The world of home electrification is ever-evolving, with new technologies coming on the market all the time. All this innovation means more and varied options for an efficient, comfortable and resilient home—for heating & cooling, power backups, water heating, home appliances, and more.

We’ll check out some exciting advances in heat pumps—like DIY heat pumps you can install yourself, through the wall heat pumps, and new portable split heat pumps.

As the cost of batteries continues to fall, manufacturers are finding new ways to take advantage of their on demand power. We will discuss some of these newer developments, which include batteries in induction stoves, new powerful electric snowblowers and the new class of distributed home battery options, including plug-and-play batteries devoted to in-home appliances.

Because the cost of energy can vary widely throughout the day, more appliances are now offering load shifting capabilities to reduce energy consumption during peak energy periods. Smart heat pump water heaters preheat and store hot water to avoid turning on during peak times and still deliver needed hot water. Some heat pump models now employ built-in batteries to reduce heating and cooling costs during those high energy cost periods. New vehicle-to-home charging products provide powerful load shifting advantages as well as resilience in power outages, using an EV battery as an on-demand power source.

Join us on September 16th as we take a look at new electric products that offer energy savings and convenience. Combined with rooftop solar, these technologies can bring your home closer to net zero energy.

Register for the webinar

This webinar is part of the Electrify Now “Go Electric!” series developed in partnership with LEARN. Find more Go Electric! webinars with information and tips on other important electrification topics here.

Explore free courses on energy efficiency and electrification with The LEARN Program. LEARN's interactive learning hub covers topics like building design & construction, HVAC and hot water systems, renewable energy, and more as well resources to help you electrify your own home. Start learning today at sandiegolearn.com.

Hosts and Panelists:

Brian Stewart - Brian co-founded Electrify Now to help energy consumers and homeowners learn about the benefits of electrification. He has over 40 years of experience in product design, engineering, manufacturing and sustainability and held many leadership roles at Nike Inc. including Vice President of Sustainable Innovation.

Joe Wachunas - In addition to his work for Electrify Now, Joe is a Program Manager for the New Buildings Institute, managing the Advanced Water Heating Initiative. He is a frequent contributor to CleanTechnica writing articles about topics relating to electrification and clean energy. Joe and his family use their own home to experiment and learn about all electric solutions, solar power and EVs.

Nothing quite drives home the horrors of climate change like forest fires and wildfire smoke. We living on the West Coast have had a couple more years to experience the nightmare that the Midwest, East Coast, and Europe are experiencing this year.

I’ll never forget 2017 when the wildfire smoke descended on our city in Oregon for days at a time. We couldn’t go outside and the skies had a frightening, apocalyptic red to them. Clean air, which we all took for granted, was suddenly taken away from us. Ash started raining down on Portland and I wrote “HELP” on the top of our car.

Then it happened again in Oregon in 2018. More smoke in the late summer, more checking air quality sites to see when we could go outside. We all bought air purifiers to keep air breathable indoors.

And then there was 2020, the year of Covid, when wild fires came really close to Portland, and many of us thought about evacuating. Meanwhile, the air quality in our city was declared to be the worst in the world. I drove to downtown Portland and took this picture.

The nightmarish smoke has continued out West nearly every summer since. My family back East always felt bad, but couldn’t really relate. This was a West Coast thing. We had forests that were drying and burning. The East got rain.

But now we’re all learning that wildfire smoke is not just a West Coast climate change problem, it’s a scourge upon much of the Northern Hemisphere. I was shocked in 2023 in the summer when I was in Ohio and the Canadian fires were so bad that we had smoke in the Midwest for the first time. In June!! None of us thought these regions of the country would have to deal with wildfire smoke.

But here we are in 2026, and the smoke is back. And if it’s back in just three years, and the CO2 continues to accumulate in our atmosphere, then this feels like we’ve entered another nightmarish new normal that is only going to get worse. Clean air and smoke free summers are now another casualty, another penance to be paid for our inaction, not just in the West but everywhere. They are a clear sign and message that we’re not doing enough and not taking this problem seriously enough.

Fighting the fires with heat pumps

I’m a big believer in feeling as fully the possible the pain from wildfires and smoke that have descended on the West Coast for the last 10 years and the East Coast over the last three and Europe especially this summer.

I think we should treat them as major warning signs to our species to prioritize decarbonization, to stop burning fossil fuels. The only way we can really fight the root causes of these fires, is to stop taking our air for granted, and stop filling it with heat trapping pollution.

Which brings me to the title of this editorial. Fight fires and smoke with heat pumps. Heat pumps are a key technology that help solve climate change, which is causing these never-before-seen wildfires and their life-quality-compromising smoke. Switch out your gas furnace and you save 4 to 8 tons of heat-trapping, wildfire-causing CO2 a year. Switch out your water heater and you save another one to two. Electrify your transportation and you are keeping another 5+ tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere. Put solar panels on your house or buy community solar and you’re ensuring that all of your electric appliances are as clean as possible.

These are the things that are within most of our power to do. The world is moving in this direction just not fast enough. We can help speed it along.

The French author Marcel Proust has a great line, “Illness is the most heeded of doctors. To kindness and wisdom we make promises only. To pain we obey.”

These wildfires and their smoke are a clear sign of our climate change illness. The sooner we heed this illness, obey this pain and do what it takes to decarbonize our lives (through technologies like PV, EV and heat pumps), the faster we can get back to the smoke free summers of not too long ago.

Learn how to Electrify your home and transportation through resources on Electrify Now’s website and in our great videos.

Heating water is the second-highest use of energy in our homes, trailing only space heating and cooling. That rarely noticed tank in the utility room drives 15-20% of most home energy bills. With water heating costs adding up to $400-$600 per year, upgrading to a super energy-efficient heat pump water heater is a great way to slash your annual energy spending and substantially reduce your household carbon emissions.

Save money with a Heat Pump Water Heater

Heat pump water heaters, also called hybrid water heaters, are incredibly efficient because they move heat rather than creating it, using up to 70% less energy than other water heaters. Even gas tankless products cannot come close to the low energy costs of a heat pump water heater.

Because they are so energy-efficient, these appliances save homeowners hundreds of dollars per year on utility bills. They work just like a refrigerator in reverse, harvesting heat from the ambient air to warm the water in the tank. Just as your refrigerator releases heat into your kitchen to keep food cold, these devices release cool air into the surrounding space. Fortunately, because water heaters are typically located in utility rooms, basements, or garages, this minor temperature drop goes unnoticed.

Find more information on Heat Pump Water Heaters

Lower your household carbon emissions

After a gas furnace or a gasoline-powered car, a water heater is the largest single source of carbon emissions for most households. Burning natural gas for space and water heating is also a significant source of air pollution.

Heat pump water heaters produce dramatically lower carbon pollution than any other water heating appliance. Upgrading to a heat pump is one of the lowest-cost ways to reduce household carbon emissions.

Higher installation costs, lower lifetime costs

Because they may require a new dedicated 240V electrical circuit to be installed by an electrician, the installation of a heat pump water heater can cost significantly more than a straight gas water heater replacement. However, widely available incentives and lower operating costs result in thousands of dollars of savings over the lifetime of the appliance.

You may already have a dedicated 240V circuit in place if you have an electric resistance water heater now or had one in the past. This lowers installation costs by at least $1,000, making the lifetime savings even more compelling.

If your current water heater is approaching 10 years old, it could fail without warning. To avoid an emergency replacement scenario, with the potential of no hot water for days or weeks while waiting for electrical work and scheduling, it’s best to plan ahead and replace your existing heater before it fails.

Find trusted installers in Oregon, Washington, California

Most utilities offer incentives to lower install costs

Incentives ranging from $500 to as high as $2,000 are available from most electric utilities and state energy efficiency programs. In some cases, incentives are deducted from retail prices at stores like Home Depot and Lowes. A qualified installer should know what incentives are available, but here are some good resources to find information for your area:

• Oregon - GP Conservation, Energy Trust of Oregon

• California - The Switch is On

• Washington - The Switch is On

• National - check with your electric utility

How to boost savings

If you have upgraded to a heat pump water heater, congratulations! Here are some tips to maximize savings with your super-efficient appliance.

1. Select Heat Pump Only Mode. Your water heater can operate in several modes depending on your hot water needs. Select “Heat Pump Only” mode for maximum savings - this locks out the electric resistance heating elements. Select “Hybrid” mode if you have high hot water demand, like visiting guests - this will trigger the electric resistance elements for faster recovery.

2. Set the thermostat to at least 120 degrees. Increasing the temperature will make the water in your tank go farther, as it is mixed with cold water at the tap. You can set the water temperature as high as 130 degrees, but be sure not to use pure hot water to avoid the risk of scalding.

3. Schedule water heating to take advantage of low rates. If you have a “time of use” electricity rate plan that charges higher rates during peak hours (typically 5-9pm), you can set your water heater to turn off during those hours. You will hardly notice, because a tank full of hot water will last many hours, more than enough to get through the peak hours. You will save money by lowering your energy use when rates are the highest.

Find more information on Heat Pump Water Heaters

Electrify Portland, Home Electrification Fair, June 27th.

Our friends at Electrify PDX are hosting their annual Home Electrification Fair, a free, festive event for homeowners and renters ready to transition to efficient electric solutions and renewable energy. Find info on products, installers, incentives, and more at this fun, kid friendly event.

Home Electrification Coaching.

If you live in the Portland, Bend, or Corvallis metro areas, here’s a great way to kickstart your electrification journey. Sign up for a free personal coach from Electrify Oregon to help you identify your priorities, create a plan, find trusted contractors, and take advantage of available incentives.

If you have questions or comments, or need some advice about electrification in your home, please contact us at: brianstewart@electrifynow.net

Please share this newsletter with your friends and family.

Thanks, and good luck with your electrification projects!

It is not uncommon for homes built before 1960 to use a gas boiler and baseboard or wall mounted radiators for space heating. Is it possible to convert those homes to efficient heat pumps for heating and cooling? Join us as we dive into air-to-water heat pumps, a solution that is becoming more available as manufacturers are adapting technology that is common in Europe to the specific needs of the American market.

Air-to-water systems can be used for straight gas boiler replacements but also offer advantages that improve home comfort, such as more consistent temperatures, better temperature control, and cooling. Like all heat pumps, these systems operate at much higher efficiency than combustion technology which can translate to lower operating costs. A single outdoor compressor unit can be configured with a variety of indoor emitter options depending on the needs of the home, including baseboard heaters, wall or ceiling panels, hydronic fan coils or radiant floor loops that can provide heating or cooling. They can also deliver domestic hot water heating to eliminate the need for stand-alone water heaters.

Register for the webinar

In this manufacturer’s roundtable, we will discuss the benefits of air-to-water space and water heating, as well as potential challenges facing the adoption of this relatively new technology. We will learn from our panelists about the options that are available and answer the following questions and more:

• What is an air-to-water heat pump system, and how does it work?

• What is the difference between air-to-water and air source heat pumps?

• How do they provide cooling?

• What are the comfort benefits of air-to-water heat pumps?

• Can air-to-water heat pumps replace existing gas boiler systems?

• Can they work with existing wall radiators and underfloor systems and pipes?

• Does a heat pump need to supply the same output capacity as a gas boiler?

• Do air-to-water systems work in colder climates?

• How do they deliver domestic hot water?

• How do they compare in price to gas systems or air source systems?

• What models are available in the U.S., and what models are on the horizon?

• Who can install an air-to-water heat pump?

• Are there certain applications where these systems make the most sense?

• Do air-to-water systems deliver grid benefits or other benefits?

Join us on May 20th to learn about this emerging high efficiency technology.

This webinar is part of the Electrify Now “Go Electric!” series developed in partnership with LEARN. Find more Go Electric! webinars with information and tips on other important electrification topics here.

Explore free courses on energy efficiency and electrification with The LEARN Program. LEARN's interactive learning hub covers topics like building design & construction, HVAC and hot water systems, renewable energy, and more as well resources to help you electrify your own home. Start learning today at sandiegolearn.com.

Hosts and Panelists:

Brian Stewart - Brian co-founded Electrify Now to help energy consumers and homeowners learn about the benefits of electrification. He has over 40 years of experience in product design, engineering, manufacturing and sustainability and held many leadership roles at Nike Inc. including Vice President of Sustainable Innovation.

Joe Wachunas - In addition to his work for Electrify Now, Joe is a Program Manager for the New Buildings Institute, managing the Advanced Water Heating Initiative. He is a frequent contributor to CleanTechnica writing articles about topics relating to electrification and clean energy. Joe and his family use their own home to experiment and learn about all electric solutions, solar power and EVs.

Mark Kulik - Senior Product Manager - Mitsubishi Electric – Mark has extensive experience in product management with Mitsubishi Electric Trane, working on the ideation, development and integration of residential mini-split and commercial VRF control products.

Edwin Reek - Director, Water Heating Solutions - Daikin North America – Edwin joined Daikin 3 years ago in the Advanced Products Group. In his current role as Director, Water Heating Solutions, he is leading the development and introduction of hydronic heat pumps in the North American market. With the objective of providing products to decarbonize and electrify typical fossil fuel heating and DHW applications, Edwin and the Daikin team are developing a portfolio of hydronic heat pump solutions. Currently, this includes the Daikin Altherma 3H HT 3-in-1 air-to-water heat pump for heating, cooling, and DHW and the Mega-Q all-electric commercial hot water generation system.

Jim Bashford - National Sales and Training Manager - SpacePak Inc. – As National Sales and Training Manager, Jim shares his experience driving the adoption of air-to-water heat pumps in North America. Drawing from thousands of installations across a wide range of climates and buildings, Jim has gathered insights about system design, application, and common use cases for heating, cooling, and domestic hot water.

These days it feels amazing to be net zero. With gas prices topping $4/gallon nationally for the first time in four years, natural gas (aka methane) prices up 11% over last year, and even electricity prices rising 9% due in part to data centers, my family can breathe easy knowing our energy bills are zero.

Yes, zero, zilcho - we have no home or vehicle energy bills, besides the $17/month utility charge we pay to be connected to the electrical grid. The solar panels on our home produce all the energy our abode and our electric vehicle use over the course of a year. No more eye popping visits to the gas pump, no more spending thousands of dollars on fossil energy piped into our home.

A few short years ago, we used to buy energy like everyone else. We were subject to the frenetic ups and downs of energy prices. We were victims of stupid-war-oil-shocks. But we came up with a strategy to slowly add the three key technologies, PV, EV and Heat Pumps to our home and now we find ourselves energy bill free.

And if we can do this, you can too.

How to become your own energy producer

Want to become your own oil refiner, gas station, heating provider and power company? Not since humans used to rely on chopped wood has it been possible for us to harvest and provide our own energy like it is today.

With PV (solar), EV (or e-bike) and heat pumps we can become our own energy producers and providers.

Step 1 - PV

Solar (or photovoltaic PV) panels are now commonplace. 7% of homes in the US currently have them. PV is popular across the country and world and has been the fastest growing energy source for years.

Yes, Trump took away the solar tax credits this year, but there are still tax credits for solar leases. And solar prices have fallen so dramatically that it is still a great investment even without tax credits. We can speak to this from experience. When we bought solar panels for the first time in 2010, the overall system cost was $7.40 per watt (or $20,000 for a 2.7 kW system). When we installed solar on a rental property last year, it cost $2.77 per watt (or $20,000 for a 7.3 kW system).

We got an almost 3 times larger system in 2025 for the same price.

One of the great things about solar is that you can do it again and again. We’ve installed panels five different times over 15 years at three different properties. Our strategy has been to add some solar, electrify more systems in our house and repeat.

Our payback for each system was typically 5-7 years and now our solar panels produce over $2,000 worth of electricity for our home annually. With PV, you lock in a price for electricity (what you pay for the panels when you have them installed) and then are immune to rising costs.

Plus, combining solar with an all electric lifestyle means you can produce all the energy your home and vehicle needs. There is nothing like plugging in while the sun is shining and knowing that those electrons entering your vehicle are being harvested right on your roof. No more straight of Hormuz - just sunshine, panels and (energy bill) freedom.

Step 2 - EV

With gas topping $4 a gallon nationally and in some places over $7 a gallon, electric vehicles look even more attractive. Rather than being subject to the price swings of crazy oil wars, with an EV you can power your transportation with solar photons harvested from your rooftop.

And similar to our experience with solar panels, EV costs have come down so much it makes your head spin. When we first bought an EV in 2017, the only affordable option was a used Leaf which got 85 miles of range. Last year, we were able to lease a 300 mile range ID4 for under $200 a month. There are over a dozen great, long range EVs for sale for under $40,000, and pre-owned EVs offer a great value with lots of options available as EV sales have grown in the last several years. New reports show that modern EV batteries hold up over hundreds of thousands of miles and will outlast the vehicle itself, which makes used EVs even more attractive.

An electric vehicle can get you so much further for the same price of fuel than a fossil fuel powered one

Plus there are so many other benefits like less maintenance, cleaner air, smoother ride, faster torque, plugging in at home - the list goes on and on!

Other electric and active transportation like e-bikes are amazing too.

Step 3 - Heat pumps

Heat pumps are the third and final key step to energy freedom. This includes heat pumps to heat your home, heat pump water heaters to heat your water and even a heat pump dryer to dry your clothes. Heat pumps move heat rather than create it which makes them 3-5 times more efficient than other ways to make heat (burning fossil fuels or electric resistance). Heat pumps also run on electricity which means you can power them from the energy you produce on your rooftop.

Shortly after moving into our home in 2012, we replaced our gas furnace with ductless heat pumps and they keep our home warm in the winter and cool in the summer all while running on the solar energy we produce. We got a heat pump water heater in 2017 and it heats all the water our four-person, including our two kids who love an insanely long shower. We also got a heat pump dryer (and even a combi one for our ADU) to dry our laundry using a fraction of the energy of a standard one.

Together these technologies provide all the heat we need and do so incredibly efficiently. So much so that our 10 kW PV system can provide all the energy they need (over the course of the year).

Our home is also fossil fuel free which means our kids breathe better.

PV, EV and Heat Pumps

Yes, these three technologies save the day. There are other great ones like induction stoves and home batteries but with PV, EV and heat pumps you can say goodbye to utility bills and hello to independence.

Like us, you don’t have to do it all at once. We tried to switch out or add on one big system per year and before we knew it we were net zero. And next time you’re shaking your head after paying $100 to fill your car or muttering to yourself about how high your natural gas bill is this month, remember there is a way to be free of these high costs and it’s more accessible to us now than anytime in the last 200 years. PV, EV and Heat Pumps!

Watch Our Latest Webinar - How to Compare Heat Pump Quotes

Miss our webinar yesterday with three heat pump installers, discussing how to compare heat pump quotes? Check it out along all our great content on our YouTube channel.

Learn what information you need to choose the heat pump system that will keep you comfortable and keep your electricity bill as low as possible.

Upgrading your HVAC system is a big investment, so it’s key to hire a trustworthy contractor and ensure you’re installing the right system for your home. The journey starts with researching trusted local contractors, then getting multiple quotes to compare. But even the best contractors may not automatically provide all the information you need in a format that makes it easy to compare between options. Heat pump quotes come in a variety of formats, and sorting through the details to make the right decision can feel a bit daunting.

In this webinar we talk with experienced heat pump installers to learn how you can navigate this process as smoothly as possible to ensure the best outcome, including:

• What to discuss with potential contractors, including what to ask, and what to share with them about your home and comfort issues.

• How to differentiate one quote from another, including price, equipment, performance specifications and potential energy savings.

• How to request information that enables you to make an apples to apples comparison between different manufacturers and system options.

• What to expect from a professional quote, including a load calculation, duct evaluation, specific brand and model numbers, and a comprehensive list of charges and incentives.

• How to understand and compare contractor load calculations and design temperatures.

• What you need to know from the contractor for warm climates compared to cold climates.

• Why it is important to know when backup resistance heating will be needed and if you can avoid that added operating cost.

• What pitfalls to avoid when evaluating a contractor and their proposed estimate.

Whether you live in a warm climate where cooling is your top priority, or a colder climate where heating performance will be critical, it’s important to work with a reliable contractor who has experience installing heat pumps in your area. Join us on for specific tips and tricks for selecting the best heat pump fit for your home.

This webinar is part of the Electrify Now “Go Electric!” series developed in partnership with LEARN. Find more Go Electric! webinars with information and tips on other important electrification topics here.

Explore free courses on energy efficiency and electrification with The LEARN Program. LEARN's interactive learning hub covers topics like building design & construction, HVAC and hot water systems, renewable energy, and more as well resources to help you electrify your own home. Start learning today at sandiegolearn.com.

Hosts and Panelists:

Brian Stewart - Brian co-founded Electrify Now to help energy consumers and homeowners learn about the benefits of electrification. He has over 40 years of experience in product design, engineering, manufacturing and sustainability and held many leadership roles at Nike Inc. including Vice President of Sustainable Innovation.

Joe Wachunas - In addition to his work for Electrify Now, Joe is a Program Manager for the New Buildings Institute, managing the Advanced Water Heating Initiative. He is a frequent contributor to CleanTechnica writing articles about topics relating to electrification and clean energy. Joe and his family use their own home to experiment and learn about all electric solutions, solar power and EVs.

Akanksha Mathur, Elephant Energy - Akanksha is dedicated to accelerating home electrification by making it easier for homeowners to adopt heat pump technology. At Elephant Energy, she focuses on homeowner education, incentive navigation, and simplifying the decision-making process. Her work centers on creating a more informed and equitable path to decarbonizing homes.

Luke Gauvin, Elephant Energy - Luke Gauvin has a strong background in HVAC and is passionate about advancing clean energy solutions. At Elephant Energy in Denver, Colorado, he helps customers transition from fossil fuel systems to efficient, cold-climate heat pumps. Drawing on his technical expertise and customer-focused approach, Luke works to make home electrification practical, reliable, and accessible. His work supports a broader mission of building a more sustainable and resilient energy future.

Arin Anderson, Sun Glow Inc. - Arin brings over 25 years of HVAC experience to in-home consultations for residential heat pump projects. As a BPI Certified Building Analyst and NATE Certified Air Distribution and Duct Specialist, his design process is centered on proper equipment sizing based on each home’s insulation and construction, along with careful evaluation of existing duct systems. Arin is passionate about educating homeowners, helping them understand their options and confidently choose the right heat pump solution.

They found that the exterior walls lacked insulation, so their team blew-in insulation through the siding. They air sealed throughout the house and in the attic and improved the attic insulation up to R50, adding insulation in the empty slope cavities. They also air sealed our crawlspace, added a new vapor barrier, and insulated the empty floor cavities. We had a heat pump installed on the second floor (disconnecting the furnace from that part of the house) which made the upstairs incredibly comfortable year-round.

Weatherization, including insulation and air sealing, is a critical part of your home’s energy efficiency. A strong thermal barrier that is air-tight, well-ventilated and has proper insulation will help keep your home at a stable temperature, reducing the need for heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. As a result, you’ll not only be more comfortable, but your energy bills will be lower and your home’s carbon footprint will shrink.

The older your home, the more likely that insulation and air sealing can save you money by preventing wasted energy. According to Energy Star, 9 out of 10 homes in the U.S. are under-insulated. If you have rooms that are often too hot or too cold, have drafts, moisture, mold or odors, then you might consider getting an energy audit to identify the underlying causes.

The building envelope

Your home’s building envelope (that’s the fancy name for the roof, walls, foundation, windows and doors that come together to separate the interior of your home from the outside elements) acts as a thermal barrier. A “tight” envelope prevents air leakage and heat losses/gains and keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It also helps out with moisture and mold control.

If my envelope isn’t tight, where is the energy going?

In an un-insulated home, this where the typical heat losses and gains take place:

How insulation helps

Insulation is a material that resists or blocks the flow of heat energy. The idea is to minimize winter heat loss and summer heat gains so you can enjoy year-round comfort. How well an insulation product resists heat flow is known as its R value—the higher the R value, the higher the level of insulation. When correctly installed, insulation can also reduce noise from outside, reduce allergens, and help to control humidity. And as you can guess from the diagram above, attic insulation proves to be pretty key to preventing heat gains and losses.

Ventilation and air tightness

A healthy, energy efficient home requires a balance of reliable ventilation and good air tightness. Ventilation intentionally brings in outdoor air to maintain good air quality, while air tightness avoids the unintended introduction of outdoor air and or the loss of conditioned air to the outside. Improving air tightness through air sealing is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve your thermal comfort and reduce energy costs.

Air typically leaks through unsealed/poorly sealed doors and windows, unsealed vents and fans, gaps around ceiling insulation and ceiling penetrations (like light fixtures), gaps around wall penetrations (like outlets, switches, pipes), gaps between building envelope junctions, and poorly fitted or shrunken floor boards. All of these small leaks can add up to the equivalent of an open window—particularly on older homes. This is why air sealing can make a huge impact on heating bills even for homes that are well insulated.

The most cost effective weatherization measures

Every home is different, but Energy Star recommends these six measures that are typically cost effective—meaning they will save you money in the long run and increase the comfort of your home:

• Attic Insulation to R30 to R49 (depending on climate zone)

• Basement/Crawlspace Insulation to R13 to R38 (depending on climate zone)

• Attic Air Sealing

• Basement Crawlspace Air Sealing

• Whole House Air Sealing

• Windows and Doors Air Sealing

Some of these measures you can do yourself, but it is a big job and one that experienced contractors can typically do better and faster. Blower door tests require specialized equipment, but they are a great way to find air leaks that are otherwise hard to locate.

Most homes will benefit

Sealing air leaks and adding insulation are two of the most cost-efficient ways to improve energy efficiency and the comfort of your home. Combined, these two projects can help you save up to 10% on your annual energy bills, and even more if you live in a colder climate. And if you have an energy efficient heat pump, you can rest easy knowing that you’re making the most of the summer warmth and winter cooling it provides.

Contractors and Incentives

If you live in Oregon, the Energy Trust of Oregon provides significant incentives for insulating homes that can save you thousands of dollars. The Electrify Oregon Contractor finder can also help you to locate recommended weatherization specialists in your area. Outside of Oregon, check your local utilities for information about incentives you may qualify for.

A big project that was well worth doing

We were really happy with the weatherization work we had done on our home. In conjunction with the insulation and HVAC work, we had our electrical panel upgraded, added a circuit for a Level 2 EV charger, and installed rooftop solar. It was a big project, but our home was quite comfortable and 75% powered by solar energy when all was said and done. When we sold the house four years later it got an energy score of 10, and the improvements we’d made were a big selling point. Plus we felt great knowing that we’d left an older home with a much smaller carbon footprint than it had when we’d bought it.

In case you missed it, check out our latest webinar, Home Insulation and Air Sealing:

Make your home more comfy year-round, and save on your energy bills.

Pipes and faucets leak, but did you know you can also have a leaky house? It can be surprising how air leaks in light fixtures, electrical sockets, bathroom fan vents and other areas can add up to the equivalent of an open window. Insulating and air sealing your home increases your comfort, your home’s efficiency, and your energy savings. Join us to learn how home insulation can be a smart investment in your home and find out what the process entails.

Home insulation may involve sealing gaps and cracks that allow warm air to escape, upgrading the insulation in your attic, floors, or walls and improving ventilation. These upgrades will make your heating and cooling system work more efficiently and can enable you to install a smaller, less costly system if you are in the market for a new heat pump. By making your home envelope tighter, your home will feel more comfy year-round and you can cut energy waste, improve your indoor air quality, control moisture, and increase your home’s value. Air sealing alone can save you up to 20% of your energy costs!

Join us as we discuss the following and more:

• What are the key aspects of home insulation?

• What is the process of working with a home insulation company?

• What is a blower door test and how does that help to identify air gaps?

• How do infrared cameras help find insulation and sealing issues?

• What are the most effective ways to insulate a home?

• Are there differences in types of insulation products?

• What benefits can I expect from insulating and air sealing my home?

• Are there certain insulation measures that have the highest bang for the buck?

Watch this webinar to learn more about the benefits of whole-home weatherization and insulation.

This webinar is part of the Electrify Now “Go Electric!” series developed in partnership with LEARN. Find more Go Electric! webinars with information and tips on other important electrification topics here.

Explore free courses on energy efficiency and electrification with The LEARN Program. LEARN's interactive learning hub covers topics like building design & construction, HVAC and hot water systems, renewable energy, and more as well resources to help you electrify your own home. Start learning today at sandiegolearn.com.

Hosts and Panelists:

Brian Stewart - Brian co-founded Electrify Now to help energy consumers and homeowners learn about the benefits of electrification. He has over 40 years of experience in product design, engineering, manufacturing and sustainability and held many leadership roles at Nike Inc. including Vice President of Sustainable Innovation.

Joe Wachunas - In addition to his work for Electrify Now, Joe is a Program Manager for the New Buildings Institute, managing the Advanced Water Heating Initiative. He is a frequent contributor to CleanTechnica writing articles about topics relating to electrification and clean energy. Joe and his family use their own home to experiment and learn about all electric solutions, solar power and EVs.

Jose Benitez - Jose is President of HomeRx, an industry leader in insulation and weatherization services. With nearly three decades of experience, Jose is dedicated to improving comfort and energy efficiency in Pacific Northwest homes. He is an expert in the role insulation and sealing plays in the building envelope. He understands how various types of insulation (and how they are installed) affect comfort, performance, and sound suppression. Under his leadership, HomeRx thrives with a dedicated team of experts, a fleet of skilled installers, and a commitment to helping homeowners maximize the benefits of upgraded insulation.

Miss our last webinar?

Watch the recording of February’s webinar on Ventless Combo Washer Dryers

Watch a live demo and a discussion on how these new appliances compare on ease of use, energy efficiency and reliability.

Washers and dryers account for anywhere from 8-10% of the energy use in our homes and a significant amount of our water use. Heat pump dryers are rated ENERGY STAR’s most efficient dryers on the market, using roughly 75% less energy than a typical electric resistance or gas dryer. They use heat pump technology to move heat rather than create it, and have many benefits.

Manufacturers from GE to Samsung to LG offer combo washer + heat pump dryers that wash and dry a complete load of laundry in the same machine. They’re lauded for their space saving, convenience, and energy efficiency, as well as the advanced wash cycles and smart features they offer.

Download our helpful handout about Ventless Washer Dryer Combos

As the market for this technology grows, we’ll take a look at the big advantages and minor challenges of switching to a combo unit. Not only do combo washer + heat pump dryers have the potential to save time and improve a homeowners’ washing/drying experience, they greatly reduce energy use required to dry clothing. Most also plug into a 120-volt outlet, helping homes with gas dryers electrify this end use more easily.

Join us for a 45-minute webinar with a live demo, in which we explore:

• What is a combo washer + heat pump dryer and how does it work?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of combo washer + heat pump dryers?

• What models are on the market?

• How are these appliances performing from a service and warranty perspective?

• How did the current models of combo washer + dryers overcome challenges to create a new way of doing laundry?

• What are the expected time and energy savings from combo washer + heat pump dryers?

Watch to learn how an energy audit can best prepare you to lower your energy bills, phase out fossil fuels, cut your home’s carbon emissions, improve your home’s indoor air quality, and make your home more comfortable year-round.

This webinar is part of the Electrify Now “Go Electric!” series developed in partnership with LEARN. Find more Go Electric! webinars with information and tips on other important electrification topics here.

Explore free courses on energy efficiency and electrification with The LEARN Program. LEARN's interactive learning hub covers topics like building design & construction, HVAC and hot water systems, renewable energy, and more as well resources to help you electrify your own home. Start learning today at sandiegolearn.com.

Hosts and Panelists:

Brian Stewart - Brian co-founded Electrify Now to help energy consumers and homeowners learn about the benefits of electrification. He has over 40 years of experience in product design, engineering, manufacturing and sustainability and held many leadership roles at Nike Inc. including Vice President of Sustainable Innovation.

Joe Wachunas - In addition to his work for Electrify Now, Joe is a Program Manager for the New Buildings Institute, managing the Advanced Water Heating Initiative. He is a frequent contributor to CleanTechnica writing articles about topics relating to electrification and clean energy. Joe and his family use their own home to experiment and learn about all electric solutions, solar power and EVs.

Steve Sheinkopf, CEO, Yale Appliance. Yale Appliance is one of our country’s oldest and most sophisticated appliance dealers with a wealth of experience with nearly all home appliance products and fantastic online resources for consumers, a dedication to customer service and experience with all major appliance brands. Steve has been at Yale for over 50 years and contributes to the national dialogue on appliances as a frequent writer, blogger and videographer.

Edward Louie, Building Energy Efficiency Research Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Edward loves all things related to building science, energy efficiency, and sustainability. His focus is on residential homes. For retrofitting millions of existing homes, his overarching solution is to implement low-cost, relatively easy-to-execute envelope improvements to reduce air leakage, increase insulation and then meet the thermal loads with very energy efficient heat pumps for space conditioning and domestic hot water.

Last year we bought a combination washer and heat pump dryer and have been pretty impressed. Not only does the machine offer significant convenience where you put a load of clothes in and literally two hours later it is both washed and dried, it also uses a small amount of energy. Like under one kWh worth of energy. It feels like heat pump clothes drying technology has now fully arrived; the most innovative and easy to use technology is also the most energy efficient.

Our journey to the combo washer + heat pump dryer

Hang Drying laundry

In my house, we’ve been on a journey to make our clothes washing and drying as efficient as possible for a long time. After living in Italy as an exchange student, I fell in love with the simple and practical beauty of hang drying laundry, which is common around the world but unfortunately a lost art on this continent. Hang drying works especially well in the summer when it’s easy to dry your clothes quickly and have them smell amazing.

First heat pump dryer - 2022

But, hang drying is not for everyone or every season, and our family wanted to get an efficient dryer to use in the winter. In 2022, we researched and then bought an Insignia (Best Buy’s Brand) heat pump dryer for our main house, replacing the ancient, 20-year old, energy hogging dryer that had come with our house when we bought it. After doing a lot of research (and writing an article about it), we saw that in 2022, nearly all heat pump dryers were “compact.” This means they had smaller drums, around 4 cubic feet of capacity (“typical” American dryers have around 7 feet of capacity). Three years ago the Insignia cost $800 (today it costs $700), more than standard, energy hogging, electric dryers that cost $400-600 on average. But buying a compact heat pump dryer was still an upgrade for us. For one, we got to patch the hole in our house and remove the lint-filled dryer vent (heat pump dryers don’t need one). Say goodbye to cleaning vents and fire hazards! It also allowed us to use the dryer pretty guilt-free because it is so darn efficient, using only 300 to 400 watts of energy an hour and half a kilowatt hour per load (a standard electric dryer will use 3-4 kWh). The only negative parts about this dryer, which we still have and use, are that we have to divide big loads into two (because it has a smaller drum) and that it can sometimes take a long time to dry, between 75 and 120 minutes depending on the size of the load.

Enter the combination washer + heat pump dryer

In 2023, the year after we bought our compact heat pump dryer, GE came out with a front loading washer combined with a heat pump dryer to form an all-in-one, laundry machine to rule them all. This combo washer/heat pump dryer uses both air circulation techniques and a heat pump to dry clothes with very little energy and it removes the need to switch a load of laundry from a washing machine to a drying one. There had been many combo washer dryers before, we had one in our small accessory dwelling unit (ADU) apartment next door, but they were largely all compact and used the same energy-intensive, electric resistance technology. This was the first combo washer + heat pump dryer.

GE’s saw strong sales and two other manufacturers, LG and Samsung, quickly came out with products.

Many of us who geek out on energy efficient appliances saw these combo washer and heat pump dryers as a Holy Grail of sorts—where doing the right thing (using the least amount of energy) is also doing the most convenient thing. But in our house we thought, could this be real? Does it really work well and are there any drawbacks?

Since we’d recently bought a heat pump dryer for our main house, we didn’t think we’d be trying a Combo washer-dryer soon. But recently, the 13-year old, small, electric resistance-powered washer/dryer in our attached ADU broke and we needed to get a new replacement quickly.

Heavy, and taller but easy installation

We looked online and found a nearly new GE available on Facebook marketplace for $1,600 that someone had bought for their elderly mother (who had decided she didn’t want it because it was too different from what she was used to). We went to buy and pick it up in a borrowed truck but found that the machine was very heavy—around 300 pounds, which was impossible for us to lift. So, we hired some movers who picked up the washer/dryer for us for an extra $150 and brought it into our ADU.

The other thing to note about this combo washer and dryer is that it is around 6” taller than a standard single washer and dryer (the GE one is 47 inches tall). It is large but the overall laundry footprint is smaller because you only need one machine rather than two.

The installation is quite easy. Put it in place, plug it into a standard outlet and hook up water pipes and drain tubes. The combo washer/ heat pump dryer doesn’t need 240-volts of electricity or an outdoor dryer vent. It can just plug into a normal outlet which offers another clue of how efficiently these products use energy.

Operating a combo washer/dryer

Operating the washer/dryer is pretty straightforward. You put your clothes in, choose the cycle you want and voilá your clothes are completely clean and dry in two hours. All the manufacturers have apps that allow you to track your energy usage too.

Lint

All the combo washer/dryers have serious filters to help keep lint at bay. The lint filter must be cleaned after every load. Yet, there are some questions as to whether these lint filters remove all the lint. A technical friend, Edward Louie, took apart his 1.5 year old GE and found a decent amount of lint build-up in the machine. He says the “GE combo washer heat pump dryer has a bypass in the back of the filter slot to allow some air to bypass the filter to keep the unit from failing if the user fails to clean the lint filter. That was a mistake in my opinion, as it lets lint bypass the filter and thus lint gets into the evaporator.”

Samsung and LG’s heat pump dryers don’t have this design challenge according to Edward, and additionally the two brands have coil wash nozzles that run during a self-clean cycle to wash lint out of the heat exchanger should some make it past the lint filter. The current GE unit doesn’t have a coil wash.

Keeping the lint filter removed from the filter slot when the machine is not in use allows the plastic to dry/air out which seems to slow the rate at which lint sticks to surfaces. Purchasing an aftermarket dryer/appliance lint cleaning brushes and a long flexible vacuum cleaner crevice tool attachment helps greatly with removing lint that’s visible in the filter slot that didn’t make it into the lint filter.

Energy Usage

I wanted to see just how little energy my combo washer/dryer used and so put my old Kill A Watt energy reader on the outlet it was connected to. I was expecting low energy usage but have to admit being really excited when a full wash and dry load came in under one kWh of energy. Typically, electric resistance dryers use 2.5 to 4 kWh per load according to Silicon Valley Power. This means a typical home could save something like 450 kWh per year or around $80.

One other benefit we’ve noticed is that unlike other front loading washers where you have to regularly clean the rubber door lining which gets full of water and can get moldy, the lining of the combo washer/dryer stays dry and doesn’t have this problem.

Energy efficiency in a laundry machine that does both washing and drying is a powerful concept. It means a household can do good for the environment, save money on utility bills and have a more convenient, space-saving appliance.

PS - at Electrify Now, we are volunteers who like to write about innovative technology and don’t receive any funding or free products from any manufacturers in the process.

Ventless Washer Dryer Combos Webinar

February 26, 2026 - 12 PM (Pacific)

Register Here

Washers and dryers account for anywhere from 8-10% of the energy use in our homes and a significant amount of our water use. Heat pump dryers are rated ENERGY STAR’s most efficient dryers on the market, using roughly 75% less energy than a typical electric resistance or gas dryer. They use heat pump technology to move heat rather than create it, and have many benefits.

Manufacturers from GE to Samsung to LG offer combo washer + heat pump dryers that wash and dry a complete load of laundry in the same machine. They’re lauded for their space saving, convenience, and energy efficiency, as well as the advanced wash cycles and smart features they offer.

As the market for this technology grows, we’ll take a look at the big advantages and minor challenges of switching to a combo unit. Not only do combo washer + heat pump dryers have the potential to save time and improve a homeowners’ washing/drying experience, they greatly reduce energy use required to dry clothing. Most also plug into a 120-volt outlet, helping homes with gas dryers electrify this end use more easily.

Join us for a webinar on this important technology on February 26, 2026 at 12PM Pacific.

Last summer I did something very ambitious. I DIY installed a ductless heat pump system almost completely solo. And it wasn’t just one simple ductless system, it was five indoor ductless heat pumps (3 of them on a second floor) and two outdoor units. I’d never done anything like it before but wanted to try out how accessible heat pumps are for the DIYer and how much money we could save. Spoiler alert, it was really challenging and consumed about a week of my life, but I was able to complete the job successfully and saved around $7,000.

Why DIY a heat pump install

Why would I take on something as ambitious as DIYing a ductless heat pump install? First, I was curious about how realistic, accessible and user-friendly a DIY ductless heat pump kit was. DIYing a heat pump water heater was pretty doable, would a heat pump be the same? I also wanted to learn more about the ins and outs of these systems and the overall process of installing them.

But saving money was probably the biggest reason. In 2021, we’d purchased a ducted, whole house heat pump on one side of a family duplex in Cleveland for $12,500.

This has been a great system but we wanted to see if I could save money on the duplex’s other side which had an ancient, 35 year old gas furnace on its last legs. We had gotten quotes for ductless heat pump installations for over $15,000 in 2021, and didn’t feel like we had the budget to spend that much money on replacing the heating and cooling system on the other side of the duplex. A DIY kit looked about half the cost and was very tempting.

My third and final reason was that I wanted to have cooling directly in the upstairs level of this side of the duplex. Our whole house heat pumps on the other side (along with really any AC) can struggle to cool the upstairs floor of the house. So we elected to go for lots of ductless units to bring cool air directly upstairs.

Buying the DIY Ductless Heat Pumps

I decided to make the leap and ordered a DIY Mr. Cool heat pump system from an online distributor last summer. The total cost for two outdoor units and five indoor units was $6,500, a substantial savings though we would spend an additional $2,000 on some labor help and parts. The system arrived in boxes on a big pallet in mid-August.

Now, I should mention that I consider myself a 4 or 5 on a scale of one to ten for being a handy DIYer. I’ve done a lot of projects on my house in the past, but don’t have great knowledge, craft or tools. To prepare myself for this ambitious project, I watched a lot of videos ahead of time and read over the instruction manuals carefully.

I also tried to find someone with more HVAC experience to assist or possibly lead in the installation. Here I learned an important lesson, it was next to impossible to find additional help once we’d gone down the path of a DIY install. I called a half dozen HVAC contractors but all of them expressed a worry about being liable for equipment that they didn’t order. None of them wanted to help out on our project. I also figured that these companies probably make a significant margin on the equipment and aren’t interested in installations where they don’t provide it.

So I nervously set off to undertake this massive installation solo.

Indoor Unit Installation

Installing a ductless heat pump system involves first drilling a three and a half inch hole through the house to pass the refrigerant lines and communications cable for every indoor unit. This is, needless to say, intimidating. My first couple holes went well but after the first two, the process started taking forever. I later learned that the hole saw I was using was almost completely stripped and so by the final hole or two were brutal. This is a hazard of DIYing. Without a lot of deep background knowledge in tools, little mistakes can slow a project down considerably if you don’t have the experience and knowledge to recognize what’s going on and adjust.

Once the holes were done, I installed the indoor unit on a mounting bracket and passed the communications cable and refrigerant lines out of the house.

This all went reasonably well and I felt maybe a little too cocky after installing the indoor units thinking to myself, “wow, I can drill a hole into a house and mount an indoor unit, I must be pretty handy.” There was a lot of hardship ahead however.

Outdoor unit, refrigerant and condensate lines

Turning my attention to the outdoor units, I mounted brackets to the house to hold them. Here I had help from a handyman neighbor. Next, I connected the refrigerant lines from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit. The trick with a DIY heat pump kit like Mr. Cool, is that you have to measure and order refrigerant lines that are long enough to connect each indoor unit to an outdoor unit. The pre-charged refrigerant lines come in various sizes and you will probably have extra (because you don’t want to order too little) and so then must coil it next to the outdoor unit.

You also run a condensate line and wire the power and communications cable to the outdoor unit.

The big challenge for this part for me was installing the housing that holds (and goes over) the refrigerant lines, but this ordeal was self-inflicted. Rather than buying the Mr. Cool housing which I thought was too expensive, I bought a generic competitor to save money and this ended up being a mistake. It was very challenging to fit the refrigerant lines in the generic housing as they were probably too small for my job. I ran out of time and had to hire a handy person to finish installing the housing. They did a nice job but cost $1,000.

Wiring the outdoor unit

Finally I had to run power from the panel to the outdoor units. I needed two outdoor units for my five ductless heat pumps, and luckily one of them was able to connect to the old air conditioning electrical box. I had to run a new wire for the other outdoor unit. I had never done this before and here I “got by with a little help from my friends” as my amazing electrical engineer neighbor Glen took pity on me and helped out with this process as I was running out of time. We spent one evening working until midnight to finish the electrical part of the project. One big challenge was that the electrical wires that Mr. Cool recommended were too big to connect to the unit. Glen thought of a work around and if I hadn’t had Glenn’s help I would have probably spent a significant time with customer support from Mr. Cool.

After probably 60 to 70 hours of work the units were installed and have been working really well for almost 18 months now. Guests in our Airbnb say they love having heat pumps in every room.

Interestingly enough, I get a side by side comparison of the ducted vs. ductless heat pumps on either side of the duplex. In my opinion, the ductless work better for two big reasons.

1. Upstairs cooling - In the summer, the ductless heat pumps bring cooling to the upstairs of that unit so much better than the ducted. It is common in homes with two or more levels for any sort of AC to struggle to bring cool air to the second floor. Ductless heat pumps bring tons of cooling to the second floor increasing comfort substantially.

2. Utility bills - Last winter was one of the coldest in years on the East Coast. These ductless heat pumps not only performed well without any backup electric resistance, they literally used half of the energy as the ducted side of the duplex providing for a fascinating comparison of energy use and utility bills (which I’ll talk about in a future article).

Final thoughts

DIYing your ductless heat pump installation can be very challenging. If you are someone like me at a four or five out of 10 handiness level, you can probably do it but it will take a while and will be hard.

My big mistake was that my first experience installing ductless heat pumps involved so many indoor and outdoor units on a two-story house where I had to get up and down a ladder many times. I might sing a different tune if I had tried this with one unit in a converted garage.

On the good side, I learned a ton about heat pumps and I was able to save around $7,000 on the install. My total project cost came to $8,767 (not including my time of course) for a nice system that is both clean and efficient.

I do not think I would do such an extensive system again but would consider our one or two indoor unit system in the future. Have you DIYed your heat pump installation? Let us know your experience in the comments below.

From cold and dry to hot and humid, find out why a high efficiency heat pump will keep your home comfortable all year long.

No matter where you live, how cold or how hot it may get, how dry or humid, there is a heat pump designed to work for your home. In this webinar we’ll talk about modern air source heat pumps and how they’re designed to operate most effectively in different climates—from cold and dry to hot and humid.

High efficiency heat pumps, often called cold climate heat pumps, are a key technology in helping individuals and communities move towards rapid electrification and decarbonization no matter where they are located. Because they are designed to maximize heating efficiency, they are able to keep houses warm in cold climates where temperatures fall well below zero. Does this same solution work in hot or humid climates?

Our panelists share their experience with installing and maintaining heat pumps in cold climates, hot climates and humid locations. We will answer questions such as:

• Can one high efficiency heat pump perform well in all climates?

• How does humidity affect heat pump operation?

• What is a cold climate heat pump and how is it different from other heat pumps?

• What is a hot climate heat pump and how is it different?

• Does a cold climate heat pump offer benefits in a mild or hot climate?

• Will a cold climate heat pump result in lower energy bills?

• What’s the best solution for milder climates?

• What’s the best solution for colder climates?

• Is gas backup necessary in cold climates?

• How do you design a heat pump system so it does not rely on resistance backup?

• What should buyers know to help ensure they get the right system?

This webinar is part of the Electrify Now “Go Electric!” series developed in partnership with LEARN. Find more Go Electric! webinars with information and tips on other important electrification topics here.

Explore free courses on energy efficiency and electrification with The LEARN Program. LEARN's interactive learning hub covers topics like building design & construction, HVAC and hot water systems, renewable energy, and more as well resources to help you electrify your own home. Start learning today at sandiegolearn.com.

Hosts and Panelists:

Brian Stewart - Brian co-founded Electrify Now to help energy consumers and homeowners learn about the benefits of electrification. He has over 40 years of experience in product design, engineering, manufacturing and sustainability and held many leadership roles at Nike Inc. including Vice President of Sustainable Innovation.

Joe Wachunas - In addition to his work for Electrify Now, Joe is a Program Manager for the New Buildings Institute, managing the Advanced Water Heating Initiative. He is a frequent contributor to CleanTechnica writing articles about topics relating to electrification and clean energy. Joe and his family use their own home to experiment and learn about all electric solutions, solar power and EVs.

Craig Aaker, Senior Director, GreenSavers - For the past 13 years, Craig has worked in various management roles at GreenSavers, a dedicated home performance contractor which is dedicated to a systems approach to home improvements and home electrification work in Oregon. They have won the Energy Star Home Performance Contractor of the Year Award for the last seven years in a row and they are a certified B Corporation.

Luke Gauvin, Elephant Energy -Luke Gauvin has a strong background in HVAC and is passionate about advancing clean energy solutions. At Elephant Energy in Denver, Colorado, he helps customers transition from fossil fuel systems to efficient, cold-climate heat pumps. Drawing on his technical expertise and customer-focused approach, Luke works to make home electrification practical, reliable, and accessible. His work supports a broader mission of building a more sustainable and resilient energy future.

Learn how to make your hot showers feel even better by saving money and slashing your carbon emissions with a heat pump water heater.

Water heating is the second biggest energy user in our homes after space heating—they account for roughly 18% of home energy use. Heat pump water heaters run on electricity and use the magic of heat pumps to dramatically reduce energy consumption and cut home carbon emissions.

Register for the webinar

Heat pump water heating is by far the most efficient way to heat water—3 to 5 times more efficient than any other technology including tankless gas heaters. Due to its low energy use, a heat pump water heater will avoid 1 ton of CO2 emissions every year compared to gas water heaters, and save $400-$500 in energy bills compared to electric resistance models. This is enough electricity savings to power an electric vehicle! Best of all, the savings come from the super efficient water heater itself and do not require us to use less hot water to save money and reduce emissions.

More heat pump water heater models are available now than ever before, and due to new federal efficiency standards, local building policies and consumer preferences, they are poised to become the dominant water heater in the near future. Even though they’ve been on the market for decades, many homeowners are still unfamiliar with them, how they work and how to incorporate them into our homes.

Join us in advance of Heat Pump Water Heater Day as we discuss everything you need to know about heat pump water heaters and how to take advantage of these appliances in your home. We will answer the following questions and more:

• What is a heat pump water heater and how does it work?

• How much does it cost to install one and what rebates and tax credits are there?

• How much can I expect to save on utility bills?

• What should I keep in mind when replacing my old gas or electric water heater?

• What are the different types and brands of heat pump water heaters on the market?

• What locations in the home are ideal for heat pump water heaters?

• Are they reliable and do they come with good warranties?

• What should I ask a contractor when getting bids?

• Can I install one myself?

• Why are so many new homes being built with heat pump water heaters?

Hosts and Panelist:

Joe Wachunas - In addition to his work for Electrify Now, Joe is a Program Manager for the New Buildings Institute, managing the Advanced Water Heating Initiative. He is a frequent contributor to CleanTechnica writing articles about topics relating to electrification and clean energy. Joe and his family use their own home to experiment and learn about all electric solutions, solar power and EVs.

Gregg Holladay - Gregg is a Business Development Manager – Specialty Markets for Bradford White Water Heaters. In his role Gregg works to educate a wide audience on the benefits of Energy Star heat pump water heaters. Before joining the Bradford White team, Gregg spent 32 years with General Electric (GE) where he introduced GeoSpring™, the first Energy Star electric heat pump water heater, to the US market. Gregg advises utilities across the country on integration heat pump water heater best practices and is a charter member of the Energy Star Manufacturers Action Council. With GE’s exit from the heat pump water heater market in 2016, their manufacturing assets were acquired by Bradford White and integrated into their own state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Middleville, MI. Now, Bradford White’s engineers and manufacturing experts use these assets to produce the next generation AeroTherm™ series G2, the only heat pump water heater manufactured in America using the finest materials and components from around the world including a multi-lingual display, and exclusive Microban anti-microbial tank finish.

Be sure to check out all of the other great Heat Pump Water Heater Day events!

An entire day dedicated to heat pump water heater (HPWH) education and awareness on residential and commercial heat pump water heaters, with special events during the week leading up to the big day on October 23, 2025.

See the full schedule and register here

Check Out All the Great Events for Next Week

Join Electrify Now, national partners, and advocates across the country for Clean Air Week, September 21-27.

Next week - powerful webinars, events and messaging will help draw attention to the benefits of electrification and the health risks of using natural gas indoors.

Check out all the webinars and events and register below!

Sunday, September 21 - Sun Day

• A day of action organized by Bill McKibben to celebrate the power of renewable energy: from cutting the ribbon on new solar parks, to marching for laws to make it easier to benefit from renewables (Multiple Locations)

Monday September 22 - The Dangers of Burning Gas in the Home

Learn the health risks of natural gas appliances indoors, featuring expert insights and research on pollutants, vulnerable groups, ventilation, and strategies to reduce exposure. (Virtual Webinar)

Tuesday, September 23 - Home Air Filtration

Learn how affordable and effective home air filtration technologies can dramatically improve indoor air quality for renters and homeowners. (Virtual Webinar)

Wednesday, September 24 - Home Air Quality Monitors

Discover how indoor air quality monitors can help you protect your home from pollutants, with expert insights on choosing and using the right devices. (Virtual Webinar)

Thursday, September 25 - Electrify 101

Learn how to make your home safer, healthier, and more energy efficient by electrifying your appliances—with practical tips and resources for both renters and homeowners. (Virtual Webinar)

Friday, September 26 - Decarb Policy Panel

A virtual expert panel exploring the current landscape and future of building decarbonization policy—what’s advancing, what’s at risk, and what to expect in the next 5 to 20 years. (Virtual Event)

Saturday, September 27 - Local Event: Electrify Portland! Fair

A free, festive Electrification Fair for homeowners and renters ready to start transitioning to a more efficient, clean energy powered home. (Portland, OR)

Help Promote Clean Air Week with Our Great Graphics

Please help us promote Clean Air Week by sharing these program events on social media and with your communities! You can find shareable graphics for the event below.

Shareable Graphics

Don’t Forget to Call the Gas Quitline!

As part of Clean Air Week 2025, we launched a new free Natural Gas Quitline to help our community like you make the switch from gas to clean electric alternatives.

Think of it like quitting smoking. You know it’s better for your health, your wallet in the long run, and the planet—but that doesn’t make it easy. That’s where the Quitline comes in. Give us a call for free electrification help!

1-877- QUIT GAS

Mark your calendars: Clean Air Week runs from September 21–27!

Decarb Policy Panel

September 26, 2025 at 11am PT

Register Here

Join us for an engaging policy panel discussion exploring the current policy landscape of building decarbonization amidst both setbacks and resilience. From the air quality agency rules in California, to efforts in the Northeast and MidAtlantic to phase out fossil fuels and clean our air, this policy talk will explore some of the biggest drivers of electrification.

This expert panel will unpack:

• The good news on policies passing and being upheld in court.

• The ongoing challenges facing the movement.

• Panelists’ visions, concerns, and predictions for the next 5, 10, and 20 years of policy development

• The roles of government, utilities, advocates, and industry in accelerating or obstructing progress

Need Help Getting Off Gas? Call the Free Quitline!

Let’s be honest: getting off natural (methane) gas isn’t always easy. Maybe you love your gas stove. Maybe the price tag for new appliances feels out of reach. Or maybe you’re overwhelmed by all the choices and technologies, and don’t know where to start.

You're not alone—and you're not without support.

As part of Clean Air Week 2025, a new, free Natural Gas Quitline is launching to help people like you make the switch from gas to clean electric alternatives.

Think of it like quitting smoking. You know it’s better for your health, your wallet in the long run, and the planet—but that doesn’t make it easy. That’s where the Quitline comes in.

1-877- QUITGAS

Read Our Article in CleanTechnica

Check out the Full Clean Air Week Schedule

We have a lot of great content as part of Clean Air Week. Check out our webinars and register for them directly below

• Monday September 22 - The Dangers of Burning Gas in the Home

• Tuesday, September 23 - Home Air Filtration

• Wednesday, September 24 - Home Air Quality Monitors

• Thursday, September 25 - Electrify 101

• Friday, September 26 - Decarb Policy Panel

Mark your calendars: Clean Air Week runs from September 21–27!

Home Air Filtration

September 23, 2025 at 10am PT

Since we spend the majority of our time indoors, clean indoor air is a high priority for a safe, healthy home. The good news is that low cost home air filtration is readily available and incredibly effective. Join electrification expert Brian Stewart from Electrify Now to explore practical ways tenants and homeowners can improve indoor air quality through indoor filtration technologies.

Register

Electrify 101 Webinar

September 25, 2025 at 12pm PT

The single most impactful way to protect yourself and your family from the harmful effects of fossil fuel combustion in your home is to gradually electrify your home appliances. Learn how to make your home safer, more energy efficient and more comfortable by adopting the latest generation of clean appliances. We will discuss options for renters and homeowners, and provide resources on available rebates/incentives to make the switch more affordable. Electrification can seem daunting at first– let us help get you started!

Join our great session with panelists from Rewiring America and Building Decarbonization Coalition

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Affordable Solutions for Reducing Indoor Natural (Methane) Gas Pollution

Electrification remains the most effective long-term solution for reducing indoor air pollution associated with methane gas appliances. Transitioning to electric stoves, water heaters, and heating systems eliminates combustion byproducts such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), Benzene (C₆H₆), formaldehyde (CH₂O), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at the source. However, for many households, especially renters and those who cannot afford full electrification, interim strategies focused on improving ventilation and air filtration can play a critical role in minimizing exposure to these harmful pollutants.

Our article below gives you some handy strategies for cleaning your air if your stuck with gas appliances for now.

Read our article

If you’re interested in energy efficiency or thinking about going electric, a home energy audit is a smart and inexpensive way to start your journey. Before you take the leap and replace a major system like your HVAC, it can be incredibly helpful to have the full picture of your home’s energy use, comfort, and safety. Through a series of inspections and diagnostic tests, you’ll learn whether your home needs insulation, weathersealing or duct maintenance, which appliances are most in need of replacement and any problem areas and fixes you should prioritize to save energy and improve the comfort of your home.

A typical audit focuses on your home’s envelope, your HVAC systems, and your major appliances. At the end of the evaluation, your energy auditor can tell you how efficient your home is and recommend which projects will be the best investments for energy savings and increased comfort. It also results in holistic recommendations that are specific to your home, and take your home’s entire ecosystem into account.

Watch as we take a look at home energy audits and discuss:

• Why get a home energy audit?

• What does an energy audit include, and how long does it take?

• Are there different types of audits, and how does one choose?

• What you’ll get from a home energy audit

• How to find a certified energy auditor near you

• How much does a home energy audit cost?

Join us to learn how an energy audit can best prepare you to lower your energy bills, phase out fossil fuels, cut your home’s carbon emissions, improve your home’s indoor air quality, and make your home more comfortable year-round.

This webinar is part of the Electrify Now “Go Electric!” series developed in partnership with LEARN. Find more Go Electric! webinars with information and tips on other important electrification topics here.

Explore free courses on energy efficiency and electrification with The LEARN Program. LEARN's interactive learning hub covers topics like building design & construction, HVAC and hot water systems, renewable energy, and more as well resources to help you electrify your own home. Start learning today at sandiegolearn.com.

Hosts and Panelists:

Brian Stewart - Brian co-founded Electrify Now to help energy consumers and homeowners learn about the benefits of electrification. He has over 40 years of experience in product design, engineering, manufacturing and sustainability and held many leadership roles at Nike Inc. including Vice President of Sustainable Innovation.

Joe Wachunas - In addition to his work for Electrify Now, Joe is a Program Manager for the New Buildings Institute, managing the Advanced Water Heating Initiative. He is a frequent contributor to CleanTechnica writing articles about topics relating to electrification and clean energy. Joe and his family use their own home to experiment and learn about all electric solutions, solar power and EVs.

Brynn Cooksey, Owner, Air Doctors Heating and Cooling - Brynn Cooksey Sr., affectionately known as the “Air Doctor,” is a Detroit native and the Owner of Air Doctors Heating and Cooling, LLC. Brynn earned that nickname for his renowned engineering solutions in the HVACR and Electrical industries. After spending 15 years in the Utility Gas and Power industry, Brynn took over his family’s heating and cooling business and rebranded it “Air Doctors” based on his industry-adopted nickname. The Air Doctors team has repeatedly reduced customers’ utility bills by 50% or more with Brynn’s award-winning Building Efficiency solutions. Brynn studied HVACR technology at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan, where he later returned to become a Professor and taught the subjects he had learned about. To this day, Brynn continues to train individuals in the industry that he loves and has trained over 10,000 HVAC Technicians, Electricians, and Energy Auditors. Brynn also is a training consultant for mechanical contractors, HVACR supply distributors, and HVACR training organizations.

Madeline Salzman, Associate Director, Earth Advantage - Earth Advantage is a national nonprofit focused on equitable housing decarbonization. Madeline focuses on scaling policies, standards, and programs that drive funding and financing toward home energy upgrades aligned with decarbonization priorities. Prior to joining Earth Advantage, Madeline managed the Home Energy Score program at the DOE, oversaw Green Buildings Workforce initiatives, and advised on rollout of the Inflation Reduction Act Home Energy Rebates.

Join Electrify Now, partner organizations, and advocates across the country for Clean Air Week — a national conversation about the hidden air quality dangers of fossil gas in our homes and buildings.

Mark your calendars: Clean Air Week runs from September 21–27!

Home Air Quality Monitors Webinar

September 24, 2025 at 10am PT / 1pm ET

To protect yourself from indoor air pollution, you first need to know about the quality of your air you breathe at home. Highly accurate air monitors are now available that can instantly tell you about the quality of your indoor air. Join electrification expert Brian Stewart from Electrify Now as we dive into various indoor pollutants and recommended products to measure them

Register Here

Don’t miss our other great webinars during Clean Air Week!

Carbon Monoxide poisoning leads to more than 20,000 emergency room visits per year

CO poisoning is one of the most prevalent causes of injury and death from poisoning worldwide. In the United States alone, it leads to more than 20,000 emergency room visits and over 400 deaths each year. Symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure range in severity–from common issues like headaches, nausea, and dizziness, to severe effects such as hallucinations, vomiting, seizures, unconsciousness, and even death.

Carbon monoxide can accumulate indoors from multiple sources, with methane gas use being one of the most common. It forms when fossil gas is incompletely combusted. Gas-powered appliances such as furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, and water heaters can all contribute to unsafe CO levels, particularly when they are faulty or poorly vented.

Read our article in CleanTechnica

What Air Quality Monitor is Best for Me?

Indoor Air Monitor Products and Features

High quality indoor air monitors are available from multiple manufacturers at prices that start as low as $50. Some products, like the IQ Air Air Visual Pro Indoor Monitor provide indoor and local outdoor air quality data which is very convenient.

Where is the best place to put an Air Quality Monitor?

The kitchen is a great place for your monitor because it's generally a central place where you can easily check the latest information. It is also helpful to place your monitor here because cooking can very quickly create dangerous levels of indoor pollution. Your monitor will alert you in those situations so you can turn on the exhaust fan or room air filter or open a window.

Learn more about air quality monitors in this Electrify Now factsheet.

Learn how batteries can save you money, and get your battery before the 30% tax credit ends this year.

Join us for a webinar tailored for homeowners exploring whether to invest in home batteries for resilience and financial payback. We'll break down the two key benefits of battery storage—back up power during outages and long-term financial savings.

As utility policies shift and net metering credits decrease in some areas, whole home batteries can offer more control over energy costs: homeowners can decide when to use or sell their solar power to take advantage of time of use utility rates. This webinar will explore the idea of a battery as an insurance policy for solar investments, as tax credits begin to sunset and rules around compensation continue to evolve.

In this session, we’ll walk through basic battery sizing, explain what “payback period” really means, and help attendees understand how utility rate plans, durability, warranties, and battery cycles impact long-term returns.

Whether you're considering battery storage to reduce electricity costs, or just want to weather the next storm with confidence, attendees will leave with clear, actionable insights. We’ll include easy-to-understand animations, real-life examples, and a look at potential costs and savings—so you can decide if now is the right time to add a battery to your home.

We will cover the following topics and more:

• Whole home battery benefits

• How to calculate battery sizing

• How batteries can take advantage of "time of use" electricity rates

• How to estimate costs and savings

This webinar is part of the Electrify Now “Go Electric!” series developed in partnership with LEARN. Find more Go Electric! webinars with information and tips on other important electrification topics here.

Explore free courses on energy efficiency and electrification with The LEARN Program. LEARN's interactive learning hub covers topics like building design & construction, HVAC and hot water systems, renewable energy, and more as well resources to help you electrify your own home. Start learning today at sandiegolearn.com.

Hosts and Panelists:

Brian Stewart - Brian co-founded Electrify Now to help energy consumers and homeowners learn about the benefits of electrification. He has over 40 years of experience in product design, engineering, manufacturing and sustainability and held many leadership roles at Nike Inc. including Vice President of Sustainable Innovation.

Joe Wachunas - In addition to his work for Electrify Now, Joe is a Program Manager for the New Buildings Institute, managing the Advanced Water Heating Initiative. He is a frequent contributor to CleanTechnica writing articles about topics relating to electrification and clean energy. Joe and his family use their own home to experiment and learn about all electric solutions, solar power and EVs.

Spencer Rosen, Founder, Home Energy Academy - Spencer Rosen is a leading home energy educator, coalition builder, software designer, and the founder of Home Energy Academy. His technical and business expertise spans energy efficiency, home performance, building science, solar, storage, and electrification. Home Energy Academy offers training, education and curriculum development, technical analysis and software design. Spencer has received over 10 home energy certifications across building science, solar and storage, has held licenses as a General B and Electrical Contractor.

Join Electrify Now, partner organizations, and advocates across the country for Clean Air Week — a national conversation about the hidden air quality dangers of fossil gas in our homes and buildings.

Together, we’ll explore the latest science on indoor air pollution from gas appliances, spotlight cleaner, healthier alternatives, and discuss the policies and communication strategies driving change.

Mark your calendars: Clean Air Week runs from September 21–27!

Webinar: The Dangers of Burning Gas in the Home

September 22, 2025 at 12pm PT / 3pm ET

To kick off Clean Air Week, we’ll talk about one of the key risk factors to clean air in the home - burning gas.

In some ways, burning gas in your home is as dangerous as secondhand smoke. Join us for a webinar on the health risks of using natural gas indoors. Leading researchers and physicians will share the latest findings on how gas appliances impact indoor air quality, who is most vulnerable, and how poor ventilation can significantly worsen the risks.

Register for Webinar

Benzene: The Toxic Chemical in Both Gas Stoves and Cigarette Smoke

A new Stanford study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials found that children in poorly ventilated homes using gas stoves face nearly double the lifetime cancer risk from benzene exposure compared to adults. Benzene — a carcinogen also found in cigarette smoke — spreads from kitchens into living spaces, especially in smaller homes. The study also highlights the dangers of nitrogen dioxide from gas stoves, which is linked to childhood asthma. Researchers recommend improving ventilation and switching to electric/induction stoves to reduce these risks.

Read our article in CleanTechnica

Key Technology to Clean Your Air - Induction Stoves

The way we cook has a significant impact on the air we breathe. Fortunately, a cleaner, smarter alternative is available: induction cooking. Induction ranges and cooktops offer major advantages over gas—delivering high performance with none of the indoor air pollution. Though relatively new to the clean technology scene, induction appliances are rapidly reshaping the landscape, challenging the gas industry’s long-standing claim as the gold standard for cooking.

Resources on Induction

We did a deep dive into all the reasons induction stoves are amazing, and outlined what you need to know when purchasing one.

We also hosted a few webinars on induction stoves. Here’s a great place to start: