Heating and air conditioning in Berkeley

Homes in Berkeley

Much of Berkeley's housing predates 1940, from brown-shingle homes and Craftsman bungalows to early apartment buildings, with hillside homes above. Many homes have wall heaters, floor furnaces, or older gravity systems, and limited space for ductwork. There are also many ADUs and converted units, where compact heating and cooling is needed.

Climate and what it means for your system

Berkeley is cool and marine-influenced, with summer fog, especially in the hills. Heating is the main need most of the year. Hot spells are infrequent but happen, and many homes have no way to cool down when they do.

Most of Berkeley falls in California Title 24 climate zone 3. The exact zone is set by ZIP code, and we confirm it for your address when we design a system.

Utilities

PG&E delivers electricity and supplies natural gas. Electricity generation is provided by default through Ava Community Energy (formerly East Bay Community Energy), unless a household has opted out. Your bill will show which applies. This matters when comparing the operating cost of a heat pump against a gas furnace.

Permits

HVAC permits in Berkeley are issued by the City of Berkeley's Permit Service Center. Berkeley has its own local energy and building policies in addition to state code; we check current requirements for your project.