Home Energy Efficiency in Los Angeles

Making Your Home Comfortable and Efficient

When it comes to lowering your utility bills in the L.A. area, here are some things to consider.

• California imports more energy than any other state, which is one reason L.A. residents pay $0.16 per kilowatt-hour (five cents more than the nation average) for electricity from utilities like Southern California Edison.
• The average winter low in January is 48 degrees and the average August high is 85. With mild temperatures like these, California's natural gas demand is relatively low, which is reflected in the prices. The average homeowner in the L.A. area pays around $10.40 per thousand cubic feet of natural gas from companies like SoCalGas.
• The average California home was built in 1972, which means there's a lot of room for energy efficiency improvements such as upgrading appliances or adding insulation.
• Everyday, around 5.5 kilowatt-hours per meter squared of solar radiation hits southern California, which means, there's a lot of potential for homeowners to use solar energy systems to lower their electricity bills.

Home Energy Audits in Los Angeles

If you're not sure what's going on with your home, an energy audit will be a great first step to identifying measures you can take to lower your energy use and ultimately save money on your utility bills. An energy auditor will comprehensively test your home to determine what measures will be most cost-effective and have the biggest differences on your utility bills.

Typically, energy audits in the L.A. area will cost around $400, but if you follow through with the upgrades your auditor recommends, you should be able to save that much and more in the first year after your audit.

If you'd like to find out — for free and within minutes — whether your home is a good candidate for an energy audit and for upgrades, take our online home energy report. We'll give you a home energy score and estimate your savings potential.

Home Energy Upgrades in Los Angeles

Here are a few recommendations your auditor might have for you.

• Geothermal Heat Pump: A great way to heat and cool your home in a mild climate like L.A.'s is to install a geothermal heat pump, which pulls "free" heat from the ground and pumps it into your home. It the winter, it reverses to pump heat out of your home and keep you cool.
• Attic Insulation: For older homes with only a few inches of attic insulation, ENERGY STAR recommends adding R25 to R38 to the existing layer. Attic insulation plays an important role in both keeping heat from leaving your home in the winter and stopping it from entering through you roof in the summer.
• ENERGY STAR Appliances: Because every kilowatt-hour of electricity matters, especially when the cost of electricity is so high, having energy-efficient refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers and other appliances will have a big impact on your energy bills.
• Solar Water Heater: By using the sun to preheat your water, your traditional water heater doesn't have to work nearly as hard to bring your water up to temp. This can save you a lot of money for years to come.
• Solar Panels: If your home is already super efficient, installing solar panels to power your home will not only eliminate your energy bills, but it will put you one step closer to a zero-energy home.

Have a project in mind? Contact an energy expert to get started.

Energy Rebates and Tax Credits in Los Angeles

Home Efficiency Upgrades: Burbank Water and Power offers a bunch of rebates for energy-efficient appliances including refrigerators, air conditioners, clothes washers and dishwashers. The rebate also includes incentives for installing insulation and low-E windows and doors. Glendale Water and Power also offers rebates on energy-efficient appliances, as well as three free shade trees. If you're a customer, of LADWP, Pasadena Water and Power, SCE or SoCalGas, there are even more rebates to choose from.

Renewable Energy Systems: There are quite a few California incentives for solar panels, solar water heaters and wind energy that L.A. area residents can take advantage of including the California Solar Initiative, the Self-Generation Incentive, the Emerging Renewables Program and more. Additionally, the federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit will cover up to 30 percent of the cost of solar panels, a solar water heater, a geothermal heat pump or other renewable energy systems installed for your home.

Check out all energy rebates and tax credits in Los Angeles.

Home Energy Resources from EnergySavvy

1. Home Energy Report: How efficient is your home? Find out how to improve your home's efficiency and comfort, without spending tons of money, with EnergySavvy's free online home energy report.
2. Energy Rebate and Tax Credit Directory: EnergySavvy's guide to energy rebates and tax credits can help you find all the energy tax credits and rebates that are available locally for you.
3. Energy Contractors: If you've got a project in mind to make your home more energy efficient and comfortable and you'd like to talk with an energy expert about it, we can help. We focus on the relatively small group of contractors nationwide who really understand home energy auditing and energy retrofits.
4. Educational Content: Home energy efficiency is complicated stuff. It's not just as simple as laying some insulation in the attic. We've put together a library of easy-to-read topics that cover the basics of energy efficiency. And if you have a question about anything, you can ask one of our energy experts using our "Ask an Expert" feature.

Last Updated: May 2010

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