ACT NOW:

ENERGY & BUILDINGS

The energy we use in our buildings contributes about 26% of our emissions in the Bay Area.

Eliminating fossil fuel gas in our buildings is essential: burning gas creates a serious indoor health issue as well as polluting the air we breathe outside. It's not just our appliances, but the energy we use just to keep the lights on and our buildings warm — and cool. Here are actions you can take - from "easy, I can do that right now!", to getting gas out of your home, electrifying everything, and where to get expert help, rebates, and inspiration. Health + comfort + money saved!

Level 1

Actions you can take right now.

Level 2

Take the next step.

Level 3

Get inspired to do more!

Actions you can take right now (if we use less, we pay less!)

Turn off appliances you're not using

The simplest thing we can all do is remember to turn off what we're not using: lights, computers, video games, the stereo, and any appliance that does not need to be on. "Vampire electricity" is pulled from anything that's plugged into a wall socket, even if the light, phone charger, or coffee maker is not turned on and being used. This can add about 25% to our electricity bills!

Try this:

Use power strips to turn off several things with the flick of one switch and protect against power surges at the same time.
Unplugging anything that isn't being used saves even more.

Use less electricity from 4-9pm

The demand for electricity is much higher in the evening, making it more expensive. It's also "dirtier" electricity because there's less renewable energy available in the evenings - another reason to use less and save more. If we use less electricity from 4-9 PM every day, we'll hit the "energy sweet spot".

Try this:

Wait until after 9 PM (or the next morning) to do the laundry, use the dishwasher, or start any energy-intensive projects.
Learn more at Energy Upgrade California.

Don't waste water

Pumping water from the source through the all the pipes to our faucets uses an enormous amount of energy. Surprised? We can save a lot on our water bills if we pay attention to a few small things and change a few small habits.

Try this:

Turn off the tap! Don't let water run.
Use water-saving faucet aerators.
Do most of your laundry on the "COLD" cycle.
Run your dishwasher when it's full.
Check your local water agency for more tips & rebates.

Level 2

Take the next step

Make a plan: start with a free energy audit

Getting an energy audit is a great way to start. It will give you a clear picture of how you use energy, which appliances and systems use the most, and which ones will provide the "biggest bang for the buck" when you replace them. Start with low-cost, high-impact solutions and plan for bigger improvements.

Try this:

Renters & Homeowners can request a no-cost Green House Call from Rising Sun Center for Opportunity. The visit includes a visual energy audit and may include switching out your existing incandescent lamps for no-cost LEDs, low flow faucets, and more. Visit Green House Call.

Businesses can reduce energy consumption, enhance air quality, and improve the comfort of your building for customers and employees. Take advantage of the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) Business Programs, and their no-cost, no-obligation energy assessments are an excellent place to start. They also offer no-cost technical assistance and cash rebates. Bay Area businesses can benefit from incentives available for energy efficient HVAC, refrigeration, LED lighting, water heating, envelope improvements, and more.

In addition, BayREN has a Refrigerant Replacement program for local food and floral businesses. Receive incentives to replace harmful refrigerants with environmentally friendlier options at low to no-cost.

Next, make a plan to replace your gas appliances - see #3 below!

Make the switch to renewable energy

Using renewable energy from solar, wind, and water reduces the demand for electricity from fossil fuels that pollute, like gas and oil. Community Choice Energy programs (CCEs/CCAs) are local, public, not-for-profit, are governed by locally-elected boards, and provide their communities with a true alternative to the electricity provided by investor-owned utilities, like PG&E. How it works:

COMMUNITY CHOICE

PROGRAM

REGIONAL UTILITY

(PG&E)

YOU -

THE RATEPAYER

There are seven non-profit Community Choice Energy agencies serving all of the Bay Area, dedicated to bringing you clean renewable electricity and lower rates. CCEs invest directly in the communities they serve, offering many programs besides the electricity itself, like rebates for electrification, EV charging, workforce training, and more. Learn more about CCEs.

Are you a customer of your local CCE? Probably, but check your utility bill - you'll see a line item for "Generation". Connect with your community's CCE using the links below, have your monthly energy bill ready, and find the programs that are right for your home, school, or business.

Try this:

MCE Clean Energy — Deep Green (Marin, Contra Costa, Napa, Solano)
Sonoma Clean Power — EverGreen
Clean Power SF — SuperGreen
AVA/East Bay Community Energy — Renewable 100
WestLight Energy/PCE — Eco100 (San Mateo County & Los Banos)
Silicon Valley Clean Energy — Green Prime
San Jose Clean Energy — TotalGreen

Improve energy efficiency & update your lighting

If we use less energy to begin with we save money on our energy bills, whether in our homes or where we work.

Try this:

Everything you need to know about retrofitting your home is in this free Pocket Guide that you can download from the team at Redwood Energy.

Rewiring America has extensive how-to guides for homeowners, renters, and businesses. Everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask - or weren't even sure of the questions - are in these free downloadable handbooks.

More good news: there are numerous rebate and incentive programs available from the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN), your utility company and your Community Choice Energy agency, as well as your county, town, or city: contact your county's Sustainability office.

There are free energy upgrades and rebates from Bay Area Regional Energy Network. BayREN and your electricity provider can help you install smart thermostats, attic insulation, duct sealing, and pipe insulation.

Many counties and cities, and all of our local Community Choice Energy providers have programs to assist you in making your space more comfortable year-round and more energy efficient. Find your county on our Home page and your local CCE in the list above.

Replace your old lightbulbs with LEDs. They save you money because they use about 90% less energy than regular bulbs and can last up to 10 years. They're also cool to the touch, unlike older bulbs that emit heat in every direction, which makes them safer, too. LEDs come in every style, brightness, color, and appearance that mimic the older and less efficient bulbs but use a fraction of the energy. Take the mystery out of which bulb to get for your lighting needs: Energy Star LED Buying Guide.

Electrify everything — the switch is on, Bay Area!

Anything that is powered by gas emits significant amounts of harmful gases, like methane, nitrous oxides, and carbon monoxide, and they leak even when they're not on. Getting gas out of our buildings by replacing fossil fuel appliances is a priority: that makes indoor air quality healthier, especially for people who have asthma or other breathing issues. Take a look at our Transportation page for ways to reduce outside air pollution (hint: walk and bike more, take public transportation, and electrify your ride).

Make a plan to replace gas appliances

Replacing our stoves, water heaters, furnaces, and clothes dryers - that's a lot!

Try this:

Start by noting which appliances use gas, how old they are, and estimate how many years are left before they break down or burn out.

With that information you can prioritize your next steps and decide when to replace them before something breaks down and it's an emergency - like when your furnace or water heater quits.

Take another look at the list of resources just above - food for thought!

Induction cooktops are not your father's electric stove!

Induction cooktops use a magnetic field instead of a gas flame or electric coil. They're much faster and more responsive than electric OR gas stoves, and are more energy efficient than traditional electric cooktops. Only your pans heat up, the smooth surface stays cool to the touch - they're easy to clean, too. And there won't be any toxic fumes from using gas.

Try this:

Watch this induction cooktop video demonstration.
Not quite ready to ditch your gas stove? Start with a single hotplate, or an electric hot water pot. It's an inexpensive way to use less gas indoors, which will improve the air you breathe, especially during the months when doors and windows remain closed.

PG&E has a free induction cooktop loaner program. Anyone can try a plug-in countertop induction unit for their home, apartment, or business for two weeks, at no cost.

Some community organizations and libraries have counter-top induction hobs that you can borrow.

We use our stoves every day, so let's start here:

Coming soon: All about heat-pump water heaters, HVAC, patio solar, and battery storage

Decisions? Get free expert advice!

The Switch Is On is a non-profit program from the Building Decarbonization Coalition. They make it easier to understand your options, get excited about the benefits, and connect with trusted resources, rebates, and expertise - all the steps to better heating, cooling, and cooking, making your electrification journey simple and affordable.

QuitCarbon is a free concierge service right here in the Bay Area, providing support every step of the way for residential property owners. They'll assess your needs and what you want to do, make a personalized plan, find rebates and incentives - including income-qualified support programs. Explore rooftop and plug-in solar, heat pump water heaters, heating and cooling systems that replace both gas furnaces and air conditioners, battery storage, EV charging, induction stoves, heat-pump clothes dryers, rewiring and electric panel upgrades, insulation, energy-efficient windows (and more!).

Bay Area SunShares

The Bay Area SunShares is a program of Act Now Bay Area and makes it simple and more affordable for Bay Area property owners to add rooftop solar and battery storage to help reduce electricity costs and build regional resilience to climate change. We negotiate discounts with pre-vetted installers and pool their buying power, bringing the savings to you.

SunShares has been around for almost twenty years and the discount program runs for a limited time every fall. Whether you're concerned about power failures, want to own your electricity supply, reduce and eliminate fossil fuel from your home, and take advantage of discounts and rebates in 2026 and stay tuned to learn more about what SunShares will offer Bay Area homeowners in 2027, including additional electrification programs, like heat-pump water heaters.