Hayward receives grant to advance home electrification in low-income communities
In November 2022, the Cities of Hayward, Berkeley, Fremont, and Oakland were awarded a $1 million grant through the ICLEI Action Fund to implement the Home Electrification Equity Project (HEEP), a program piloted by Habitat for Humanity and California State University East Bay (CSUEB) to provide low-income homeowners with electrification upgrades.
Habitat for Humanity and CSUEB will use existing data about communities disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards to select ideal candidates for the HEEP program. The Program is intended to streamline the process of bringing solar and electrification upgrades like heat pumps and electric stovetops to those who will benefit most from healthier indoor air and lower energy bills.
In taking this data-driven approach to incorporating electrification into traditional low-income home upgrade programs, Hayward and the other participating cities hope to identify solutions for preventing displacement and maintaining affordable housing, while also strengthening energy resiliency in low-income communities.
The City of Hayward has committed to achieving a 55 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 and carbon neutrality no later than 2045. Home electrification is a key step toward reaching net zero emissions and, if successful, HEEP will serve as a model program to help Hayward equitably meet this goal.
