On January 16, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., recognized the Bay Area Regional Energy Network’s (BayREN) Multifamily program with an Exemplary Program Award as one of America’s outstanding energy efficiency programs.

The Bay Area Multifamily Building Enhancements Program (BAMBE), managed by StopWaste, offers cash rebates and no-cost energy consulting for multifamily properties that undertake energy and water upgrades. 

In California, there are more than three million multifamily buildings, accounting for approximately 24 percent of residential energy use and about 11 percent of all building energy use in the state. Over 70 percent of these buildings were constructed prior to 1978, before there were efficiency standards. Energy and water efficiency improvements in these buildings can provide significant cost savings for renters and property owners, and can help municipalities meet their greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Since 2013, the program has helped upgrade over 31,000 units at 458 properties, providing over $22.5 million in rebates and technical assistance to over 80,000 units across the Bay Area. The total cumulative program savings was 850 thousand therms of gas and 11.7 million kilowatts of electricity. From the more than 450 properties that have participated in BAMBE, BayREN has gained valuable insight into how to evolve the program to target the deep energy savings required to meet California’s efficiency and climate goals.

“These programs are delivering energy savings that help customers reduce their costs and maintain comfortable, durable, safe homes and productive businesses. They also make an important environmental contribution by reducing pollution from the use of fossil fuels,” said Rachel Gold, ACEEE’s Utilities Program senior manager. 

The program is one of 53 outstanding programs profiled in the full report, The New Leaders of the Pack: ACEEE’s Fourth National Review of Exemplary Energy Efficiency Programs. 

Visit www.bayareamultifamily.org to learn more.