Home energy audits in San Francisco

Start with Home Energy Score California / BayREN Home Energy Score rebate. Run by: Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) and Earth Advantage; funded by PG&E, SDG&E, SoCalGas and SCE ratepayers under the CPUC. Cost: Cost varies by assessor (BayREN says it depends on factors such as location and home size); the program FAQ says customers who get gas and/or electricity from a CCA or investor-owned utility are eligible for a $250 rebate toward it (Berkeley residents excepted because of BESO). Who qualifies: Any homeowner can hire an assessor; the $250 rebate is for customers whose gas and/or electricity comes from PG&E or a community choice aggregator, except Berkeley residents (BESO already requires scores at sale). How to book: Find a certified assessor through BayREN's or homescoreca.org's directory, ask about the $250 rebate (assessors bring the rebate form to the appointment). Our research lists 5 audit programs for the San Francisco metro, checked October 12, 2026; all of them are on this page.

Closed to new applicants (waitlist only): HEEHRA Phase I single-family fully reserved statewide since 2026-02-24 and multifamily since 2026-09-01 (per TECH); HEEHRA Phase II not yet available; HOMES not available as rebates (some HOMES funds pay for no-cost EBD Direct Install retrofits in selected low-income communities). Checked October 12, 2026. Nationally, DOE rewrote the rules effective May 29, 2026: federal appliance rebates no longer pay for switching from gas, oil or propane to electric equipment, and homes must get insulation and air sealing before heating and cooling upgrades unless they already meet a state-set level.

Yes. Programs for income-qualified households in the San Francisco metro include Weatherization Assistance Program / LIHEAP (by county), PG&E Energy Savings Assistance (ESA), PG&E Empower My Home (pilot neighborhoods), Equitable Building Decarbonization Direct Install (Northern California), CleanPowerSF CARE/FERA bonus and SF Climate Equity Hub (paused). Each one’s rules and contacts are listed on this page, with a link to its official page.

2 rules reach ordinary homeowners. Berkeley Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO) - time of sale, small residential. Who it applies to: Ordinary homeowners selling in Berkeley: single-family homes and duplexes since January 1, 2026; triplexes and fourplexes from January 1, 2028 (assessment-only until then); condos and ADUs excluded. Bay Area Air District Rules 9-4 and 9-6 (zero-NOx furnaces and water heaters). Who it applies to: Ordinary homeowners when an existing gas furnace or water heater burns out and is replaced; equipment manufactured after the dates must meet the standard. 2 other rules apply only to larger buildings.

Not for an audit done in 2026. The federal credit of up to $150 for a home energy audit was part of the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C), and the IRS says it can’t be claimed for audits paid for or done after December 31, 2025. Public Law 119-21 ended 25C and the Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D) for 2026 work. An audit done in 2025 is claimed on the 2025 return (Form 5695).