“What Is the SMUD Home Performance Program?” Dev in Sacramento Asks an HVAC Expert

smud home performance programOur friend Dev down in Sacramento hears about the SMUD home performance program from time to time, but he’s never been too sure about what it actually is—or could do for him. Dev wants to know:

“I’ve always believed that there are no bad questions, except for the questions that you wonder but don’t ask. So, with that in mind, I have what you probably think is a fairly obvious question. See, my neighbors keep telling me about all these financing programs they’ve been able to use to help them get energy efficient home upgrades paid for upfront with no money down. I’d like some more specifics.

Namely, I want to know: What is the SMUD home performance program? While we’re at it, I’d also like to know what some of the other top options for home energy efficiency financing programs are, and how would you recommend a homeowner go about determining which one is exactly right for his or her individual home? Thank you in advance. I’m a huge fan of your blog, especially the question and answer posts!” -Dev in Sacramento

Dev, my friend, you are being far too kind. I hate to break it to you, but you are also being way, way too hard on yourself. In my experience as an HVAC professional, the vast majority of homeowners have heard of these energy efficiency financing programs, but, like you, they don’t really know the specifics. That’s why today I’m happy to answer your question and to talk about the SMUD home performance program, some similar options available in Northern California, and how fine folks like you can go about picking the right one for your home!

What Is the SMUD Home Performance Program?

I’ve talked in the past about the SMUD home performance program, even going into detail about the benefits of investing in SMUD energy efficient appliances, but I still get the question so often from Dev and other folks just like him, that I really think it bears repeating. First things first, SMUD stands for Sacramento Municipal Utility District; you may recognize them as the folks you pay your utility bill to.

It’s a residential energy efficiency loan program that’s designed to make it far easier for homeowners to pay for energy conserving home investments that will save them money in the long term.

smud home energy efficiency programsWhat you may not know, though, is that SMUD offers this home performance program too. It’s a residential energy efficiency loan program that’s designed to make it far easier for homeowners to pay for energy conserving home investments that will save them money in the long term. These home investments include things like double pane windows, smart thermostats, insulation for your walls, and much, much more. A trained and experienced HVAC professional will be more happy to walk you through the list and let you know more about what you need to do to take advantage of the program.

What Are Some Similar Options to the SMUD Home Performance Program?

When it comes to this subject, the great part about being a homeowner in Northern California is that in addition to the SMUD home performance program, there are a number of other top California energy efficiency financing programs that you can choose from as well. In fact, a common complaint I hear from homeowners is that they have too many options!

Here is a list of the programs that folks in our area have to choose from:

How to Pick the Right Home Energy Efficiency Program for Your Home

The last part of Dev’s question above just so happens to also be the trickiest: How do you choose between the SMUD home performance program and the other similar incentive programs that are available in our area? Well, there really is no simple answer to this particular inquiry.

The fact of the matter is that these programs all share quite a bit in common, and the differences between them are somewhat minor. They do, however, exist, and so you’ll definitely want to make sure that you pick the exact right option for you and your home. The way I suggest doing this is by working with a trained HVAC professional. An experienced and well-regarded HVAC company can easily help you navigate these sometimes cloudy waters, finding the absolutely perfect choice for your home.

I really hope that clears some things up for you, Dev. I think the thing that I most want to stress is that being curious about the SMUD home performance program is a great thing! You really should, as a responsible homeowner, know all that you can about it. There’s just so many benefits to taking advantage of incentives that help you afford things like double pane windows, smart thermostats, and other energy efficiency upgrades.

As I also mentioned above, navigating this subject matter can be a pretty challenging thing for a homeowner to figure out on his or her own. That’s why I suggest working with HVAC professionals like us here at Bell Brothers. We have helped hundreds of homeowners in the Sacramento area find the exact right program for them and their needs, and we’d be more than happy to help you out as well. So gives us a call today!

Learn more about how the SMUD home performance program, coupled with the help of the No Surprise Guys, can benefit you in a whole-house approach to energy efficiency. Contact the professionals at Bell Brothers for a whole house consultation, from windows to pipes, HVAC to insulation.

Wondering about other ways to finance your new HVAC system, windows, or plumbing? HERO is a unique financing option that helps California homeowners afford energy efficient upgrades to their home. Contact Bell Brothers, a HERO approved contractor, to learn more. Our local HVAC, plumbing, and window specialists will walk you through the entire process, from applications to installation.

Image courtesy lovelyday12