Electrifying your home can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, improve indoor air quality, and save you money.
Most households in Dane County heat their space and water with methane gas or another fossil fuel, creating about 8% of total countywide greenhouse gas emissions. As electric technologies become more efficient in cold climates, households are transitioning away from burning fossil fuels inside their homes toward all-electric systems that are quiet, efficient and zero on-site emissions. And as utility companies incorporate more renewable energy into the electric grid the electrificity you buybecomes cleaner, as compared to fossil fuels like natural gas or propane that will remain dirty.
Start With A Home Energy Audit
If you don’t know where to start when electrifying your home, a home energy audit is the best first step. A home energy audit, or energy assessment, can help you understand the whole picture of your home’s energy use and determine areas where your home can become more efficient.The audit will reveal the areas for the greatest energy efficiency improvements and greatest potential energy savings as well as electrification opportunities. Then you can make a plan for how to prioritize making those upgrades. In general, home energy audits identify potential energy bills savings from 5-30%. An efficient home is easier to electrify. And remember, you may be eligible for up to $150 in tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act for a home energy audit. Learn More About Home Audits.
Homeowners
In Wisconsin many households have a gas furnace or boiler and a gas water heater. You might also have a gas cooking stove or a gas-fired fireplace. You can replace all of these appliances with electric options. Use Rewiring America's Home Electrication Planner to estimate project costs and set up an electriciation plan for your home.
Renters
If don't own your home and are a renter, not a problem! Rewiring America has great resources for renters to take steps to electrify your homes as well. Learn more about electrifying your home as a renter. Also check out the Focus on Energy page for tenants, which has some great energy-saving tips.
When pursuing home electrification projects remember to check for available tax credits and Focus on Energy incentives as part of your planning process. These can help you reduce your costs either off the purchase price or by reducing your annual tax liability. In addition, income-based electrification rebates will be available from Focus on Energy by the end of 2024.
A heat pump is a heating and cooling system for homes and buildings. Heat pumps work by moving heat from one place to another, which is more efficient than the way furnaces or boilers work. An air conditioner also moves heat so you can think of a heat pump as a two-way super-efficient air conditioner.
When in heating mode, heat pumps take heat from the outside air and transfer it to the inside of your home. While in cooling mode, a heat pump takes heat from inside your home and transfers it to the outside. Because heat pumps can heat as well as cool a heat pump can replace both heating and cooling equipment in homes and buildings.
Induction Stove Benefits
Air quality & asthma - Induction stoves produce fewer pollutants than gas stoves, which produce nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. A 2022 study found that 12.7% of current childhood asthma in the United States is due to gas stove use.
Safety - Induction stoves provide additional safety measures, in addition to eliminating the risk of indoor air pollution caused by gas stoves. Induction stoves tops have no open flame or hot coil, because they heat the pan or pot directly, they cool down faster and only can be used when a pot or pan is on the stove.
Efficiency - Induction stoves use a magnetic field to create a fast-moving electric current that is transferred to the pot or pan itself, allowing water to boil up to 50% faster than gas or electric stoves. This also means that they are more efficient with the heat they produce and that means a faster, more consistent temperature for cooking.
Induction stoves are around 10% more efficient than electric stoves and three times more efficient than gas stoves. This is energy efficiency you can feel! The heat is more precise and transferred directly to your pots and pans creating less wasted heat.
Check out the Rosemary Garfoot Public Library in Cross Plains to check out an induction stove top to try it out.
Electric Panels - An important first step for electrifying your home is making sure that the increased demand for in-home electricity is supported by your electrical wiring and circuit panel. In some cases you might be able to update wiring as you replace appliances but in other cases you might need to upgrade the whole system before you do anything else. To help understand what option might work best for you, check out the Rewiring America website for pre-wiring. This is also a good topic to discuss with a Home Energy Auditor!
Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWHs) - In the average home, water heating accounts for 17-32% of total energy usage. By using electricity to move heat from the air, transferring it, at a higher temperature, to heat water in a storage tank, HPWHs are 2-4 times more efficient than gas or electric resistance water heaters in any climate. That increased efficiency means lower operating costs and savings over the life of the appliance. If you are replacing an electric resistance water heater the HPWH yields substantial savings; the average payback for HPWHs for a family of four is only 2.7 years according to Energy Star, resulting in a lifetime savings of more than $5,500. To ensure that your HPWH runs smoothly, be sure to find a space with at least 1,000 cubic feet of air space around the HPWH and does not get too cold since HPWHs tend to cool the space they are in and run more efficiently in areas where there can be excess heat, such as furnace rooms. Learn more about heat pump water heaters.
Heat Pump Dryers - Electric heat pump dryers require less energy, don’t require ventilation, and are gentler on clothes. They operate as a closed loop system, heating air to remove moisture from clothes and reusing it once the moisture is removed after going through an evaporator. Because of this, they do not require ventilation to get rid of the hot humid air like standard dryers, making them easier to install since they only require a water source and electricity. Learn more about heat pump dryers.
Lawn Equipment - From lawn mowers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, and beyond there are electric lawn tool options that are more energy efficient, lighter, and quieter than their standard gas counterparts. The upfront cost to purchase the electric options can be more expensive, however, electric equipment tends to be more cost effective over the lifetime of the equipment due to lower maintenance costs and reduced cost for fuel. Learn more about electric lawn equipment.
Why EV - Electric vehicles (EVs) are clean, quiet and increasingly affordable. And, when powered by 100% renewable electricity, EVs emit no greenhouse gas emissions. According to Rewiring America the average household can reduce their carbon footprint by 5.75 metric tons of carbon per year by switching from a gas to electric sedan. Economic benefits include cost savings on fuel and maintenance. With average cost for fully charging at around $11.26, estimated by Drive Electric Wisconsin, annual savings range from $700 - $1000 when comparing EVs to gas vehicles.
Address and reduce concerns on range for EVs by reading our Range Anxiety with EVs blog for practical information and resources for electric vehicles in Wisconsin.
Home Charging - Most current EV owners do most of their EV charging at home. You can save even more money by participating in Time-of-Use rates for home charging. Check with your local utility company for discounts associated with managed charging programs and for incentives for installing home chargers. MGE Charging at Home offers resources and tips for at home charging.
Charging on the Road - The number of charging stations continues to grow. Check out the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator to find charging stations in Wisconsin and beyond. There are also a number of free apps to help you find charging stations such as Plugshare, A Better Route Panner and Chargeway in addiiton to EV-specific apps.
Learn more about EVs and the Instant Rebates and Incentives available by reading our blog post.
