In this episode, Cora Wyent walks us through Rewiring America’s “personal electrification planner,” a step-by-step how-to for homeowners (and renters!) looking to electrify their homes. Do you need up upgrade your panel? Install insulation first? Which appliance to prioritize? We get into all this & more.
We've completely electrified our older (1904) home in central WA State on a modest income with a family of 5. I have a few suggestions, some of which contrast with the ideas presented on the pod:
1. Don't skimp, if you have a 100 A panel, upgrade it. Get it done at the same time you do solar (see #2) and include it in the install cost (i.e. get 30% paid for by the feds)
2. Get solar first and, if you're swapping out gas for electric alternatives, size your system for double whatever you are currently using. I say do this first because having solar is the gateway drug for all the other upgrades. Once you have solar, you start paying attention to your production/consumption and it turns the whole thing into a game.
3. Skip the energy audit, I can tell you what they will say without even looking at your house. Add insulation in your attic, and if you have single-pane aluminum windows, get them replaced.
4. Running a 24 or 32-A EVSE (EV Charger) will not improve your efficiency, it will just slow down your charging speed. Can you live with 32A? Maybe, but if you have to put in a new 240V circuit anyway, just size it for a 60A breaker/48A EVSE.
5. Don't take sh!t from an HVAC contractor. If they say a heat pump won't work, tell them they just lost the job. Get a Mitsubishi, they are the best!
6. Cutting my gas pipe (after it was turned off) was more satisfying than I ever dreamed it would be. SO GOOD!
7. The final reason to electrify - other than climate and economic - is good ol' fashion SPITE! When the US went to hell in 2016 and we pulled out of Paris, I decided I'd spend as much as I had to to do my part. I guess I should thank Dump for being a malevolent A$$hole.
PA is in the process of updating to the more energy efficient 2021 IECC. I'm learning it's not a very democratic process. I'd love if you'd do an episode about the craziness of building codes.
Great conversation. I'd love to see whole-stack electrification consultants become a thing to help homeowners and renters maximize the efficiency of their homes.
The introduction of power efficiency of appliances is a topic that deserves more light, but exposes gaps in the US management of power and community assets.
In my home a modest battery in the panel, 25KWh, could cut by a third my peak energy draw from the grid per hour and double the energy delivered from the grid over the course of a year. This lightens the load on the grid, meaning my neighbors and I are less likely to crowd each other out in periods of high demand, and dramatically improves the grid's ability to get the power into the point of consumption.
The challenge lies in identifying who has an incentive to develop and deploy that appliance/asset/DER into the real world. To do it myself I'd have to violate more than a few codes and it isn't even clear my utility can handle the flexibility on offer. Putting it together, I'd essentially have to build my own micro-grid with full island mode... and I don't even have solar in the mix.
The new Hummer EV carries around a 212kWh battery, you could get 9 integrated panel systems for large homes for that much batter capacity. But even to integrate circuit sharing one has to do it at the plug to conform to local codes, we just don't have the support down to the trades level for the kinds of new solutions that would make the transition easier. We built up these regulations to improve home safety, it has been a great success, but we need to step up now to unlock future improvements and not sit back accept traditional practices as immutable.
It's too bad energy efficiency and electrification aren't valued as much as a new kitchen, deck, family room, or pool for example. People are willing to spend considerably more on this sort of thing.
Thanks for the episode. I know you mentioned home benchmarking and being able to see home energy use on Zillow. Minneapolis has required energy benchmarks for large buildings. They also have energy disclosure reports for individual homes that are for sale. They even have education for local realtors on the value and benefits of energy efficiency. There was a lot of advocacy to get the ordinances passed but this is the sort of local direct action that folks can do in their area. https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/environmental-programs/energy-benchmarking/
I'm afraid we'll see soft costs of some of these upgrades go up.
The landlord situation is really sad. Mine is blowing through their recent [huge] profits on aesthetic improvements, despite several tenants owning EVs.
Also, the big contractors that advertise on TV are offering free furnace with the purchase of an A/C unit. Who's funding that?
The nice thing about Heat Pumps is that they warm your living space in the winter and give you AC in the summer. Depending on how many tons your dwelling is specified for, you will use a 20 amp breaker up to a 60 amp breaker for the heat pump.
Thank you for this excellent comprehensive piece! The details here are so helpful. Electrifying is still super complex — and so, so expensive, even with rebates and incentives. We're lucky to have plenty of help available in the SF Bay Area, and it's still tough. I've been working in clean energy for a decade, we have solar, and I get that there will be cost savings over time, but my husband and I still don't have tons of cash lying around. We managed to get a heat pump water heater for $3500 after all the incentives and rebates, most of which were specific to California (https://flowerchild.substack.com/p/a-shower-powered-by-the-sun). A heat pump heater will cost way more than that. We have to make it easier and more affordable if we want people to electrify.
Thanks, Dave and Cora - awesome episode, and just what I needed! There were definitely some "rule of thumb" things in here that I did not have, though I was familiar with some of Rewiring America's excellent publications. It is just so helpful to have the benefit of someone who has an overview of LOTS of these projects and the state of play. Thank YOU!
I wish the idea of usage-driven merit order had been discussed more. I run my heat very rarely, even during cold periods (most of the time just putting on a jacket indoors). On the other hand, I cook every day.
I want to hear someone work through some scenarios and the affective tax credits.
It is a burden to understand. While tax credits get mentioned a lot, there is not a lot of in depth discussion out there.
In this pod, it was recommended to start electrification with an EV. The Resi Clean Energy Credit was also mentioned. But things like "you don't get the panel upgrade credit just for installing an EV charger" are not said.
It's a little disappointing how slow the rebate rollout to states is going. I wish this were moving faster for political and climate reasons.
I don't believe heat pump dryers were mentioned.
We've completely electrified our older (1904) home in central WA State on a modest income with a family of 5. I have a few suggestions, some of which contrast with the ideas presented on the pod:
1. Don't skimp, if you have a 100 A panel, upgrade it. Get it done at the same time you do solar (see #2) and include it in the install cost (i.e. get 30% paid for by the feds)
2. Get solar first and, if you're swapping out gas for electric alternatives, size your system for double whatever you are currently using. I say do this first because having solar is the gateway drug for all the other upgrades. Once you have solar, you start paying attention to your production/consumption and it turns the whole thing into a game.
3. Skip the energy audit, I can tell you what they will say without even looking at your house. Add insulation in your attic, and if you have single-pane aluminum windows, get them replaced.
4. Running a 24 or 32-A EVSE (EV Charger) will not improve your efficiency, it will just slow down your charging speed. Can you live with 32A? Maybe, but if you have to put in a new 240V circuit anyway, just size it for a 60A breaker/48A EVSE.
5. Don't take sh!t from an HVAC contractor. If they say a heat pump won't work, tell them they just lost the job. Get a Mitsubishi, they are the best!
6. Cutting my gas pipe (after it was turned off) was more satisfying than I ever dreamed it would be. SO GOOD!
7. The final reason to electrify - other than climate and economic - is good ol' fashion SPITE! When the US went to hell in 2016 and we pulled out of Paris, I decided I'd spend as much as I had to to do my part. I guess I should thank Dump for being a malevolent A$$hole.
Greensavers is the go-to electrification contractor in Oregon.
We had a whole home surge protector installed at our panel when they put in our heat pump and heat pump water heater.
Mitsubishi has a link to certified contractors for their heat pumps on their website.
PA is in the process of updating to the more energy efficient 2021 IECC. I'm learning it's not a very democratic process. I'd love if you'd do an episode about the craziness of building codes.
Great conversation. I'd love to see whole-stack electrification consultants become a thing to help homeowners and renters maximize the efficiency of their homes.
The introduction of power efficiency of appliances is a topic that deserves more light, but exposes gaps in the US management of power and community assets.
In my home a modest battery in the panel, 25KWh, could cut by a third my peak energy draw from the grid per hour and double the energy delivered from the grid over the course of a year. This lightens the load on the grid, meaning my neighbors and I are less likely to crowd each other out in periods of high demand, and dramatically improves the grid's ability to get the power into the point of consumption.
The challenge lies in identifying who has an incentive to develop and deploy that appliance/asset/DER into the real world. To do it myself I'd have to violate more than a few codes and it isn't even clear my utility can handle the flexibility on offer. Putting it together, I'd essentially have to build my own micro-grid with full island mode... and I don't even have solar in the mix.
The new Hummer EV carries around a 212kWh battery, you could get 9 integrated panel systems for large homes for that much batter capacity. But even to integrate circuit sharing one has to do it at the plug to conform to local codes, we just don't have the support down to the trades level for the kinds of new solutions that would make the transition easier. We built up these regulations to improve home safety, it has been a great success, but we need to step up now to unlock future improvements and not sit back accept traditional practices as immutable.
It's too bad energy efficiency and electrification aren't valued as much as a new kitchen, deck, family room, or pool for example. People are willing to spend considerably more on this sort of thing.
Thanks for the episode. I know you mentioned home benchmarking and being able to see home energy use on Zillow. Minneapolis has required energy benchmarks for large buildings. They also have energy disclosure reports for individual homes that are for sale. They even have education for local realtors on the value and benefits of energy efficiency. There was a lot of advocacy to get the ordinances passed but this is the sort of local direct action that folks can do in their area. https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/programs-initiatives/environmental-programs/energy-benchmarking/
https://www.mncee.org/energy-disclosure
Funny - I just linked to the Dec. 2022 episode, earlier. I will echo that it is worth a listen.
https://www.volts.wtf/p/induction-stoves-with-batteries-built
I'm afraid we'll see soft costs of some of these upgrades go up.
The landlord situation is really sad. Mine is blowing through their recent [huge] profits on aesthetic improvements, despite several tenants owning EVs.
Also, the big contractors that advertise on TV are offering free furnace with the purchase of an A/C unit. Who's funding that?
So many thoughts, but I'll shut up. Good episode.
The nice thing about Heat Pumps is that they warm your living space in the winter and give you AC in the summer. Depending on how many tons your dwelling is specified for, you will use a 20 amp breaker up to a 60 amp breaker for the heat pump.
Thank you for this excellent comprehensive piece! The details here are so helpful. Electrifying is still super complex — and so, so expensive, even with rebates and incentives. We're lucky to have plenty of help available in the SF Bay Area, and it's still tough. I've been working in clean energy for a decade, we have solar, and I get that there will be cost savings over time, but my husband and I still don't have tons of cash lying around. We managed to get a heat pump water heater for $3500 after all the incentives and rebates, most of which were specific to California (https://flowerchild.substack.com/p/a-shower-powered-by-the-sun). A heat pump heater will cost way more than that. We have to make it easier and more affordable if we want people to electrify.
Thanks, Dave and Cora - awesome episode, and just what I needed! There were definitely some "rule of thumb" things in here that I did not have, though I was familiar with some of Rewiring America's excellent publications. It is just so helpful to have the benefit of someone who has an overview of LOTS of these projects and the state of play. Thank YOU!
I wish the idea of usage-driven merit order had been discussed more. I run my heat very rarely, even during cold periods (most of the time just putting on a jacket indoors). On the other hand, I cook every day.
I’m trying to replace my kitchen Aid superba 24 inch double oven
Any suggestions or places to go for suggestions?
I want to hear someone work through some scenarios and the affective tax credits.
It is a burden to understand. While tax credits get mentioned a lot, there is not a lot of in depth discussion out there.
In this pod, it was recommended to start electrification with an EV. The Resi Clean Energy Credit was also mentioned. But things like "you don't get the panel upgrade credit just for installing an EV charger" are not said.
I went through the planner and found it wouldn't change my bill at all.