What is Beneficial Electrification?
Building Electrification or “Beneficial Electrification” means replacing gas combustion appliances inside of buildings with high-efficiency electric equipment.
What Can Be Electrified?
Heating & Cooling Equipment
Despite its name, heat pumps offer an energy efficient way to heat AND cool homes. Heat pumps run on electricity but move heat rather than generate it. As they are efficient at temperatures down to -20F, a new generation of cold-climate heat pumps has made this technology an appropriate choice for our colder, mountain regions. The cost to operate a heat pump in the winter is much less than oil, propane, or electric resistance heating. In fact, the operating cost is similar to heating with natural gas. However, unlike natural gas, heat pumps do not require transporting fossil fuels and only need an electrical connection to operate.
Combined with a cleaner grid (depending on the electric utility and its energy portfolio) and renewable-energy systems, heat pump systems are a key part of beneficial electrification.
- Read this NY Times article, “A Heat Pump Might be Right for your Home. Here’s Everything to Know.”
- Check out this air source heat pump buying guide from NEEP
- Learn more about operating a heat pump
Think cold climate heat pumps don’t work at high elevation? Check out this successful heat pump installation in a home in Montezuma, Colorado (elev. 10,400′) from our friends at High Country Conservation Center.
Water Heating Equipment
After your heating system, the next largest energy consumer in your home is your hot water heater. Heat pump water heaters store heated water in a tank for later use and require a fraction of the energy of a conventional water heater or boiler. Heat pump water heaters can help reduce your hot water energy consumption, costs and carbon emissions.
- Consider a heat pump water heater
- Learn more from our friends at loveelectric.org
Cooking Equipment
Replace a gas stove with an induction cooktop, which improves safety by eliminating open flames and reduce emissions. Induction cooking is faster, easier to control and safer than cooking with gas or propane. In addition, because the surface does not heat up (only the pans and food), it is very easy to clean.
Clothes Dryers
Heat pump clothes dryers are 50% more efficient than typical gas dryers. Additional advantages include:
- Easy to install in small spaces as no is ventilation required
- Gentler on clothes as they dry at lower temperatures
- Rebates may be available for installation
Learn more about heat pump clothes dryers
Get Energy Advising on Electrification
Several Energy Smart partners provide advice and increased incentives for residents to reduce carbon emissions through electrification. Visit our rebate page to learn more about available electrification rebates and how to apply.
What Support is Available to Electrify?
Learn More, Find an Installer, Identify Rebates
LoveElectric.org
The Colorado Home Energy Rebate Program offers up to $14,000 in rebates for cold climate heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, induction cooking, electric panel upgrades, and electric wiring.
Additionally, Colorado offers
- a 10% state tax credit on the equipment cost, including heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and electrical panel upgrades
- a waiver on the sales and use taxes in the sale of “decarbonizing building materials” like heat pumps and heat pump water heaters
Read Up
Sooner or later, we will be replacing all the fossil-fuel burning equipment in our homes with electric ones. As a result, homes will become climate-friendly, healthier, more comfortable and cheaper to operate. In fact, switching homes from fossil fuel-burning equipment to efficient electric alternatives will be a critical step toward mitigating the climate crisis. READ MORE »
