Climate Action Toolkit

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Key Resources

Read Part 2 of the Resilient Neighborhoods Handbook covering Home Energy and explore the Toolkit sections below to choose the home energy actions you will take and learn how to take those actions.

Get Information

- Review How to Create a Zero-Carbon, Low-Impact Household (Slide)

- Quit Carbon will provide you with a free personalized, comprehensive plan to electrify your home.

REDWOOD ENERGY
- Pocket Guide to Home Electrification

- Summary of Home Electric Retrofits

- Redwood Energy Watt Diet Calculator

Products & Contractors

PRODUCTS

- PGE Top Energy Products

- See Pages 40-87 of Redwood Energy Pocket Guide to Home Electrification

FIND A CONTRACTOR

- The Switch Is On (Note: Be sure to find a contractor that is eligible for the rebates you will be using)

Financials & Incentives

FINANCING
- Financing Opportunities for Energy Upgrades

INCENTIVES
- Find incentives with "The Switch is On" Calculator
- California Energy-Smart Homes (funding fully committed for 2026- submit application to get on waitlist for 2027)
- EASE program: watch this 2.5-minute video and sign up

- The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Home Energy: Actions 6-1 thru 6-33

Easy - Get Started Now (5 minutes to 1 hour)

Click the (+/-) sign next to the action number to (view/ hide) the information for that action.

FOR RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS
- Sign Up for Rising Sun's Free Green House Call. Fill out the online form to receive this free service. You will receive a no-cost kit including items such as LED light bulbs, a smart power strip, a single-burner induction cooktop, induction cookware, a smart LED light bulb (it stays lit during power outages!), high-efficiency bathroom & kitchen faucet aerators, foam weather tape, a toilet leak detection kit, an energy savings booklet, and more.
* Please note that Rising Sun does not service mobile homes.

- Make sure to get credit for these actions if you take them: Water Actions 4-8, 4-10, 4-11; and Home Energy Action 6-6.

- As an alternative, if you are income-qualified, you can get a free in-person energy assessment from MCE and free energy upgrades.

- Or, if you like to DIY, you can do this PGE Home Energy Checkup.

CHOOSE FROM ONE OF THESE OPTIONS

- Quit Carbon: For a comprehensive assessment and report, sign up for the free service offered by Quit Carbon. Once you share some information about your household, they'll provide a detailed report on clean energy upgrades for your home. They'll also give you the relevant rebate info and cost estimates for the work, and connect you with contractors you can choose to hire for the job.

- Marin Sustainability Team: You can also reach out to the Marin Sustainability Team with questions about rebates and incentives, or general advice about how to proceed with your upgrades. Contact Kellen Dammann at 415-473-2698 or message him through the Electrify Marin web page.

- Home Intel: HomeIntel is an energy-saving program for PG&E customers. It includes a free Smart Audit account and a personal energy coach. Home Energy Analytics has partnered with PG&E, so there is no cost to PG&E customers.

Action 6-3. Upgrade to renewable electricity

- Switching to renewable electricity is an easy action that you can take to reduce carbon emissions. For this action, take credit for all your carbon emissions from electricity use on your Carbon Footprint Report.

- Enroll in MCE Deep Green. This plan costs just 1.25 cents per kwh in addition to the light green standard rate- for the average household, that is just $5 more per month.

Action 6-4. Get others to switch to renewable electricity

- Most people don't know that they can increase their renewable energy for only about $5 per month. You can earn 2,163 pounds on your Action Plan by getting others to switch to 100% renewable electricity. Just verify they did it, and put their name in the "Notes" column on your Action Plan.

- Download the Help Others Go Deep Green handout.

Action 6-5. Tell the landlord of your multifamily building about financial incentives, free technical assistance, and energy savings

EV CHARGING STATIONS

- Your landlord can install EV charging stations and get a rebate for Multifamily Properties from MCE. Plus, MCEv is offering free technical assistance to help make your project a reality.

ENERGY & WATER SAVING MEASURES

- BayREN offers no-cost consulting and many energy efficiency rebates to multifamily property owners ranging from $500 to $1,500 per unit; up to $5,000 for property upgrades: check them out here.

- MCE provides a free comprehensive assessment and technical assistance for energy and water saving measures to eligible multifamily properties, helping both building owners and tenants save energy and money with recommended adjustments (up to $6,000 per unit for electrification measures). Property must have at least 5 units and offer affordable housing or be a deed-restricted property.

CONTACT YOUR MULTI-FAMILY LANDLORD
-Here’s some information you may want to share with your landlord:
1) Electrification makes buildings cheaper to operate. The average household can save $650 per year using electric appliances instead of fossil fuel alternatives, a Rewiring America analysis showed.
2) Electrification raises a building’s value. Installing a heat pump can increase the value of a home by up to 7 percent, according to one study.
3) Electrification is better for the planet. Natural gas usage in our buildings is a driver of climate change. Energy use in buildings is the source of about one-third of all U.S. emissions. Electrification is necessary to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and protect our shared climate.
4) Electrification protects your health. Gas appliances worsen indoor air quality and release dangerous pollutants — even when those appliances are not in use. More than 12 percent of all childhood asthma cases can be linked to the use of a gas stove, a recent study found.

Action 6-6. Install energy-efficient lighting

UPGRADE TO LED LIGHT BULBS
- See Action 6-1 to get free LED light bulbs from Rising Sun! Changing your bulbs can make a big impact on energy use. Incandescent bulbs use the most power and emit the most CO2.
- Note: If you are changing out Compact Fluorescent bulbs - CFLs - (the curly ones), they contain mercury and are extremely hazardous - they must be disposed of at one of the locations below. LED bulbs must also be disposed of at one of these locations because they have trace amounts of arsenic.

DISPOSE OF CFL and LED BULBS AT THESE LOCATIONS

- Bulb & Battery Drop Off Locations
- Marin Household Hazardous Waste Facility

- Novato Household Hazardous Waste Facility

- Mill Valley Refuse Service (they will pick up)

Action 6-7. Turn off all electronic appliances when not in use

- Learn how to identify and unplug standby appliances.

- Check out a "Kill A Watt® EZ" at the Marin County Library. This device empowers you to save $100's on electric bills. Now you can cut your energy costs and find out what appliances are actually worth keeping plugged in. Simply connect these appliances to the Kill A Watt® EZ, and it will assess how much you are paying to use them.

- Earn money by saving power through Ohm Connect. Watch this video to find out how it works.

Action 6-8. Enable the “Sleep” feature on all household computers and monitors

Action 6-9. Switch one or more weekly laundry loads from hot to cold

According to Energy Star, water heating consumes about 90% of the energy it takes to operate a clothes washer. Unless you're dealing with oily stains, washing in cold water will generally do a good job of cleaning. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut energy use in half! Using the cold cycle reduces energy use even more. You will also extend the life of your clothes! When and Why Cold Water Washing Works

Action 6-10. Eliminate one or more weekly dryer loads

- Consider using a clothes line! (Note: Just scroll down after you open the link).
- Click here for other tips.

Action 6-11. Turn down your thermostat in cold weather

In cold weather, set your thermostat to 65-68 degrees when people are home and active, and set it to 55-58 at night and when no one is at home.

Action 6-12. Turn up your thermostat in warm weather

The ideal summer AC temperature to balance comfort and energy savings is 78°F when you are home. Raising your thermostat by 7°F to 10°F for 8 hours a day (e.g., when away) can reduce your annual cooling costs by up to 10%.

- Use ceiling fans: Running ceiling fans creates a wind-chill effect, making the room feel roughly 4 degrees cooler than the actual air temperature.
- Maintain the fan: Set your AC fan setting to "auto" instead of "on". The "on" setting runs the blower constantly, significantly increasing energy costs and recirculating humidity when the compressor isn't actively cooling.
- Keep blinds closed: Block direct sunlight during the hottest peak hours of the day (12 PM to 4 PM) with thermal curtains or blinds to keep natural heat out.
- Upgrade your thermostat: Take advantage of Energy Star smart thermostats to automatically adjust your temperature when you leave or return. (see Action 6-16).

Action 6-13. Set the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees

- Watch "This Old House" DIY video

Action 6-14. Replace or clean furnace or air conditioner filters

- Replace or clean dirty furnace and air conditioner filters every 2 months or so when in operation to lower the energy consumption of these appliances by 5% to 15%. Here's a video that explains how to do it.

- 5 Furnace Mistakes That Will Cost You Money

Easy Projects (1-3 hours)

Action 6-15. Seal smaller leaks in your home by doing it yourself

- How to Insulate your Attic Hatch

- How to Weatherstrip Your Door

- How to Weatherstrip Your Window (Peel & Stick)

- How to Weatherstrip Your Window (Rope Caulk/Sealer)

AIR SEALING INCENTIVES
- The Ease program (NEW) provides 80% cost coverage for things like insulation, duct sealing, and whole-home air sealing. See this video and sign up on the Marin County Interest Form. See the eligibility table (120% Area Median Income Levels in Marin) .

- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded assistance program that provides:

--free energy-efficient upgrades and energy-related home repairs to help lower your energy bills

--a one-time payment of up to $3,000 per year to help pay your energy bills.

Action 6-16. Purchase a programmable thermostat

- A popular model is the Nest Learning Thermostat.

BENEFITS
--Energy Savings: by adjusting the temperature while you are away or asleep, you can save up to 10% or more a year on utility bills.
--Convenience and automation: These devices allow for "set it and forget it" operation, eliminating the need to manually adjust the thermostat daily.
--Optimal Comfort: Customizable schedules ensure the home is warm or cool exactly when needed, such as warming up before you wake up or before you arrive home from work.

--Improved HVAC Efficiency and Lifespan: The system experiences less wear and tear, reducing the need for repairs.

GOLDEN STATE SMART THERMOSTAT INCENTIVES (Expiring Soon!)
- Up to a $60 instant retail rebate
The Golden State Rebates program and its offerings will end after July 31. The final day to reserve a retail coupon will be July 23, and the last day to redeem will be July 31, 2026
--Amazon Smart Thermostat: $40 rebate
--ENERGY STAR Certified Smart Thermostat: $60 rebate

- The Ease program (NEW) provides 80% cost coverage for things like insulation, duct sealing, and whole-home air sealing. See this video and sign up on the Marin County Interest Form. See the eligibility table (120% Area Median Income Levels in Marin). Please note: Participants must have at least insulation, duct improvements, or induction cooking on their scope to proceed with a project.

Get Some Help:
Call a pro. Get quotes. Get the work done.

Action 6-17. Get a home energy score rating

If you think you might want to make more expensive home efficiency upgrades, you might want to receive this audit. Having a home energy score also increases the value of your home if you are planning to sell. The Home Energy Score gives you a rating for your home and a list of things you can do to improve it. For information on what is entailed in a Home Energy Score, visit the Department of Energy website.

REBATE
- The home energy score assessor will visit your home, and a fee is required. However, you likely can get a rebate of $200 from BayREN towards the fee- talk to your assessor!

- Find a BayREN Home Energy Assessor

Action 6-18. Get your furnace tuned up

- Commercial companies will provide this service. It is recommended to do this every year.

Action 6-19. Insulate attic, floors and/or walls

- DOE Guide to Home Insulation
- Where do I Insulate my Home?
- Recommended Home Insulation R–Values

- How to insulate an attic

ATTIC, FLOOR, WALL INSULATION INCENTIVES
-The Ease program (NEW) provides 80% cost coverage for things like insulation, duct sealing, and whole-home air sealing. See this video and sign up on the Marin County Interest Form. See the eligibility table (120% Area Median Income Levels in Marin).

Action 6-20. Seal and insulate heating ducts

- Learn the Benefits of Sealing your Heating Ducts
- How to insulate your heating ducts

HEATING DUCT INSULATION INCENTIVES
- The Ease program (NEW) provides 80% cost coverage for things like insulation, duct sealing, and whole-home air sealing. See this video and sign up on the Marin County Interest Form. See the eligibility table (120% Area Median Income Levels in Marin).

Action 6-21. Install high-efficiency windows

- Energy-efficient windows are designed to prevent your heated or cooled air from escaping from your home. Their increased insulation reduces your home’s energy usage—and therefore, your bills!—while also making your home more comfortable overall.

- According to the Department of Energy, heat gain and loss through windows account for 25-30% of residential heating and cooling use. Explore Energy Saving Window Treatments.

- To determine your CO2 lbs. reduction for window coverings, credit 1,000 lbs. x 100 sq. feet of glass you cover.

Action 6-22. Install solar panels

ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS
- Project Sunroof: discover your home's solar savings potential by entering your home address.

- Add Solar To Your Home: Marin County's solar resource page to get you started with your solar project, help finding a contractor, and more!
- Solar leases v. Solar Purchase Power Agreements (PPAs)
- Federal Tax Credit: The tax credit for homeowners to install solar has expired. However, commercial companies can still get the tax credit. Some solar companies will pass on their tax credit benefits to the customer through leasing, a purchase power agreement, or a prepaid purchase power agreement. There are some special requirements for the credit, and the panels would need to be in operation before the end of 2027. Learn more here.

- Bay Area Sunshares: Every fall from Sept 1 to Nov 15, you can take advantage of a group discount on solar and battery storage. Subscribe to the Bay Area Sunshares e-mail list to get notified about the next opportunity to receive up to three zero-commitment proposals from their pre-vetted installers - for free!

- Financing Loans: There are different options for financing home efficiency and solar projects. PACE loans are attached to your home property tax bill.
- Contractors: Our graduates have had positive experiences with Solar Craft & Sun First Solar. There are many other reputable companies to choose from. Ask friends or search Nextdoor! You can also search on the Switch is On.

PLUG-IN SOLAR PANELS (NEW!) For people who could not get solar before for various reasons like renting, the expense, or roof issues, State legislation that should pass on August 31st will now make it easy and possible. These solar panels can be mounted on a balcony, placed in a yard or elsewhere, and will offer do-it-yourself possibilities. The panels should save money on electric bills and be affordable. A current kit of 2 panels with an inverter costs around $2,000 and will provide 800 watts of electricity. That's enough to power a refrigerator and some small appliances.

- July 2025 KQED Article

- Dec 2025 PBS/KQED Report

Action 6-23. Add battery storage to your solar PV and create an energy-independent home

- Energy Sage Guide to selecting a battery for your solar panels

- Video: Energy Sage- Should You Install a Home Battery?

- Solar + Battery and Generator Fact Sheet: This Marin County fact sheet provides cost estimates, permitting, and other information for backup power.
- Summary of PGE Back Up Power Programs

REBATES & INCENTIVES

-PGE Permanent Battery Storage Rebate: less than 400 rebates left! PG&E first-time battery storage customers may be eligible for this $7,500 rebate on the purchase and installation of a qualifying permanent battery storage system.

This program is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, while funding is available.
See if you qualify: Enter your address into the Wildfire Safety Progress Map.

Make all your Appliances Electric and Energy Efficient

Action 6-24. Make a schedule for replacing your appliances to have more efficient, all-electric appliances by 2030

Make a plan to replace your appliances with Energy Star-certified, efficient electric appliances:

- Older appliances are less efficient, cost you money because of the extra energy they use, and emit more CO2.

- Review the RN Handbook Part 2 to set a schedule for phasing in more efficient appliances.

- When possible, convert your gas appliances to electric. If electrification is not possible, make sure the appliance is Energy Star.

- Replace your gas outdoor equipment with electric. See options here.

Action 6-25. Purchase an electric, high-efficiency / Energy Star clothes washer

Action 6-26. Purchase an electric, high-efficiency / Energy Star clothes dryer

Get a Heat Pump Dryer for the greatest efficiency. A heat pump clothes dryer uses an average of 100-200 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a year compared to a standard electric dryer, which uses 700-800 kWhs.
Carbon savings: eliminating 500 kWh per year of energy use with a heat pump dryer will save about 425 pounds of carbon emissions compared to electric or gas dryers, according to the EPA. That’s a lot from one little appliance.
Check out this Samsung All-in-One Heat Pump Dryer and this review.

Action 6-27. Purchase an Energy Star dishwasher

Action 6-28. Purchase an Energy Star refrigerator

Action 6-29. Switch to an all-electric range or induction cooktop/range

Consider changing out your gas stove, and you will improve the air quality in your home and help the climate:

Check out this NPR segment: We need to talk about your gas stove, your health, and climate change.
This webinar from Electrify Now should provide you with all you need to know about induction cooktops and ranges.
Marin County Free Library offers free loaner induction cooktops for you to try out.

INDUCTION STOVE INCENTIVE
-California Energy-Smart Homes: Great rebates if you convert certain appliances to heat pump/electric. To get this rebate, you must go all electric and not have any gas appliances left to swap out. 2025-2027 Rebate: $4,250+ Note: The funds for 2026 are fully committed. If you expect to install an induction stove in 2027, submit an application now for a chance on the waitlist for 2027.

Action 6-30. Use a portable induction cooktop, instant pot, and/or toaster oven 50%-80% of the time rather than a gas stove or oven (renter & budget-friendly)

- Marin County Free Library branches will loan you a portable induction cooktop to try out for one week.
- You can get a free single-burner induction cooktop (and cookware!) from the Rising Sun Green House Call program (see Action 6-1).

- Here are some sample models.

Action 6-31. Install a heat-pump heating/ cooling system

- Heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners for all climates. Heat pumps work by transferring heat from one place to another using the same process as a refrigerator. They extract heat from the outside air and move it indoors for heating, and do the opposite for cooling by transferring the heat inside your home to the outside. Because they transfer heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can efficiently provide comfortable temperatures for your home year-round.

- We suggest using QuitCarbon or a similar service to help you move forward with your heat pump project. This list of questions for your contractor can be helpful as well.

- Learn more about Heat Pump Space Heating here.
- You may want to explore all-in-one heating, cooling, and hot water with thermal storage offered by Harvest.

HEAT PUMP HEATING/COOLING INCENTIVES

MCE's Heat Pump HVAC Rebate: Install a heat pump heater/air-conditioner (HVAC) and receive a rebate of up to $400 per 500 square feet, plus an additional $2,000 bonus rebate. You must work with a participating contractor, which you can find by clicking on the "Offers MCE rebate" button, plus your county, and the services.
Eligibility:

MCE customers who own and have lived in their single-family detached homes for at least 12 months in MCE’s service area
If your home has solar or EV charging, the equipment must have been installed for at least 12 months
Please note: To qualify for the rebates, you will not be able to install other home electrification projects (including solar, battery storage, or EV charging) for 12 months after your heat pump unit has been completely installed.

California Energy-Smart Homes Rebate: Great rebates if you convert certain appliances to heat pump/electric. To get this rebate, you must go all electric and not have any gas appliances left to swap out. 2025-2027 Rebate: $4,250+ Note: The funds for 2026 are fully committed. If you expect to install your Heat Pump HVAC in 2027 and are replacing your last gas appliance, submit a preliminary application here to get in line.

Replace a wood or pellet-burning stove with a Heat Pump: Bay Area Air District - up to $13,500 rebate: (ALL INCOMES) You must apply and receive a Notice to Proceed from the program administrator before starting work; projects already started are not eligible for reimbursement. No income qualifications. Rebates range from $3,000 to $13,500.

Action 6-32. Heat & cool rooms in your home with room heat pumps rather than using a gas furnace or air conditioner (renter & budget-friendly)

- If you are not able to replace your gas furnace with a heat pump heating & cooling system, check out the Room Heat Pumps to heat and cool a room in your house! Learn more here.

- You can watch an informative Electrify Now webinar here.

Action 6-33. Replace your gas water heater with a heat pump water heater

- Sign up with QuitCarbon to get technical advice on how to prepare for the installation of a heat pump water heater in your home. Click here for Quit Carbon's information page on Heat Pump Water Heaters.

- You may not need to upgrade your electric panel or install a new circuit. Ask your contractor about a shared circuit Heat Pump water heater.

HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER INCENTIVES

MCE's Heat Pump Rebate: Install a heat pump water heater and receive a rebate of up to $3,175. You must work with a participating contractor, which you can find by clicking on the "Offers MCE rebates" button.

Eligibility:

MCE customers who own and have lived in their single-family detached homes for at least 12 months in MCE’s service area.
If your home has solar or EV charging, the equipment must have been installed for at least 12 months.
Please note: To qualify for the rebates, you will not be able to install other home electrification projects (including solar, battery storage, or EV charging) for 12 months after your heat pump unit has been completely installed.

Golden State Heat Pump Water Heater Rebate- Expiring Soon!:
The Golden State Rebates program and its offerings will end after July 31. The final day to reserve a retail coupon will be July 23 and the last day to redeem will be July 31, 2026. Up to $700 in rebates:
Heat pump water heater replacing a natural gas storage tank (fuel substitution)- Rebates:

45-55 gallon. UEF >= 3.30. Must be replacing a 30–40 gallon natural-gas storage water heater. $600
>55–≤75 gallon. UEF >= 3.30. Must be replacing 40–50 gallon natural-gas storage water heater. $700
≥75 gallon. UEF >= 3.30. Must be replacing 50–60 gallon natural-gas storage water heater. $700

Heat pump water heater replacing electric storage tank- Rebate:

45-55 gallon. UEF >= 3.30. Must be replacing a 40–50 gallon electric storage water heater. $400

California Energy-Smart Homes Rebate: Great rebates if you convert certain appliances to heat pump/electric. To get this rebate, you must go all electric and not have any gas appliances left to swap out. 2025-2027 Rebate: $4,250+. Note: The funds for 2026 are fully committed. If you expect to install your Heat Pump Water Heater in 2027 and are replacing your last gas appliance, submit a preliminary application here to get in line.

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Resilient Neighborhoods is fiscally-sponsored by Sustainable Marin 501(c)(3). EIN # 94-3308034