Berkeley’s Clean Energy Renovation
By
Kiana Kazemi
Thinking about buying or selling a home in Berkeley? Starting in 2026, climate-friendly upgrades like heat pumps and solar panels won’t just be a smart choice—they’ll be a requirement.
The Berkeley City Council has officially updated its Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO), making it one of the first cities in the country to mandate emissions-reducing upgrades at the point of sale for smaller residential buildings. That means homes with one to four units must now earn a set number of “emissions resiliency credits” when changing hands—or place a $5,000 deposit with the city until upgrades are made.
Until now, only 2–3% of homes were completing energy improvements under the old rules. With this update, Berkeley is raising the bar to meet its aggressive climate targets—aiming to cut emissions 60.5% by 2030.
Upgrades like installing a heat pump HVAC or water heater, switching to solar plus storage, or even replacing outdated wiring systems can help meet the six-credit requirement. But these improvements can come with upfront costs—and that’s where smarter energy solutions make all the difference.
At Harvest, we believe that meeting climate goals shouldn’t come at the expense of comfort or affordability. Our system pairs high-efficiency heat pumps with a smart thermal battery that stores energy when it’s cheapest and delivers heating or cooling when you need it most. That means lower energy bills, higher comfort, and fewer emissions—up to 90% less than gas systems.
Berkeley’s policy is a bold move, and we’re here to make the transition easier. Whether you're a homeowner looking to meet the new standards or a buyer inheriting future upgrades, Harvest can help make clean energy work smarter—and pay off faster.
The future is electric—and smarter. Let’s build it together.
Read more about Berkeley’s new BESO ordinance here.
%20(3).png)
%20(1).png)
%20(5).png)
%20(3).png)
%20(1).png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
%20(4)%20(1).png)
.png)
%20(11).png)
%20(10).png)
%20(6).png)
%20(4).png)
%20(3).png)
%20(10).png)
%20(6).png)
%20(1).webp)
.jpg)
%20(4).png)
%20(2).png)
.png)
%20(2).png)
.png)
.jpg)
%20copyminimal%20_0.1.jpg)
