Please Note: Rising Sun's attic insulation program will now be contracted by the fully licensed GETS Energy Services Crew. The next round of attic instulation subsidies will be available in Spring 2011.

Your attic may be costing you money! Attic insulation prevents the heat or cold in your home from leaking through the roof. If your attic is properly insulated, it will keep you warmer in winter and cooler in summer, and could save you big on your heating and cooling bills.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star website, the attic of a home often contains major energy-wasting air leaks. Many older Bay Area homes are barely insulated. You might be burning through money and fossil fuel just to 'heat the outside' as warm air flows right out of your attic.

If you qualify, you could save up to 50% or more on your attic insulation with Rising Sun's subsidy program.

It is always hard to predict cost before making an onsite assessment of an attic. Blown-in attic cellulose insulation of the type we use ranges in price from $0.65 to $1.20 a square foot. The subsidy, if you qualify, is $0.65 a square foot. Thus, depending on the contractor and on your particular attic, your cost may be anywhere from $0.55 to $0.00 per square foot!

Please note that some older homes require extra work in order to comply. Extra fees may be required for installing attic vents or hiring a licensed electrician to inspect old knob-and-tube wiring.

Where is the program available and who qualifies?

The subsidy is provided to homes in Marin, Alameda or Contra Costa counties that currently have insufficient insulation, were built before 1979, and are located in Climate Zones 2, 3 and 12. That includes but is not limited to these cities:

• Kensington
• Albany
• Emeryville
• El Cerrito
• San Pablo
• El Sobrante
• Pinole
• San Rafael
• Novato

Rising Sun's attic insulation program willl begin again in the Spring of 2011 and is available until the program funds are depleted for the year. Please click here and send your full name, address, phone number and email to sign up for the waitlist for next year's program.

I rent my home. Can I still get attic insulation?

You certainly can, but you need the permission of the landlord first. Since the service adds to the house's value, talking to your landlord about her/him assuming the cost might be the first step. But even if you choose to pay the costs, an upgrade may still make financial and environmental sense, since you pay your own PG&E bill!

How is the program funded?

Funding is provided through our partnership with the East Bay Energy Watch, a program funded by California utility customers and administered by the Pacific Gas & Electric Company under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.