Home Oakley Oakley, Launches HERO PACE Program to Help Homeowners Conserve Energy and Water

Oakley, Launches HERO PACE Program to Help Homeowners Conserve Energy and Water

by ECT

New form of financing provided to help residents install solar, HVAC, energy‐saving windows, water‐saving technologies and more; Payments made through property taxes, interest is taxdeductible

City-of-OakleyLast week, five cities in Contra Costa County officially launched the HERO Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program, which enables homeowners and commercial property owners to make energy‐ and water‐efficiency improvements and pay them off through their property tax bill. The cities include Oakley, Brentwood, San Pablo, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek.

“The City of Oakley is committed to supporting a robust local economy with ample opportunities for high‐quality employment,” said Bryan H. Montgomery, Oakley City Manager. “We are excited to be able to offer HERO financing to Oakley homeowners who are interested in making energy‐ and water‐saving investments in their homes. These types of investments increase demand for contractor services, improve property values and help to curb demand for water and energy during this time of drought.”

Concord has already launched HERO. Antioch, Danville, El Cerrito, Lafayette, Martinez, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, and Richmond are set to launch this summer.

Property owners repay the assessment over 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. Interest is tax deductible, and homeowners see immediate savings on electric and water utility bills.

“Homeowners know that investing in energy and water efficiency saves money in the long run. Now most homeowners can access affordable financing to make these efficiency upgrades,” said Blair McNeill, Vice President of Community Development for Renovate America, the company that administers the HERO Program. “HERO is helping homeowners realize tomorrow’s energy efficient future today.”

The HERO Program has now been adopted by 290 communities in California. HEROʹs success in California is part of a national trend, with PACE programs now flourishing in 31 states. The new financing model is quickly becoming a cornerstone of Americaʹs push for cleaner power and energy independence.

A wide variety of energy‐saving products are available through HERO. These include solar panel installations, whole‐home heating and cooling (HVAC) systems, energy‐saving windows and doors, roofing and insulation. As Californiaʹs drought drags on, eligible retrofits give homeowners a fast, affordable way to lower their water bill and conserve a desperately‐needed resource with products ranging from high‐efficiency toilets to droughttolerant
landscaping.

HERO now serves 10 million households in California. It has helped fund more than 28,000 residential efficiency projects, totaling more than $550 million in financing. By stimulating home renovation activity, the HERO program increases demand for contractor services. In this way, HERO has helped to create 4,700 jobs in CA since beginning in earnest in December 2011.

HERO leads the industry with their proactive consumer protection policy. HERO requires participating contractors to undergo rigorous training aimed at ensuring customers are fully informed about the costs and benefits of the program. Funding for projects is made available to the contractor only after the homeowner has indicated full satisfaction with and completion of the project. HERO also staffs a hotline to respond to homeowner queries that is available for 15 hours each day. In a recent survey, 96% of more than 2,000 participants in the Program said they would recommend HERO to a relative or friend.

Cities and counties need only pass a resolution in order to make PACE programs like HERO available to local property owners. The program has received the Governorʹs Environmental and Economic Leadership Award, the Urban Land Institute Best of the Best and the Southern California Association of Governments Presidentʹs Award for Excellence. Taking part in the HERO Program is 100% voluntary for both jurisdictions and property
owners. The program is cost neutral to participating local governments.

To learn more about the HERO Financing Program, and to apply, property owners can visit
www.HEROProgram.com or call 855‐HERO‐411 (855‐437‐6411).

Del-Sol-EnergyFor more information on how Del Sol Energy of Brentwood may reduce your energy costs, contact them at 925.350.4121 or visit them online at www.delsolnrg.com

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