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BayREN Increases Rebates for Energy-Efficiency and Electrification Retrofits in Multifamily Buildings

January 27, 2023
SAN FRANCISCO – The Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) is pleased to announce new rebates for rental housing providers, including nonprofit developers and small, independent property owners, through the popular Bay Area Multifamily Building Enhancement (BAMBE) program managed by StopWaste. This flexible program offers no-cost technical assistance and rebates ranging from $500-$5,000+ per unit to help building owners make energy upgrades, resulting in lower monthly utility bills and maintenance costs while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
 
Since its inception in 2013, the nationally-recognized BAMBE program has upgraded over 45,000 units throughout the nine-county Bay Area and paid over $34 million in direct rebates to property owners. Enrolled participants receive a free on-site assessment from an energy expert who recommends a site-specific scope of work that best meets the building’s needs and participants’ goals. As noted by Deborah Vasquez, Property Manager of Sunshine Gardens Apartments in Santa Clara County, “[the BAMBE program] is a win-win-win: residents have lower energy bills and improved comfort; management saves money on common area utility costs; and the environment and broader community benefit from less pollution.”
 
The program changes directly align with the California Public Utility Commission’s (CPUC) Equity Policy Goals by introducing four bonus rebates focused on improving resident health, comfort, and safety:
  • Base rebate – $500 per unit for qualifying projects that include 2 or more measures and reduce energy consumption by 10% or more
  • Electrification adder – Varying per-unit rebates for high-efficiency electric heating equipment.
  • Health Burden adder – Additional $500 per unit for properties located in communities with high levels of air pollution and asthma that install building upgrades to improve indoor air quality.
  • Heat Resilience adder – Additional $500 per unit for properties located in communities with high vulnerability to extreme heat that install building upgrades to reduce indoor summer temperatures.
  • Housing Burden adder – Up to a doubling of all other program rebates for properties located in communities with high housing burdens that install building upgrades to lower in-unit utility bills.
Participating properties located in communities with overlapping health, heat, or housing burdens may qualify for multiple rebate adders to receive total potential incentives of $5,000 or more per unit*. “Housing affordability is one of the biggest issues facing our region. The BAMBE program changes help reduce the utility and operating costs of buildings while also providing health and comfort benefits for the residents. BayREN’s commitment to equity and helping the state meet its ambitious climate goals is reflected in these program changes. These changes also stem from the CPUC’s landmark decision that seeks to better address equitable access of energy efficiency programs to those communities that are the most burdened,” notes Jennifer Berg, BayREN Program Administrator.
 
Eligible multifamily properties must have five or more residential dwelling units and be located within the nine-county Bay Area as well as within PG&E service territory. Priority is given to properties that are affordable, older, smaller, are in a disadvantaged community, or have a resident-ownership structure. Building upgrades that have already been completed or are in progress are not eligible for rebates. Funding is limited and interested property owners are encouraged to enroll today by submitting a brief online interest form at www.BayREN.org/eligibility.
 
More information about BayREN and energy-saving programs for homeowners, small businesses, contractors, local government staff, and more can be found at www.BayREN.org.
 
Media Contact: Yeymi Reyes, BayREN Communications yreyes@bayareametro.gov or (415) 778-5223.
 
*Full rebate amounts and requirements can be found at www.bayren.org/multifamily-property-owners/building-improvements
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