Must-Know Info: The Best California Plumbing Rebates for Energy Conscious Homeowners

There are a lot of things that Californians like us know about that folks in other states simply don’t. Like how long our summer really can be, and how much rain we sometimes get in spring (yes, it rains in California from time to time!). Having lived in Sacramento my whole life, I also know how to navigate all the many highways and interchanges that lead out to The Bay, down to Yosemite, or over to Lake Tahoe—some of my favorite spots on earth.

But there are more complicated things that it pays to know about when you live in California, including the 411 on the best California plumbing rebates that promote efficiency in your home. There are a number of rebates that homeowners can get to make their plumbing more environmentally friendly (as well as more friendly to your wallet), but you can’t get any of them if you don’t know what they are and how to apply for them.

So, that’s what we’re going to talk about today—the must know info on California plumbing rebates, what they do for you, and how an experienced contractor can help you navigate the waters (pun intended!) of these programs.

The Best California Plumbing Rebates for Homeowners

When it comes to looking after the environment, we all want to do our part. Sometimes, though, upfront costs associated with updating our homes to be water or energy efficient can seem prohibitive to many homeowners. When there’s a financial incentive to help keep the world a greener place, though, it’s a lot easier to spring into action. That’s why people are generally so excited to hear about the incredible rebates available here in California for energy-efficient plumbing upgrades.

When there’s a financial incentive to help keep the world a greener place, though, it’s a lot easier to spring into action.

If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency in your home by installing a tankless water heater or replacing your old, leaky pipes, these are the plumbing rebate and incentive programs in California that you want to pay attention to:

PACE

This public-private partnership offers loans for home upgrades that improve a home’s overall energy efficiency, including its water conservation. If you’re thinking of installing low-flow water fixtures and/or efficient hot water heaters, for instance, you may be eligible for PACE financing. What’s really cool about PACE is that the loan balance stays with the home (and new homeowner) if you decide to sell in the future.

Learn more about the PACE program

HERO

HERO is a local government-approved program that offers up to 100% financing to California homeowners looking to make water and energy-efficient home renovations. Water-saving alterations to your lawn, like drought-tolerant landscaping and artificial turf, may be covered by HERO, as well as irrigation systems, water catchment systems, and high-efficiency faucets, toilets, and showerheads.

Learn more about HERO Financing

SMUD

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s Residential Energy program offers some great rebates on energy and water-conserving appliances, like clothing washers and heat pumps, to name a few.

Learn more about SMUD

CaliforniaFIRST

CalFIRST pays upfront for water and energy-efficient upgrades for your home, with repayment plans anywhere between 5 and 30 years. Artificial turf, along with other water-saving upgrades is covered. This program does require that you work with a Renew Financial Registered Contractor, like the friendly folks at Bell Brothers, to do the work for your water-saving home upgrade. P.S. – Bell Brothers can also help you through the CalFIRST application process.

Learn more about CalFIRST

Ygrene

This program offers 100% financing with no money down for homeowners looking to make certain energy-efficient upgrades to their homes. The best part is that the balance gets tacked on to your property tax, so paying back the loan is super simple. Ygrene finances projects like low-flow plumbing, artificial turf, and drip irrigation installation.

Learn more about Ygrene

How Experienced California Plumbing Contractors Make the Difference

Unlike water, there’s no shortage of California plumbing rebate or financing programs around Sacramento. While this is a huge advantage, it can also be a little tricky to know which one would suit you and your project best. That’s why working with an experienced plumbing contractor who is well-versed in all of these programs is a really good idea.

Expert California contractors, like the folks at Bell Brothers, can come to your home and assess its water-efficiency so that they can tell you which projects they think would save you the most money and energy.

Expert California contractors, like the folks at Bell Brothers, can come to your home and assess its water-efficiency so that they can tell you which projects they think would save you the most money and energy. Then they’ll direct you towards the plumbing rebate program that will get you the biggest bang for your buck, help you out with the application process, and do the work on your home once your application has been approved. It really couldn’t be simpler.

What I love most about these plumbing rebate programs in California is that they not only benefit homeowners by helping them increase the efficiency of their homes and save big on energy bills, they also benefit our lovely state and even the world at large. Making our homes and our planet healthier places to live has truly never been easier.

At Bell Brothers, our trained HVAC professionals would be happy to help you make your home more energy and water-efficient by helping you apply for a plumbing rebate or financing program, and then upgrading the plumbing system in your home. Contact us today to schedule a free in-home consultation.

Image courtesy Yastremska