Quick Start Grants
The Quick Start Grant (QSG) program is designed to fund targeted, innovative pilots that test approaches to overcoming market barriers to heat pump space and water heating adoption. By testing these transformation approaches, the QSG program will promote the development and refinement of interventions that can be scaled into statewide solutions.
Here are the third round of projects that have received funding for their innovative approaches to accelerating heat pump adoption.
Central California Asthma Collaborative
Implementing a heat pump education and outreach program for non-English speaking households
City of San Luis Obispo
Refining heat pump solutions for mobile and manufactured housing
Community Action Partnership of Orange County
Hosting a stipend-based heat pump technology training program for minority contractors
People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights (PODER)
Delivering multilingual home electrification education across San Francisco Eastern neighborhoods
Redeemer Community Partnership
Running a heat pump concierge program guiding low-income households in Los Angeles through making the switch
Rising Sun Center for Opportunity
Installing 30 window HVAC heat pumps in the Stockton community
San Francisco Environment Department
Installing 30 heat pump water heaters in residential home childcare centers
USGBC California
Developing standardized financing templates, funder coordination models, and digital tools for multifamily retrofits
Here are the second round of projects that have received funding for their innovative approaches to accelerating heat pump adoption.
Diversity Coalition
Targeted and inclusive marketing and educational materials for equitable electrification
RHA
Heat pump water heater best practices and field guide
City of Sacramento
Housing anti-displacement and energy equity pilot
350 Bay Area
A fast-path approach to heat pump deployment to improve health and reduce natural gas use in an area heavily burdened by PM
Viridis Consulting with Heather Village
Decarbonizing a multi-owner equity community with HOA governance
Goodwill Southern California
Workforce placement and preparation in the HVAC trades, with a focus on heat pump technologies
Climate Resolve
Scaling heat pump retrofits in housing with cost barriers
Bright Power
Aligning utility allowances with electrification
Here are the first round of projects that have received funding for their innovative approaches to accelerating heat pump adoption.
AESC
Installation and testing of heat pump water heating in manufactured housing
Barnett Plumbing
Fuel switching enablement through temporary gas water heater emergency replacements
BlocPower + City of San Luis Obispo
Pilot building electrification retrofits in affordable multi-family housing units
Franklin Energy
Home repairs for electrification in an existing Marin Clean Energy (MCE) low-income retrofit program
Institute of Heating and Air Conditioning Industries
Contractor training in Visual Service (“VS”) software for remotely assessing and supporting field technicians
Redwood Coast Energy Authority
Expansion of outreach and electrification support to rural and Native American communities in Humboldt County
Revalue.io
Career training and remediation of home health hazards or code violations in low-income West Oakland households through electrification
Small Planet Supply
Installation & viability testing of a packaged, natural refrigerant central heat pump boiler in multifamily deed-restricted affordable housing
The Energy Coalition
Incorporation of HPWHs into an EPIC grant-funded solar + storage pilot in a low-income advanced energy community
US Green Building Council – LA
Installation of HPWHs and ASHPs in 10 affordable housing units in Eastern San Fernando Valley
New Buildings Institute
Field test of emerging 120V HPWH technology with installation at 32 sites
Quick Start, Lasting Impact: Lessons from the TECH Clean California Quick Start Grant Program
From July 2021 to December 2024, the Quick Start Grant program awarded $3.85 million to 19 projects selected through two public solicitations. The Quick Start Grant program demonstrated the value of targeted, agile funding in advancing equitable electrification and clean energy adoption. Find out how it can serve as the basis of a replicable funding model for future programs seeking to build an inclusive, decarbonized energy system.
Links and Resources
Quick Start Grant Webinar Series: Bridging the Gaps, Funding the Future
view slides | view recording
Designing Inclusive and Comprehensive Electrification Programs
view slides | view video | view Q&A
Building Partnerships for Inclusive Home Electrification
view slides | view video | view Q&A
Expanding Access to Heat Pumps in Underserved Communities
view slides | view video | view Q&A
2023 QSG Webinar Series: Faster Installations Part I
view slides | view video
2023 QSG Webinar Series: Faster Installations Part II
view slides | view video