The Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) is excited to announce the upcoming launch of the Home Energy Score (HES) California Program in 2026 — an effort that will bring easy-to-understand home energy information to residents across the state. This initiative builds on BayREN’s decade of leadership in home energy labeling and expands our commitment to supporting California’s electrification and energy efficiency goals.

Since launching BayREN’s Bay Area HES program in 2018, the program has earned two U.S. Department of Energy Innovation Awards and helped make home energy information accessible for households regionwide. To date, the program has approved over 30,000 Home Energy Scores for rebates, representing more than 1.5% of the Bay Area’s single-family homes — a major milestone in consumer education and energy-efficiency awareness. 

“Having a consistent label across the state will allow us to build upon our momentum in the Bay Area and inform electrification programs through the in-home data collected, such as electrical panel capacity, water-heater location, and the fuel type for stoves and dryers,” shares Emily Alvarez, Program Manager.  

Backed by an approved budget with more than $6 million allocated for incentives, the new HES California program will make it easier for homeowners throughout the state to learn how their homes use energy and what they can do to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Incentives will help residents cover the cost of receiving a Home Energy Score, which is based on a standardized 1–10 scale developed by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Assessor recruitment will begin in early 2026 to ensure residents in every region of California can access in-home assessments. BayREN is excited to partner with local jurisdictions interested in helping with workforce recruitment or promoting the program. Please contact Emily Alvarez at ealvarez@stopwaste.org for potential partnerships. 

To learn more about the program, visit HomeScoreCA.org. In the coming months, the site will expand to include additional program details and eventually a searchable database of certified assessors.