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Proponents of electrifying your home say it will save you money. But making those changes may require expensive up-front costs.
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There are income-restricted rebates available to help pay for upgrades that can help make your home more energy efficient.
But knowing which upgrades to make, and when, and determining what financial assistance you qualify for can be difficult.
A new, free program called Electrify the Triangle aims to help homeowners with all of that.
Expected to launch Oct. 9, Electrify the Triangle is a public-private partnership that includes Chatham and Orange counties, Raleigh, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, the Central Pines Regional Council, the Clean Energy Fund of the Carolinas, Self-Help Credit Union and a clean energy marketplace, LetsGoElectric.com.
“This is all about information sharing and making sure people have some guidance,” said Ken Haldin, development partner with Let’s Go Electric.
The marketplace will allow homeowners to find vetted local contractors to install HVAC systems, water heaters and clothes dryers that use heat pumps, electrical kitchen appliances, residential EV charging equipment, and solar and battery backup power.
Electrify programs are already in place in Asheville, the Triad and Decatur, Georgia.
Electrify the Triangle will focus on serving residents of the towns, cities and counties involved in the partnership, but anyone in North Carolina can search for rebates and incentives for energy-efficient upgrades, Haldin said.
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After the program launches, homeowners will be able to make appointments with home energy navigators. They’ll ask about the home’s heating and cooling systems, how water is heated and whether there are any comfort issues, such as draftiness, said Emily Hurd, program director for Let’s Go Electric.
The navigators also complete an energy bill analysis to help residents understand whether their bills are affected more by seasonal energy use or everyday use. That helps the navigators advise residents on best first steps. Getting an energy audit — a service Duke Energy provides — is often a good way to begin, Hurd said. And navigators might recommend adding insulation and air sealing before replacing an HVAC system.
They use a calculator to compare costs of installing and using electric technologies to costs of using gas technologies, so residents know when upgrades will pay off.
“Improving home energy efficiency and lowering energy bills is not a one-pop fix,” Hurd said. “There’s usually a suite of upgrades that can be made that are all connected.”
Navigators can then help residents understand whether they qualify for rebates, how much the rebates will cover and options for loans, including for residents with low credit scores.
“We know that these upgrades pay off in the long run with lower energy bills,” Hurd said. “The question is, How are residents going to afford the upgrades in the short term?”
Homeowners aren’t obligated to make any upgrades or hire any contractors after meeting with home energy navigators. But contractors are incentivized to join the marketplace because homeowners seeking their services are likely more informed about what they want, after meeting with the home energy navigators.
And in return, contractors pay Let’s Go Electric a fee for lead generation.
Triangle residents can’t schedule home energy navigator appointments yet. That won’t be available until the program launches in October.
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But they can sign up for campaign updates online at LetsGoElectric.com.
Electrify the Triangle is also looking for contractors to join the marketplace.