Southern California government agencies and utilities are offering rebates to help residents upgrade to cleaner devices and appliances.

According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Southern California won’t meet air quality standards unless the government does a better job limiting emissions at the region’s ports, airfields, and rail yards. And the region’s residents have a role to play as well.

Included with the rebate program, the state also has a new loan program to allow residents to make their upgrades even if they can’t afford the upfront expense. California’s “GoGreen Home Energy Financing” offers no-fee, noclosing- cost, low-interest loans from private lenders to help cover initial expenses related to home improvement. Projects eligible for financing include upgrades to appliances, lighting, roof, HVAC system, and insulation.

Loan applications are granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Some rebate amounts may also be reduced when the supply of dollars gets low.

For the pool and spa industry, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is offering The Certified Pool Pump Replacement (CPPR) Program. The program offers up to a $1,000 rebate to LADWP residential customers who have inground swimming pools equipped with a single-speed pool pump. This retrofit installation program is intended to retire older, inefficient single-speed pool pumps and motors and replace them with qualifying energy-efficient variable-speed pool pumps and motors installed by certified technicians.

Meanwhile, SoCal Gas is offering between $400 and $750 rebates on qualified gas pool heaters.

It pays to stay abreast of rebates available to homeowners interested in updating their appliances to energy savers. Be sure to check local utilities for rebates in your area.