Free energy efficiency upgrades available for some east valley homes

Some east valley families might qualify for free upgrades to their home. Those upgrades will lower monthly bills by making homes more energy efficient.  

Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez and Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia hosted a press conference at one Coachella home getting the free energy upgrades installed Wednesday morning. 

The family living there says they’re very grateful to be a part of the program, called the "Coachella Valley Residential Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program."

The upgrades include new LED lightbulbs (which can save a homeowner anywhere from $25-60 a year per bulb), a NEST smart thermostat, and attic insulation, which helps prevent air from leaking. 

All of these free clean energy upgrades will not only lower monthly bills but also help improve air quality.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has made available nearly $1 million dollars for the program -- targeting homes in disadvantaged communities most impacted by air pollution. 

The company doing the installations “ALCAL Specialty Contracting” is aiming to further help the community by hiring locals: “Local workforce training takes places to ensure that collectively not only are we meeting California’s greenhouse gas emission reduction but that we’re also reaping the co-benefits,” said Assemblymember Garcia. 

The free energy upgrades are intended for families living in the cities of Indio, Coachella and the unincorporated communities of Carver Tract, Mecca and North Shore. 

Those interested should call ALCAL at 760-904-2538.