Electrifying your Life is Climate Action

Over the last year, the LOSN “Electrify LO” campaign has promoted the importance of moving away from fossil fuels toward electrification of vehicles and homes as among the most important ways we can reduce our carbon footprint and address the climate crisis. Now we can dive into when and how to electrify with information on financial incentives for home electrification and electric vehicles, how to choose a contractor for heat pumps for space conditioning, and how to try out an induction cooktop.

What Incentives Are Available Now? What Other Incentives Are Coming?

On January 1, 2023, new tax credits became available for many home electrification and energy efficiency projects including weatherization, heat pump water heaters, heat pumps for space heating and cooling, electrical panel upgrades, rooftop solar and home battery storage systems.

Later this year (or early 2024) additional upfront discounts (also called rebates) will become available for these improvements for lower-income and some middle-income families. The discounts, which can be combined with the tax credits, can be additionally used for induction and electric stoves, new wiring, and heat pump clothes dryers.

One more discount, available at all income levels, is called a whole home energy reduction rebate and it rewards homeowners for overall energy use reductions.

READ MORE ….

Electrify LO home

Inflation Reduction Act 2022

What to expect for the rollout of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 – a thoughtful analysis from Energy Trust of Oregon.

The Inflation Reduction Act is expected to help millions of Americans benefit from energy efficiency and renewable energy. But exactly when and how a lot of those benefits will be rolled out is still unclear.

Because of how the legislation was passed, there are a lot of details that still need to be determined, including rebate and tax credit amounts and the specific equipment that will be covered.

Plus, as the largest U.S. investment in climate and clean energy, it’s going to take time for all that money to reach customers and communities, and some programs aren’t expected to roll out until 2024.

Watch the Electrify LO page for updated information.

READ MORE …

Get Your Heat Pump Air-Conditioner Installed Before the Summer Heat

In 2018, 30% percent of homes in Oregon had no air conditioning. Hot summers, including the heat dome of June 2021 that produced temperatures in Lake Oswego higher than 112 degrees F, have led to an upswing in interest in indoor cooling. 

Heat pumps are a great way to cool your home in the summer. This same heat pump will also warm your home in the winter–it can either replace your furnace or dramatically reduce its use. Heat pumps are 2-3 times more energy efficient than traditional furnaces, so produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions and cost less to operate.

Portland General Electric has a list of approved contractors for heat pumps and offers discounts of up to $1700 through June 30.  

Our partner Electrify Now also has a list of trusted contractors that offer discounts. 

Energy Trust of Oregon has information on ways to finance heat pumps—instead of a large upfront cost to purchase the system, a monthly charge will be added to your PGE bill.

If you want to get the benefit of a cooling system that also provides heat during the winter, lower operational costs, and the lowest impact on the environment, install a heat pump.

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