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Mayor Garcetti Announces New $100 Million Insulation Rebate Program

Posted on 08/27/2018
Man installing thermal roof insulation layer

The rebate adds to an extensive suite of LADWP programs that help homeowners lower their bills with sustainable home improvements

LOS ANGELES — Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) today announced a five-year, $100 million insulation rebate program to help Angelenos better control temperatures in their homes, reduce energy use, and save money.

The new attic insulation program is expected to help Angelenos save between $200 to $375 per year on their electric bills, or 15-30% of average annual cooling and heating expenses.

“We are here to help people shrink their bills and make their homes more comfortable,” said Mayor Garcetti. “This insulation rebate program will help take pressure off the electrical grid, which is increasingly stressed by a warming climate, so we can keep reducing the number of power outages caused by extreme temperatures.”

The program will provide homeowners with a rebate that covers $1 per square foot of insulation up to 80% of the total project cost. It’s the latest addition to a roster of rebates offered through LADWP’s Consumer Rebate Program, which is part of the ongoing “Save Energy LA” campaign launched by Mayor Garcetti in 2016 to help Angelenos conserve electricity, reduce their energy bills, and protect the environment. The Consumer Rebate Program includes savings for a  number of projects, including:

  • A/C Optimization Program: provides basic air conditioning diagnostic and maintenance services which can reduce heating and cooling costs up to 25%.
  • Cool Roof Rebate: subsidizes the costs to install a roof designed to reflect heat from the sun, which can reduce cooling costs by 7-15%.
  • Smart Thermostats: automatically optimizes home temperature settings to maximize energy savings, saving customers $180 per year on their utility bill.
  • Refrigerator Exchange Program: exchanges qualified older model refrigerators with Energy Star®-rated refrigerators for low-income residents, free of charge.
  • Home Energy Improvement Program: offers a free home assessment to identify potential cost-effective energy efficient upgrades and repairs.
  • Clothes Washer Rebate: provides a $400 rebate on energy and water efficient washing machines, which can reduce water use by 11,000 gallons per year.

Since entering office, Mayor Garcetti has worked to make Los Angeles the most sustainable city in the world by directing LADWP to make nearly $531 million in energy-saving investments through customer programs and rebates. Together, these investments have conserved 2,065 GWh of electricity, which is enough to power 345,000 homes for a year, and equivalent to removing 170,000 gasoline-fueled cars from our roads.

The attic insulation rebate — which is available to all LADWP customers in a detached single family or multi-residential home, such as a duplex — subsidizes the cost of materials and other expenses that are required to install the insulation.

“Many of our customers overlook attic insulation as one of the easiest ways to save money on their electric bill. With this new rebate, we want to help make it more affordable for our customers to make their homes much more comfortable and energy efficient for years to come,” said LADWP General Manager David H. Wright. “We encourage all of our customers to explore this and the many other money-saving programs and rebates offered by LADWP.”

Insulation, especially in an attic, allows for cool air from an air conditioner to spread more evenly — keeping living environments cooler for longer periods of time. Insulation has the opposite effect in winter by working to trap heat indoors. Homes without insulation typically experience temperature fluctuations of 5 to 10 degrees, forcing their heating or cooling systems to work harder to keep homes comfortable. Homeowners participating in the new insulation program can expect temperature fluctuations to drop to 3 degrees or less, resulting in reduced costs for air-conditioning or heating.

Eligible insulation types include blanket (batts and rolls), loose-fill, blown-in, attic-applied foam board or rigid foam, sprayed foam, and foamed-in-place insulation systems. Rebates are available to customers regardless of whether they hire a contractor or do it themselves.

To learn more about the insulation rebate and how to apply, please visit www.LADWP.com/CRP