Printable Fact Sheet

A Comprehensive Home Assessment is the first step in pursuing home energy savings. For example, Anaheim Public Utilities’ Home Investment Package (HIP) begins with a whole-home analysis that reviews all key areas, from lighting and appliances to ventilation, heating, cooling and insulation. In the end, you’ll know exactly where your home is underperforming and what you can do to really make it perform. When you’re ready to move forward with any of the recommendations, HIP is ready, too, with a Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified contractor, who works with you to complete your upgrades. Did we mention the low-interest financing and rebates? Many of the products and services qualify you for those, as well.

Here’s An Overview Of The HIP Program Process

1. THE COMPREHENSIVE HOME ASSESSMENT.  A specially trained, BPI-certified contractor will inspect your home and use special diagnostic equipment to test appliances and major home systems for health, safety and efficiency. You are welcome to follow along on the inspection and ask questions along the way. The contractor will then document any potential problem areas based on current health, safety and efficiency standards. A home assessment usually takes 2-5 hours to complete, depending on the size of your home. Your contractor will create a detailed schedule should you wish to go ahead with recommended improvements or upgrades. Each approved contractor sets a reasonable fee to assess your home. Following the home assessment, should you choose to have your contractor go ahead with any recommendations, you may be eligible for rebates and special financing through the program.

Duct Blaster Test

Blower Door Test

2. THE PROPOSAL & CONTRACT.  Your contractor will include his findings and recommendations for repairs and upgrades in a formal proposal to complete the work. This report will also outline estimates of how much energy and fuel you might save — and over what period of time — using the new systems. Once you have decided on the improvements you want, your contractor will detail this work, the associated costs and payment terms in a written contract. These costs will be fixed and cannot change without your written consent. If all looks good, you then sign the contract, and discuss start and finish dates.

3. INSTALLATION.  While your contractor is the one primarily involved in this step, you’ll be doing your part, as well. And, that means taking an interest in the job’s progress, reviewing the day’s work and learning about the new systems in your home so you know how they operate them efficiently. Your contractor will walk you through the operational steps.

4. FINAL TESTS.  Now that your home is more air tight and efficient, it’s time to repeat the original tests performed during the initial assessment. This is to document improvements, as well as to make sure there are no safety or performance issues due to the changes in your home's overall performance. Your contractor will fix any problems and make sure your new systems comply with program standards. Once all looks good, you will sign a certificate of completion.

Contest Home Example

The contest winning home was built in 1955 with the current homeowners purchasing the home 5 years ago. The winning homeowners first learned about the Anaheim Home Energy Makeover Contest at Anaheim Public Utilities booth at the Art Festival for Kids. They applied for the contest because they knew that their utility bills were twice as high as their neighbors and felt they would be an excellent candidate for the program.

According to the homeowners, after the project installation team completed each step of the improvement package, they could feel the impact immediately. Overall they claim the “difference in home comfort is like night-and-day from how our home felt before and after the installation of the home energy efficiency upgrades. “ In terms of comfort they now have consistent temperatures through every room in the house. They can now sit comfortably in our family room anytime, and their daughter can do her homework at her desk without feeling the heat through her window.

The homeowners claim the “air conditioner doesn’t run all the time now. “ When asked what aspect of the home makeover they liked the best they indicated, “it really is the combination of all the improvements – insulation, windows, heating and cooling, appliances – that makes the difference. They said, that the “installation process was the easiest thing because we dealt directly with just one person who then coordinated the activities of a team of home improvement specialists,” and “for the first time in our lives, we’re actually eager to get our next utility bill to see how low it can go.”

How To Do Your Own Home Energy Makeover

The Anaheim energy makeover contest-winning home demonstrates how homeowners can significantly reduce their energy costs and improve home comfort and safety. You can do your own home energy makeover by participating in Anaheim Public Utilities’ Home Investment Package (HIP) Program. The HIP program bundles various rebate offers into a one-stop shop designed to make homeowners sit up and take notice of the more than $15,000 in savings they can realize through the program. These savings include a waiver of permit fees for energy-efficient improvements that can cost up to $1,000, and up to $14,000 in incentives. Plus, special low-cost financing is provided by the Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA).

Click Here to learn more about the Anaheim Home Investment Package (HIP) program.

About The Contest

The Home Investment Package (HIP) Home Energy Makeover Contest was sponsored by Anaheim Public Utilities and the Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA) to demonstrate how homeowners can significantly reduce their energy costs and improve home comfort and safety. More than 500 Anaheim residents entered the contest, and twenty finalists were selected through an application screening process that identified those homes with the greatest potential to demonstrate energy savings. Contest sponsors donated the products and services featured.

For more than 100 years, Anaheim Public Utilities has served Anaheim water and electric customers with low rates and reliable service. Anaheim Public Utilities is Orange County's only publicly owned water and electric utility. The Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions through a nationwide network of contractors, distributors, manufacturers and utility companies.

To view a series of these fact sheets on other aspects of the Home Energy Makeover, go to www.egia.org/anaheim.

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