Efficiency And Sustainable Energy (EASE) Home Program

After your free site visit, we’ll provide you with a project proposal outlining the recommended upgrades and your costs after all eligible rebates. 

For measures provided by the program, like insulation and duct sealing, BayREN covers 80% of the cost, with your share capped at 20%, and shall not exceed $1,000.

Our contractors can also support electrification installs, including heat pump HVAC, heat pump water heaters, electric induction ranges and cooktops, high-efficiency electric clothes dryers or washer/dryer combo. A customer may have to pay for this equipment in full, however BayREN can provide rebate application assistance. Check available rebates in your area. 

We offer fixed pricing with all our partner contractors, so you won’t have to worry about hidden fees or surprises. 

Applicants will provide their estimated gross annual household income and household size on the application form. Then during the site visit, your Energy Advisor will do a visual inspection of your (or your tenant’s) documents to verify income eligibility. Please review the list of acceptable documentation to prepare. 

We encourage income-qualified renters to apply. However, renters will need property owner permission for the project to begin. Renters must live in a single-family home (four or fewer units). Property owners will need to notify renters and ensure access to the property for the site visit and installation. Please note that it is the renter’s income that will be used to meet program qualifications.

After we’ve completed your free site visit and you’ve received your proposal, the renter and property owner will need to both sign a Rental Upgrade Agreement before the project can begin.

While we hope to help, these building types are a bit more complicated. Please reach out to EASEHome@bayREN.org before applying.

For permitted ADU’s, we might be able to serve the home depending on the square footage and type of heating system, if the property has its own energy meter, and if there’s attic access. 

For condos and buildings with 2-4 units (duplex, triplex, fourplex), we will need more information on your home’s structure type, type of heating system, and if there’s attic access to determine whether your home would be a good fit for EASE Home. 

However, if your multiplex building has a central water heating system or central heating system, your building may be a better fit for BayREN’s multifamily program. 

Due to funding restrictions, this program cannot serve mobile or manufactured homes. However, manufactured homes on a foundation built before 2010 and with an individual energy meter, served by PGE, may be an exception. Please reach out to EASEHome@bayREN.org before applying.

BayREN provides rebates for weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades that are included in your personalized proposal. 

Our team will maximize your savings by helping you apply for additional rebates, depending on availability. You will be responsible for paying for the cost after rebates for any upgrades that are not provided by BayREN. 

Check available rebates in your area. 

A personalized proposal will be created for your review and is valid for 15 days. It is your choice if you'd like to proceed with the recommendations provided by the Energy Advisor. You will be paired with a participating contractor to have the equipment installed in your home.

After your site visit, your Energy Advisor will present you a EASE Home Proposal, which will provide personalized recommendations to enhance your home’s energy efficiency, health, and comfort. The Proposal will also outline the costs and any available rebates for each upgrade.

Depending on eligibility, upgrades include: insulation, duct sealing or duct replacement, deeply buried ducts, whole home air sealing, whole home weatherstripping, and kitchen/bathroom vent replacement.

Our contractors can also support electrification installs, including heat pump HVAC, heat pump water heaters, electric induction ranges and cooktops, high-efficiency electric clothes dryers or washer/dryer combo. A customer may have to pay for this equipment in full, however BayREN can provide rebate application assistance.

Depending on the issue, which the energy advisor will review, we may be able to help. If the issue is necessary to fix for the proper installation of your home’s recommended upgrades, such as mold or pest remediation, we will include them in your personalized proposal. However, this will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

The program offers a limited selection of standard products. For certain appliances, which the energy advisor will review, you may be eligible to choose certain colors or finishes. If you prefer to install equipment not covered by the program, see if there are other rebates available in your area by using the Switch Is On’s incentive finder.

To make your experience as smooth as possible, all participants must use a BayREN partner contractor. This helps us coordinate the project effectively and ensures you have a great experience.

You can expect to pay your co-payment balance to the installing contractor when your home’s project installation is complete.

This means that you have already received incentives for the same improvement, product, equipment or service from more than one California investor-owned utility or third-party Energy Efficiency program offering incentives for the same improvement, product, equipment, or service funded with CPUC Public Purpose Program Charge funds. Households can only benefit once from CPUC incentives for the same improvement, product, equipment or service.

​​If you are not eligible, there may be other options that can help you, depending on where you live. Some resources:

• The Switch Is On: Includes tools to find a contractor, explore rebates, tax credits and financial assistance in your area
• Bay Area Residential Energy Programs and Rebates
• Income-qualified energy programs available in the Bay Area
• Home Energy Score: BayREN offers a $200 rebate
• For more support or inquiries, feel free to reach out to your county contact.

For more support on how to improve your home’s energy, health, and comfort, reach out to your local county’s residential point of contact. They can tell you more about EASE Home and/or about what local options might be best fit for you.