Beaumont Launches Program to Help Homeowners Make Improvements

In an effort to combat the drought and help residents reduce energy use, the City of Beaumont has officially launched the HERO Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program, which enables homeowners and commercial property owners to pay off energy- and water-efficiency improvements through their property tax bill.

A wide variety of energy- and water-saving products are available through the HERO Program, including whole home heating and cooling (HVAC) systems, solar power panel installations, energy-saving windows, doors and roofing, and insulation.

Property owners repay the assessment over 5, 10, 15 or 20 years through their property tax bill. These improvements have helped homeowners see immediate savings on utility bills.

“HERO will help Beaumont save water and energy and enable local homeowners to make immediate efficiency improvements
to their homes,” said Liza Gray, HERO Community Development Manager. “Based on our experience funding thousands of projects in other Riverside County communities, we also expect HERO to create local jobs by increasing demand for construction services.”

As California’s drought drags on, HERO-eligible retrofits give homeowners a fast, affordable way to lower their water bill and conserve a desperately-needed resource. HERO has more than 50 product lines to help homeowners save water, including high-efficiency toilets, faucets and shower heads; drip irrigation systems; rainwater catchment systems; gray water systems; as well as artificial turf and drought-tolerant landscaping.

In addition to helping homeowners save on energy and water bills, HERO spurs local job creation by increasing demand for contractor services. The HERO Program has helped to create more than 3,000 jobs in California since its launch in December 2011. The program has been adopted by 206 communities in California and helped to fund more than 19,000 residential projects, totaling more than $350 million in financing.

HERO is one of several Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs active in California communities. Taking part in the HERO Program is 100% voluntary for both jurisdictions and property owners. The program is cost neutral to participating local governments. All registered contractors are provided with a comprehensive training program to ensure they provide excellent service and accurate information to customers.

To learn more about the HERO Financing Program, please visit www.ci.beaumont.ca.us/HERO

--Information from City of Beaumont