Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC)

GFO-25-305: Non-Energy Impacts of Integrated Energy Retrofit Packages

Funds whole-home retrofit research focused on broader building performance outcomes.

GFO-25-305 is a California Energy Commission grant solicitation under the EPIC program that funds research into the non-energy impacts of integrated energy retrofit packages applied to California buildings. Non-energy impacts (NEIs) include health outcomes, indoor comfort, productivity, noise reduction, and equity-related benefits that arise alongside energy efficiency gains when a building undergoes a whole-home or whole-building retrofit. EPIC is funded by a ratepayer surcharge on customers of Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas and Electric, with CEC managing over $130 million annually for clean energy research. GFO-25-305 is administered by CEC's Energy Research and Development Division, and the application deadline is 10 July 2026.

The solicitation targets research organisations, universities, non-profits, and for-profit entities that can rigorously measure and document the co-benefits of integrated retrofit interventions — not simply energy savings — thereby building the evidence base that supports California's building decarbonisation policy goals. Eligible retrofit packages may include combinations of insulation, air-sealing, heat pumps, water heating upgrades, ventilation improvements, and smart controls. The research must demonstrate a methodology for attributing non-energy outcomes to specific retrofit measures and for quantifying benefits across occupant populations, including low-income and disadvantaged communities. Award amounts are detailed in the GFO-25-305 PDF solicitation document.

Applications are submitted through CEC's Grant Solicitation System at gss.energy.ca.gov. EPIC's scoring framework rewards technical rigor, the quality of the measurement and evaluation plan, and relevance to California's policy priorities. Projects that include study populations in disadvantaged or low-income communities can access EPIC's mandatory set-aside allocations — at least 25% for disadvantaged communities and an additional 10% for low-income communities. Applicants should download the GFO-25-305 solicitation PDF from the CEC website to confirm specific award ranges, page limits, and required deliverables before submission.