Sacramento, CA - Curtis Park resident Erik deKok shares a 1926 two-story home with his family of four. It is made of brick, has an attic conversion, but like many homes of that era the house used to feel drafty in the winter and unevenly air conditioned year-round. The upstairs stayed hot while the downstairs was cold. Mr. deKok’s children always had chilly hands when they played on the un-insulated flooring of the lower level in the winter time, and his wife’s asthma was worsened by moisture and mold problems from having an unsealed crawl space. These conditions have all changed with the help of over $6,000 in PG&E and SMUD rebates through the Energy Upgrade California program, plus 3% financing and a $1,250 grant for the energy improvements through the California Homebuyers Fund (CHF).

Fortunately, all Sacramento County homeowners have new opportunities to get low to no-cost home energy assessments and access to programs that offer financial incentives for making prioritized energy improvements. Three Sacramento homeowners’ associations, including Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association, Land Park Community Association and Oak Park Neighborhood Association, are working with Energy Upgrade California to share this information with interested homeowners at a free October 11th meeting.

When: Tuesday, October 11th, 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Where: Curtis Hall at the Sierra 2 Center, 2791 24th Street, Sacramento
RSVPs encouraged but not required: www.sacramento-energyupgrade.eventbrite.com

Mr. deKok worked with local firm E3/Norcal to complete his initial home energy assessment—getting a “HERS II” rating to identify the overall efficiency of the home and help prioritize future improvements to save energy and increase comfort. The energy improvements in the deKok home are expected to save over 50% on their annual energy bill. The family hired local contractor EcoLogic Builders to have their air conditioning system replaced with a new, four-zone heat pump system. The old ducts were replaced with a new “mini-split” system to prevent loss of conditioned air and improve circulation, and the crawl space and attic were insulated and sealed to keep conditioned air in the house while forcing moisture to stay out.

The deKoks have been thrilled with the results. Mr. deKok described the upstairs as formerly “unusable space” in the summer, but now can “watch a movie up there without roasting.” This all amounts to a home that feels more livable for the long haul, healthier air quality for his family, and they “believe the investment will improve the value of their home in the marketplace.” The post-improvement energy rating on their dwelling made it comparable to the efficiency performance of a newly constructed home that meets the latest energy codes, and the deKok’s get to enjoy these savings while sticking in a home and neighborhood they are attached to.

On October 11th more Sacramento homeowners can learn about accessing thousands of dollars in Energy Upgrade California rebates and their ability to finance energy upgrade projects using a 3% loan program through CHF. This meeting will enable homeowners to learn more about these offerings in a neighborly setting, and meet local experts who can answer their questions.

The following websites provide more information on some of the programs this event will be promoting:

AVAILABLE FOR ALL INCOME LEVELS:
Energy Upgrade California www.EnergyUpgradeCA.org Featuring information on SMUD rebates that go up to $9,000 for residential energy efficiency improvements (available through March 31, 2012).

AVAILABLE FOR HOMEOWNERS WITH HOUSEHOLD INCOME BETWEEN $45,060 AND $120,160 IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY:
3% fixed interest rate fully amortized financing from the California Homebuyers Fund (CHF)
https://energyupgradeca.org/county/sacramento/about_local_financing
Funds can be used for energy efficiency improvements and solar, and paired with Energy Upgrade California rebates Grants up to $1,250 or 15% of the job Property owners can use for owner occupied and/or rental property
No appraisal, no credit check 100% financing available for energy upgrades, no minimum or maximum loan amount.

ABOUT ENERGY UPGRADE CALIFORNIA
Energy Upgrade California is a collaborative program between the California Energy Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission, utilities and local governments that provides tools to accomplish and promote a “whole house” approach to home efficiency improvements. Based on “building science” principles, the program emphasizes an integrated approach to energy efficiency, starting with an assessment of current systems to identify solutions that will improve the comfort and energy performance of a home. For more information, visit www.EnergyUpgradeCA.org.