Summary:

• Future-proofing your home helps you stay ahead of increasing energy costs and evolving safety standards. The right upgrades can also help you enjoy better energy efficiency, save money on power, and make your home more functional.
• Upgrading to a 200-amp electrical panel gives your home the capacity it needs for modern tech like EV chargers, energy-efficient appliances, and smart systems. It also reduces your risk of a fire and ensures you can support future upgrades.
• Level 2 EV chargers give you reliable, fast charging and cut down on the need to rely on overtaxed public charging stations. They also add long-term value to your home and help you get aligned with CalGreen’s changing standards.
• Smart home devices like thermostats, lighting, doorbells, and energy panels make life more convenient, secure, and efficient. Whole-home systems let you manage all of your devices from the same hub for maximum control.
• Swapping out old appliances and adding solar panels lowers your energy bill and helps shrink your carbon footprint. You might even qualify for tax credits or rebates to help cover the cost.

Life here in Greater San Francisco is changing, and so is the way we live in our homes. More people are installing new tech like EV chargers, high-efficiency appliances, solar panels, higher-capacity electrical panels, and smart home systems.

These upgrades offer long-lasting benefits, even if your home is brand new. They can help you save money, live more sustainably, and stay ready for whatever comes next.

Below, we’ll walk you through our top five recommendations and tell you exactly what you stand to gain from each one. Keep reading to find out which home electrical upgrades are right for you.

1. Upgrade to a 200 Amp Electrical Panel

If your home was built before 1980, there’s a good chance you still have a 60-amp or 100-amp panel—or badly outdated knob-and-tube wiring.

Older electrical systems like these can’t support today’s higher-capacity technology. In some cases, they may even be a fire risk.

Upgrading to a 200-amp panel unlocks great benefits like:

• Support for high-draw devices, like EV chargers and high-efficiency appliances.
• A reduced risk for electrical fires associated with outdated wiring, worn-down or defective breakers, and overloaded circuits.
• Room for more circuits, so you aren’t constantly forced to rely on power strips and extension cords.
• More capacity so you can enjoy as many high-draw devices at once as you want without tripping breakers or causing the lights to flicker.
• Broad compatibility for all four of the other upgrades on this list—you’ll need an updated panel first if you don’t have one already!

An updated panel also increases the resale value of your home and boosts energy efficiency, which means the upgrade could effectively pay for itself over time. Federal tax credits can help you save up to 30% on the cost—see if you qualify to enjoy even more savings.

Read more: 10 Essential Upgrades for Older Homes

2. Install a Home EV Charging Station

EVs accounted for over 25 percent of all new vehicles sold in California in 2024, and here in the Bay Area, we’re leading the charge with one of the highest adoption rates in the U.S. But public charging options aren’t keeping up with demand, which can make it hard to find a spot.

Installing a Level 2 charging station at home is an easy way to solve this problem and focus on enjoying your EV. It also gives you:

• Reliable, consistent access to a charger when and where you need it most.
• Long-term savings on energy, since at-home charging is always cheaper.
• The ability to let guests who drive EVs charge without going off-site.
• A competitive edge in the real estate market if you decide to sell.

California’s Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) made it mandatory for all new residential constructions to be wired for Level 2 chargers in 2022. These mandates are expected to expand again in 2026, so now is the perfect time to start planning.

Read More: Your 2025 Residential EV Charger Guide

3. Add Smart Home Technology

Smart home systems put the power of control back in your hands and make your home more efficient along the way. Every device offers a slightly different benefit:

• Smart thermostats, like Nest or Ecobee, let you automate your HVAC system based on when you’re at home, asleep, or away.
• Smart lighting systems, like Lutron, give you the power to control or schedule your lights and window treatments from anywhere.
• Video doorbells, like Ring, alert you when couriers, friends, neighbors, and package thieves come to the door so you can decide how to respond.
• Smart locks with built-in fingerprint sensors and Wi-Fi let you ditch keys and open or close the lock remotely, which means no more hunting for lost keys.
• Smart panels like SPAN let you see how you’re using energy in real-time by room or appliance, so you can cut waste. They’re also solar and EV-compatible.
• Whole-home systems like Control4 or Savant take the concept one step further by integrating all of your smart devices into the same convenient app or hub.

The more advanced these systems are, the more complex they can be to set up, so we don’t recommend trying to DIY this one on your own. Instead, give us a call at (650) 294-8454 so we can have someone help you map out the wiring and circuits.

4. Prioritize Energy-Efficient Appliances & Fixtures

Energy efficiency is no longer just a nice option—it’s an essential part of fighting climate change and keeping your home up to code here in California. If your home appliances and fixtures are over 10 years old, you’re right on time for an upgrade.

To enjoy better efficiency across the board, make it a priority to install new ENERGY STAR® appliances, heat pump water heaters, HVAC systems, and WaterSense-rated fixtures. You’ll enjoy immediate and long-term benefits, like:

• Lower energy and water bills each month.  
• Fewer appliance breakdowns, failures, and costly repair calls.
• More consistent heating, cooling, and ventilation all year-round.
• Advanced features like the ability to control devices over Wi-Fi.
• Better overall performance from your kitchen and bathroom appliances.

You may also be eligible for rebates or tax credits that help cover the cost of efficiency upgrades. We also offer coupons that can help you save on the cost of services!

5. Consider Adding Solar Panels (Now or Later)

California’s energy policies and incentive programs are helping to make solar a standard throughout the state, with good reason: the sun is literally free energy. You can use as much of it as you can collect and store, then use it to power devices like hot water heaters.

With effective setups, solar can lower your reliance on the grid substantially. It isn’t as lucrative to sell the excess back to PG&E these days, but you’ll still enjoy a long list of other important benefits, like:

• A reduction in the amount you pay for power every month.
• Access to power during outages, especially if you install batteries.
• Protection from rising energy costs, which is more relevant than ever.
• The ability to live more sustainably and do your part to fight climate change.

Solar-ready homes tend to sell faster and at a higher premium here in the Bay Area, too. So, if there’s any chance you’ll move in the future, panels are a great way to bump up the appeal.

Caccia Home Services Can Help Future-Proof Your Home

Thinking about the best ways to make your home future-proof? You’re already one step closer to enjoying a home that’s more comfortable, efficient, and marketable, too. Let us help you take the next step by identifying the best possible options for your budget and goals.

Homeowners in Greater San Francisco have trusted us with their home plumbing and electrical for over five decades now. Now, it’s your turn to find out why they put their faith in us time after time. Call Caccia Home Services for expert help with future-proofing upgrades today.