrade California. In those cases they may still be able to participate in Hayward’s Residential Energy Efficiency Incentive Program: the Hayward Alternative Upgrade Package. An overview of the Hayward Alternative Upgrade Package is below.

For an overview of the City of Hayward rebates, see below.

If you have any questions after visiting the Energy Upgrade California and City of Hayward websites, please contact the City of Hayward Sustainability Coordinator, Marc McDonald, at energyefficiency@hayward-ca.gov or at 510-583-4231.

Participation in the City’s Residential Energy Efficiency Incentive Program is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The City’s Program expires on March 31, 2012, so don’t delay!

If you are interested in getting rebates to make energy efficiency retrofits to your home, please follow these four simple steps:

1. Go to the Energy Upgrade California rebates and incentives website and enter your zip code.

2. Decide which rebate program is right for you, including those offered by PG&E and the City of Hayward. For PG&E rebates, choose either the PG&E “Basic Upgrade Package” or the PG&E “Advanced Upgrade Package.”

3. Identify the contractors that you’d like to talk to, and get their proposals describing how they can make your home more energy efficient. Before you contact a contractor, you should visit this website for information on how to be smart when hiring a contractor.

4. Choose a contractor. Sign the contractor and get started. The contractor will handle everything, including getting the rebates to you.

Before the job gets started Energy Upgrade California will review your contractor’s energy upgrade plan to determine if the plan meets program requirements. If the plan is approved and the rebates are reserved, the contractor will receive written approval from Energy Upgrade California to proceed with the project.

The contractor will get written notice of rebate reservations from Energy Upgrade California before starting the job. Make sure you get a copy of that notice before the job starts.

After receiving notice of reservations, the contractor will start work. You may want to know what the contractor is doing. Most energy efficiency contractors are proud of their work and are pleased to show homeowners how the new systems are an improvement over what they are replacing. When the work is completed, your contractor will let Energy Upgrade California and the City of Hayward know that the project has been completed.

5. PG&E and, if applicable, the City of Hayward, issues checks for your rebates. .

PG&E Advanced Upgrade Package

City of Hayward Energy Efficiency Incentives for completing the PG&E Advanced Upgrade Package are $1,500 to $4,000 for improvement work that demonstrates modeled energy savings of 15% to 40% or more. To receive a City of Hayward incentive in addition to the PG&E incentive, talk to your contractor.

PG&E Basic Upgrade Package

City of Hayward Energy Efficiency Incentives for completing the PG&E Advanced Upgrade Package are $1,500 to $2,000 for improvement work that demonstrates modeled energy savings of 15% to 20% or more. To receive a City of Hayward incentive in addition to the PG&E incentive, talk to your contractor.

City of Hayward Alternative Upgrade Package

The City of Hayward Alternative Upgrade Package is for homes that cannot meet the PG&E Basic Upgrade Requirements. Homes that cannot meet the PG&E Basic Upgrade Requirements may have the following characteristics:

1. The home lacks an accessible attic or duct system, or

2. The attic is insulated to PG&E standards, or the duct work is already sealed to PG&E standards. Talk with your contractor about current PG&E Standards.

To participate in the City of Hayward Alternative Upgrade Package, your contractor will complete this application.