Energy Programs Serving Oakland
Energy Programs for Residents
Support is available to help Oakland home owners and tenants improve the energy efficiency of their properties, conserve energy and reduce their energy bills. Follow the links below for more information on these exciting programs.
Upgrade Programs
Energy Upgrade California - The Energy Upgrade California (EUC) program provides guidance on planning and implementing home energy improvements, a directory of certified contractors and helps property owners obtain significant energy savings rebates and financing. Oakland is participating with other communities throughout Alameda County and across the state in offering this program. Learn more about Energy Upgrade California.
Weatherization and Energy Retrofit Revolving Loan Program Income-eligible property owners can access 0% interest loans ranging from $6,500 - $30,000 for weatherization and energy efficiency improvements to owner-occupied residential properties of 1 - 4 units. View eligibility requirements and instructions to apply.
Weatherization Assistance Program - Income-eligible residents, including both owners and tenants, may qualify for free weatherization services under a Stimulus grant received by the City of Oakland and administered by Alameda County for 1-4 unit homes. Learn more about eligibility requirements, covered weatherization measures, and application procedures or contact Alameda County at (510) 670-6125 or infoweatherization@acgov.org. The Weatherization Assistance Program is funded in whole or in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in cooperation with the California Department of Community Services and Development. See a brief promotional video.
California Youth Energy Services (CYES)
The Rising Sun Energy Center has operated the California Youth Energy Services (CYES) program in Oakland since 2005. CYES provides residents free energy conservation services and hardware. CYES hires and trains local youth to provide free in-home energy audits, education and hardware installation to low-income homeowners and renters.
Rebate Programs
California Energy Commission Renewable Energy Program - The California Energy Commission offers cash rebates for selected renewable energy systems that generate electricity. Learn more about the Emerging Renewables Program.
PG&E Programs - PG&E provides incentives and low-cost and investment ideas to help customers save energy and money, energy-efficiency tips for residential customers and ways companies can reduce energy use and save money. Learn more by visiting PG&E's website.
Consumer Energy Center - Information on over 70 energy-related rebates available to consumers.
Financial Assistance Programs
REACH (Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help) - This one-time energy bill assistance program helps low-income customers—particularly the elderly, disabled, sick, working poor and the unemployed—who experience severe, uncontrollable or unplanned hardships and are unable to pay for their energy needs. To apply for REACH assistance, contact the Salvation Army at 2794 Garden St., Oakland, CA 94601 or phone (800) 933-9677 or (510) 645-9710 Ext. 201.
LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) - Eligible low-income people can receive financial assistance through local governmental and non-profit organizations to offset the costs of heating and cooling. Help is also available for weatherizing homes to make them more energy efficient. For more information call (866) 675-6623.
Services for Medical "Baseline" & Life-Support Customers - Customers dependent on life-support equipment and those with special heating or cooling needs may be eligible to receive a "standard" Medical Baseline quantity of approximately 500 kilowatt hours of electricity and/or 25 therms of gas per month at the lowest price. To apply for Medical Baseline call (800) 743-5000. Hearing impaired (TDD) (800) 652-4712
Energy Programs for Businesses
Various programs are available in Oakland to help commercial property owners and tenants improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs.
Oakland Shines Downtown Commercial Energy Retrofit Program
The City of Oakland has teamed with local partners to recently launch the Oakland Shines program – an exciting energy reduction program that helps local businesses manage energy costs in Oakland's downtown business area. Oakland Shines is targeting all businesses in a 120-block area of downtown core, with a goal of achieving up to a 20% reduction in energy use from 80% of businesses in this downtown area over the next two years. The program offers free-start-to-finish technical assistance and cash rebates to eliminate or help defray the cost of installing energy efficient equipment from lighting changes to HVAC upgrades. This is one of the most ambitious neighborhood energy consumption reduction programs in the country. With the rising cost of energy, Oakland Shines offers Oakland's businesses a chance to reduce operating costs and to invest savings into growing their businesses, while attracting more business to Oakland. Visit the Oakland Shines website.
Citywide Offerings
Smart Lights
Oakland businesses throughout the city can also take advantage of special assistance and incentives offered through the Smart Lights program. Smart Lights is specially designed to help small businesses become more energy-efficient. The program offers free start-to-finish technical assistance and install rebates to help defray the cost of upgrading and/or repairing existing equipment. Smart Lights can help with comprehensive lighting retrofits, refrigeration tune-ups, controls, seals replacement, replacing domestic hot water heaters, and referrals to appropriate HVAC programs. Contact Smart Lights today.
PG&E Energy Programs for Businesses
PG&E offers a number of programs offering support to help Oakland businesses reduce energy use and save money. Visit PG&E's website to learn more.
Energy Efficiency Loans for Small Business
SAFE-BIDCO (State Assistance Fund for Enterprise, Business and Industrial Development Corporation) offers loans to small businesses and non-profit organizations of up to $350,000 at an interest rate fixed at primate for equipment that conserves or controls energy use in new or existing facilities.
Tips for Conserving Energy at Home & Work
We can all help to reduce energy use by practicing energy conservation. Follow the links below to learn more.
- Energy Conservation Tips
- Appliance Tips from the Consumer Energy Center (California Energy Commission)
- Flex Your Power
- Home Energy Saver
City Facilities Energy Improvement Program
Energy Efficiency
The City of Oakland is demonstrating the value of energy efficiency through the work of its City Facilities Energy Improvement Program. This progressive energy management program is focused on continuously improving energy efficiency in municipal buildings, traffic signals and street lights. The City has retrofitted 102 of its 115 largest facilities (representing more than 60% of total building area), creating energy cost savings of over $1 million per year to the City's budget.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Projects Generate Energy and Cost Savings!
The City of Oakland, Public Works Agency received $3.9 million in ARRA stimulus funding for an Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) from the U.S. Department of Energy. This funding is being used for six projects in the City to improve energy efficiency and city operations, retain jobs, and lower operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The six projects are: lighting upgrades to City facilities including City Hall; heating and ventilation upgrades to old systems at the Police Administration building and Civic Center; bicycle lane improvements; conversion of Civic Center data center servers to virtual servers; green building training for City staff, and synchronization of traffic signals near the Coliseum and Hegenberger Road to improve traffic and transit flow during events and reduce fuel use. For more information about the City of Oakland ARRA projects please visit the City's Economic Recovery and Reinvestment page.
Solar Energy
The City has installed 1 Megawatt of solar electric panels on the rooftops of our Municipal Service Center and the downtown ice rink. These panels provide approximately 2.3% of our municipal electric load.
Green Civic Buildings
The City has adopted a Civic Green Building Ordinance requiring all new City facilities over $3 million in construction costs to meet LEED Silver green building standards, and has received green business certification for its Civic Center, Heavy Equipment Shop and Municipal Services Center facilities.
The City's Energy Group is planning energy efficiency improvement projects for all remaining City facilities.
