If you’re anything like me, home improvement projects build up and hang over your head, sometimes for months or even years. The list grows and it can feel too expensive, too overwhelming, or too confusing to know where to start. Well, now there’s a reason to find that list: the City has a new program that pays up to $7,000 for green home improvement projects.

SF Environment has formed a partnership with Energy Upgrade California to help homeowners make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes. The program, called San Francisco Home Improvement & Performance (SFHIP), just launched and is already making a difference. One San Francisco homeowner took advantage of the program and has already reaped the benefits: he saves 40 percent on his energy use, received $6,000 in program rebates, and only paid $1,200 out-of-pocket. Now his house is warm and comfortable, and his energy bills are lower. An energy upgrade can increase a home’s efficiency by 15 to 40 percent through improvements like attic and window sealing, added insulation, duct sealing, and hot water pipe insulation.

There are many measures you can take to improve your home and make it more comfortable. When your house is drafty, or cold in one section and hot in another, it means there are holes in your house and you are throwing heat (and money) right out of those holes. Contractors trained for our program can use insulation to fix holes easily, and they do all the paperwork to get the projects paid for. All contractors participating in the program undergo specialized training before performing home energy upgrades and are part of an ongoing quality assurance program.

Another benefit of energy efficiency improvements that people don’t always think about is indoor air quality, which can be a safety issue, especially if you have young children. Leaks in your house can cause air to flow from attics, basements, or other potentially unclean places; you can wind up with dust, toxins, or even mold in your air. By sealing up leaks and getting your house working smoothly as a whole system, you will find that indoor air quality can be drastically improved.

To achieve the greatest efficiency gains and help you qualify for the largest incentive available, SF Environment and its contractors emphasize a “whole house” approach, rather than piecemeal improvements. Each participating contractor will recommend a plan tailored to your home, based on the results of your individual home energy assessment. Homes that achieve 15 percent reduction in energy usage will receive $3,500 (after the first 50 homes the incentive is reduced to $2,500). Homes that achieve more than 15 percent energy savings can add up to $2,500 on top of the initial incentive, and income-eligible residents can add an additional $1,000 to their incentive package. Add that all up and a homeowner could receive $7,000 for energy improvements.

SF Environment wants to help you live more comfortably, reduce your energy footprint, and upgrade your home for less. To find out more, and to see a list of participating contractors, please visit www.sfenvironment.org/sfhip, or call 415-355-3769.

Melanie Nutter is the director of San Francisco’s Department of the Environment. Learn more about the Department of the Environment at www.sfenvironment.org.