Free tool
Berkeley BESO Compliance Calculator
See how many credits a Berkeley home has, what it still needs, and about what the upgrades could cost. Made for sellers and for buyers.
Berkeley's Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO) asks each unit of a single-family home or duplex to reach 6 resilience credits when it is sold. Choose whether you are selling or buying, pick the building type, and check the upgrades. The calculator adds up the credits and compares them with the 6 you need. Nothing you check is saved or sent anywhere.
BESO credit calculator for sellers
Pick your building type, then check the upgrades. Each unit needs 6 credits.
Check one box per line. "Already done" counts permitted work finished in the five years before your sale. "Planning to do" counts work you would finish before closing, so allow time for permits and contractors.
Costs are rough planning figures before any rebates or incentives, not quotes. Your price depends on your home and your contractor, so get quotes before you decide. Rebates may be available, so see the links below the checklist.
Major upgrades
Heat pump water heater
Electric water heater that replaces a gas one. Typical cost: $3,000 to $12,000 · City details
6credits
Heat pump HVAC (heating and cooling)
Electric heating and cooling that replaces a gas furnace. Typical cost: $10,000 to $25,000 · City details
6credits
Knob and tube wiring replaced, with 240V pre-wiring
Old wiring removed and 240V pre-wiring added. Typical cost: $5,000 to $50,000 · City details
6credits
Smart service panel
Electrical panel that tracks and manages the home's power use. Typical cost: $2,000 to $6,000 · City details
6credits
Electrical service panel upgrade
A bigger or newer main panel for more electric appliances. Typical cost: $2,000 to $10,000+ · City details
6credits
Medium upgrades
Solar panels (PV)
Rooftop panels that make electricity for the home. Typical cost: $12,000 to $30,000+ · City details
3credits
Battery storage
Home battery that stores electricity, often paired with solar. Typical cost: $8,000 to $20,000+ · City details
3credits
Smaller upgrades
EV charger
Car charger installed at the home. Typical cost: $500 to $2,000 · City details
2credits
Electric or induction range
Electric or induction stove and oven in place of gas. Typical cost: $800 to $3,000 · City details
2credits
Attic insulation
Keeps heat in during winter and out during summer. Typical cost: $1,500 to $4,000 · City details
2credits
HVAC duct improvements (sealing, insulation or replacement)
Sealing, insulating or replacing the air ducts. Typical cost: $1,000 to $3,000 · City details
2credits
Whole-house fan
Fan that pulls cooler outside air through the home. Typical cost: $800 to $2,000 · City details
2credits
A Home Energy Score of 9 or 10
A 9 or 10 earns credits on its own, with no extra work. Typical cost: Based on your assessment · City details
2credits
Upgrades that earn more for bigger projects
The City scales these credits by how much of the home the work covers. Pick the line that fits.
Window replacements: 50 to 75% of the glazed area
Double or triple-pane windows replace single-pane ones. Typical cost: $5,000 to $15,000+ · City details
2credits
Window replacements: 76% or more of the glazed area
Double or triple-pane windows replace single-pane ones. Typical cost: $5,000 to $15,000+ · City details
4credits
Wall insulation: exterior walls serving 50 to 75% of the floor area
Insulation added inside the exterior walls. Typical cost: $3,000 to $8,000 · City details
2credits
Wall insulation: exterior walls serving 76% or more of the floor area
Insulation added inside the exterior walls. Typical cost: $8,000 to $15,000 · City details
4credits
Electric resistance clothes dryer, replacing gas, with the gas line capped
Electric dryer replaces a gas dryer, and the gas line is capped. Typical cost: $400 to $800 · City details
1credit
Heat pump clothes dryer, replacing gas, with the gas line capped
Efficient heat pump dryer replaces a gas one, and the gas line is capped. Typical cost: $1,000 to $2,000 · City details
2credits
Pre-wiring: at least 2 new 240V receptacles
New 240V outlets, ready for future electric appliances. Typical cost: $300 to $1,000 · City details
1credit
Pre-wiring: 3 or more new 240V receptacles
New 240V outlets, ready for future electric appliances. Typical cost: $1,000 to $3,000 · City details
2credits
Quick wins
Floor or crawlspace insulation
Insulation under the floor or in the crawlspace. Typical cost: $1,500 to $4,000 · City details
1credit
Greywater system
Reuses water from sinks, showers or laundry, such as for the garden. Typical cost: $1,000 to $4,000 · City details
1credit
Air sealing
Seals the gaps and cracks that leak air. Typical cost: $500 to $1,500 · City details
1credit
- Credits already earned
- 0
- Credits from planned work
- 0
- Total credits
- 0
- Credits needed per unit
- 6
You are not there yet. Deferring to the buyer, or a heat pump, may be worth a conversation.
Credits need permitted work with an approved final inspection. Put "for BESO compliance" in the scope of work on the permit application, and keep your invoices.
Other ways BESO may not apply
- All-electric homes with no gas use and capped gas service lines can be exempt. The City verifies this.
- First-time buyers enrolled in an income-qualified program, such as CalPLUS or MyHome, can be exempt. The City verifies this too.
Rebates and incentives may be available
Many of these upgrades qualify for rebates, and some programs can be combined. Amounts, eligibility and funding change often, so check each program for what is open today before you plan your budget.
- Switch Is OnFree advice on electrification, plus rebates and contractor listings.
- TECH Clean CaliforniaIncentives for heat pump water heaters and heat pump HVAC, and a way to find participating contractors.
- BayRENBay Area rebates, including a Home Energy Score rebate and the EASE Home program for income-qualified homeowners.
- Ava Community EnergyBerkeley's electricity provider, with Go Electric programs for heat pumps, induction cooking, solar and storage, and EV charging.
- PG&E rebates and incentivesPG&E's list of rebate programs for homeowners.
Documents from the City of Berkeley
A rough estimate for planning, not an official result. The City decides the credits, the work has to be permitted and meet code, and the rules can change. Check the City's BESO page before you decide. This is general information, not legal, tax, or lending advice. City of Berkeley BESO page
How BESO credits work
- Each unit needs 6 credits. A single major upgrade earns all 6.
- Smaller upgrades earn 1 to 4 credits each and add up.
- Work has to be permitted, with an approved final inspection, and the permit should say "for BESO compliance."
- For a sale, the City counts permitted upgrades from the five years before the sale.
- A home served by a heat pump water heater or heat pump HVAC system in every unit may qualify for the heat pump exemption.
Read more about BESO
Selling in Berkeley? Read what Berkeley sellers need to know about BESO, including the three paths to compliance and what happens when the work is passed to the buyer. Buying in Berkeley? Read what Berkeley buyers need to know about BESO, including the deposit, the two-year deadline, and what to check before you write an offer.
BESO calculator questions
How many credits does a Berkeley home need for BESO?
Each unit needs 6 credits. One major upgrade, such as a heat pump water heater or a heat pump HVAC system, earns all 6 on its own. Smaller upgrades add up to 6.
Does the BESO calculator give an official result?
No. It is a planning estimate. The City of Berkeley decides the credits, the work has to be permitted with an approved final inspection, and the rules can change.
Does BESO apply to condos?
No. Condominiums and accessory dwelling units are not covered. BESO applies to single-family homes and duplexes now, and to triplexes and fourplexes from January 1, 2028.
Do the cost ranges in the calculator include rebates?
No. They are rough planning figures before any rebates or incentives, and they are not quotes. Rebates may be available, and the page lists where to look.
