You may not be familiar with the term “beneficial electrification,” but you have probably heard about elements of it. The concept is simple, and understanding it might change how you think about your home’s energy future.
Beneficial electrification refers to the replacement of equipment that burns fossil fuels – like gas furnaces, water heaters or stoves – with efficient electric alternatives such as heat pumps, heat pump water heaters and induction cooktops. It’s beneficial because it improves health and safety, comfort and control, and grid resiliency, while reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
It has become standard, but burning fuels inside our homes for heating or cooking creates combustion byproducts that can lead to and exacerbate health issues. Electrification eliminates these indoor emissions entirely. The result? Cleaner air for your family to breathe, which is especially important for children, older adults and anyone with respiratory conditions.
Electric systems offer something fossil fuel equipment simply can’t match: precision and consistency. Heat pumps deliver steady, even warmth throughout your home rather than the hot-and-cold cycles many of us have learned to live with. Induction cooktops respond instantly to temperature changes, giving you restaurant-level control in your own kitchen. And here’s a bonus many people don’t consider: Heat pumps both heat and cool. During wildfire season, a heat pump allows those of us without air conditioning to cool our homes without inviting in all that smoky air.
I won’t sugarcoat it – upfront costs have been a barrier. But that’s changing quickly. If your household earns up to 150% of the Area Median Income – about $176,000 for a four-person household in La Plata County – you can now access significant up-front rebates through Colorado’s new HEAR program, which offers rebates of 50% to100% of project costs.
Combined with additional rebates and financing, like LPEA’s on-bill financing, beneficial electrification can be surprisingly affordable. And because heat pumps are incredibly efficient, homes using propane or electric resistance heating often see immediate savings.
The beauty of beneficial electrification is that you can do it incrementally. You can start with a home energy audit (usually free) to understand where you’re losing the most heat. Or perhaps your water heater is on its last legs, making it the perfect candidate for replacement with a heat pump water heater.
Before it Dies, Electrify! A friend of mine recently had someone come to look at her old natural gas furnace and was told it was too dangerous to continue using. He condemned it on the spot, leaving her without heat in the middle of winter. Planning ahead allows you to take advantage of all available rebates and incentives, compare contractors and make the ideal choice for your home and finances, which might not be an option in an emergency like my friend experienced.
I’m here to answer your questions, help you navigate decisions and connect you to programs and contractors that meet your needs.
Erika Brown is regional energy coach for 4CORE. Reach her at erika@fourcore.org.
