All TECH Clean California projects are for EXISTING STRUCTURES. TECH incentives are for residential sites only. Commercial buildings and new construction are ineligible for TECH incentives. Contractors looking to obtain incentives for new construction projects should look to California Energy Smart Homes and BUILD.


Projects can be single-family or multifamily residential sites. Note that single-family and multifamily incentives are different in terms of amounts, eligibility, and processes.


  • Single-family is defined as up to four dwelling units. 
  • Multifamily is defined as a property with five or more dwelling units, or a property with two to four units which will have installed HP HVAC or HPWH equipment serving more than one dwelling unit, where that equipment would otherwise be ineligible for single family TECH incentives.


There may be additional nuances and some projects will need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in order to determine whether they fit into the single-family or multifamily category. Contractors may contact their TECH account manager with questions about single-family vs multifamily classifications.


Examples here show TECH eligibility for various scenarios.

  • Single-metered privately owned condo in a 12-unit condominium building with shared walls, each with their own heating source
    • If the upgrades are being paid for by the individual condo unit owner and the unit has its own heating system, then this would be considered single-family.
    • If the condo unit does not have its own heating system (that is, the heat system serves multiple condo units, or the HOA or property management is paying for the upgrades across multiple condo units, then this would be considered multifamily.
  • Detached ADU next to home; the home is occupied by the owners of the full property; the ADU is inhabited by a tenant who has a separate heating source from but is on the same meter.
    • Because they are different dwelling units and the property is less than 4 units, each is considered a single-family residence. Therefore, as long as each residence has a qualifying heating source to replace, they can each collect incentives.
  • A duplex is occupied by different families but one central furnace heats all units.
    • If the furnace is being replaced by 2 individual HPs paid for by the different occupants, then this would be treated as single-family.
  • A complex of single-family homes, covered by a HOA
    • If the HOA is paying for all upgrades, then this would be multifamily.
    • If each individual homeowner is paying, then this would be single-family.


Mobile and Manufactured Homes


Permanent and semi-permanent mobile homes may qualify if on a foundation. The axle must have been removed, as well as the license plate. Photos of the foundation and under the house will be required to show the structure is no longer mobile.  Manufactured homes qualify if the structure is on a foundation and not mobile. 

Mobile homes are exempt from HERS II testing (photo documentation of nameplate/unit data label is required, instead). 


Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU's)


ADU's qualify for TECH Clean California incentives, as long as they were previously heated. That means that newly constructed ADU's are ineligible for funding. 




Income-Qualified Customers


Incentives for income-qualified customers will be available in coordination with specific income-qualified programs such as Energy Savings Assistance program (ESA) or Low-Income Weatherization Program (LIWP). 

In these cases, eligibility will be determined based on the specific income-qualified program criteria. Incentives available through the general market-rate incentive pathway will include an optional question for contractors to note if a customer is on a CARE or FERA rate, but an affirmative answer to that question will not currently result in an incentive adjustment.