The benefits according to Rewiring America’s Guide to the Inflation Reduction Act:

• Savings: A national transition to solar-powered, fully electrified homes and vehicles could save the average household between $1,050 and $2,585 per year in energy costs. (rewiringamerica.org/policy/household-report)

• Health: Burning fossil fuels indoor is a major source of health problems like childhood asthma

• Climate: Burning fossil fuels burning in buildings is a major source of climate warming: 42 percent of energy-related emissions come from the homes and vehicles. Methane is the primary component of natural gas and is from 25 - 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere

• Comfort: Heat pumps, which can both heat and cool your home, do a better job of keeping your home at a constant, comfortable temperature than an oil or natural gas furnace— while using only 30% of the energy to do so.

• When you’re planning a major remodel

• When you’re adding new air-conditioning, or replacing an existing air-conditioner

• When appliances are nearing their end of life

• Today — so you can start reaping the benefits of electric appliances!

Check the age of your appliances and plan to replace them before they fail and become an emergency. Rewiring America provides the following average life span estimates for major household appliances:

• Water heaters (8 - 12 years)

• Space heaters (15 - 30+ years)

• Dryers (10 - 13 years)

• Ovens/cooktops (13 - 15 years)

The Inflation Reduction Act and Savings
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is a federal investment package that directs roughly $370 billion in clean energy and initiatives to fight climate change. It makes use of both tax credits and rebates. Part of this funding goes directly to residents to help them go all-electric at home and with their vehicles.

• How much will I save?
The Rewiring America Savings Calculator estimates federal tax savings available through the IRA.

• Savings from the IRA can be “stacked” with state and local rebates. See Other Rebate Programs below.

• The Cheat Sheet on the IRA
o Starting with tax year 2023, IRA tax credits for electrification and energy efficiency upgrades:
• Applied to your annual federal taxes (only up to the amount of tax you owe)
• Energy efficiency home improvement — 30% tax credit
o Up to $2,000 per year for heat pump space and water heaters (can stagger heat pump replacement over more than one tax year if replacing more than one)
o Up to $1,200 per year for other upgrades
o The allowable federal tax credit resets every year.
• Solar and battery storage 30% tax credit
• Electric vehicle tax credit for new and used EVs

o In 2024, the IRA will offer households up to $14,000 in up-front/point of sale discounts to switch to electric appliances — covering up to 100 percent of project costs for low-income households and up to 50 percent of project costs for moderate-income households.

o This Consumer Guide to the Inflation Reduction Act provides a helpful overview.

Other Rebate Programs
Federal tax savings and rebates can be combined with state and local rebates, including rebates through your electricity provider, such as Community Choice Aggregators (CCA), Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE), Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE), and other entities.

• SwitchIsOn.org provides an incentive lookup of California and local rebates and federal tax credits that can be combined with federal tax incentives.

• Your CCA or Utility may have rebate and loan programs

• Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) is the CCA electricity provider for 13 Silicon Valley communities. SVCE generates 100% clean electricity for homes and businesses, delivered via PG&E power lines.
o Electric Rebates
o FAQ’s

• Peninsula Clean Energy (PCE) is the CCA electricity provider serving San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos. PCE generates 100% clean electricity for homes and businesses, delivered via PG&E power lines. PCE is on track to be 100% renewable by 2025.
o Electric Rebates
o Zero interest loans (up to $10,000) — no money down and no credit check required
o FAQ’s including opting into ECOplus and ECO100

• City of Palo Alto (CPAU) — Palo Alto’s full-service electric heat pump water heater program (and rebate option) explained.
o Palo Alto’s Home Efficiency Genie program — a low-cost virtual home energy efficiency assessment program

• The Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) — energy savings programs on a regional level in collaboration with the nine Bay Area counties:
o Find out about rebates and financing available when working with BayREN contractor networks
o Search BayREN energy professionals by zip code and specialty

A heat pump is a single appliance that will both heat and cool your home by moving (pumping) heat from one place to another, like a refrigerator moves heat out of the refrigerator.

• According to this Department of Energy resource on heat pump technology, heat pumps are over three times more efficient than highly efficient furnaces.

• Watch this 8-minute episode of This Old House, for an explanation of heat pump technology.

• This fact sheet from Amana explains how a heat pump system works.

Heat pump water heaters work by moving (pumping) heat from the air outside of the tank to heat the water, like a refrigerator moves heat out of the refrigerator.

• Learn “When Should You Replace Your Water Heater?” from this Energy Star article.

• Do heat pump water heaters work in cold climates? — Today’s heat pump water heaters work efficiently in cold climates to temperatures as low as -25°F, according to Energy Star.

• Introduction to Heat Pump Water Heaters (video). This video is by City of Palo Alto Utilities.

Induction cooktops use magnetic energy to heat your cookware. They are powerful, precise, and easy to clean and produce zero emissions. Induction cooktops remain cool to the touch, so they are safer than gas, and generate much less heat in your kitchen.

• This video Induction Myths Explained by Designer Appliances demonstrates and explains induction cooking.

• It's Time to Break Up with Our Gas Stoves is a humorous video by comedian Rollie Williams and Climate Town.

• Are gas stoves dangerous? Read “The Health Risks of Gas Stoves Explained” by Scientific American

• Test-drive an induction cooktop from these sources:

o PG&E Induction Cooktop Loaner Program - PG&E customers can borrow an induction cooker and test-drive it for a two weeks.
• Watch this 1 minute video about the PG&E loaner program and the benefits of induction cooking.
• Enroll and sign up for this 34 minute On Demand PG&E Induction Cooking Tutorial.

o Acterra Induction Cooktop Loaner Program and Virtual Cooking Classes: Peninsula residents can borrow portable induction cooktops for free for up to three weeks.

o Check with your local city government and library for additional induction cooktop loaner programs.

According to Energy Star, heat pump clothes dryers have many advantages over standard dryers.

• Easy to install since they don't require ventilation.

• Can reduce energy use by at least 28% compared to standard dryers.

• Are gentler on clothes because they dry laundry at low temperatures.

• Electrify on a 100-Amp Panel (video). Energy expert, Tom Kabat explains in a concise presentation how (and why) you can avoid costly electrical panel upgrades through smart planning while leaving ample room for EV charging. This video also covers appliance selection and circuit-sharing devices. (15 minutes, East Bay Green Home Tour, 2022)

• Techniques for Living Large on an Existing Electrical Panel (video). Energy engineer Tom Kabat provides a more in-depth technical presentation on how to fit all the appliances you need on an existing electrical panel (100 amps or smaller) and avoid costly upsizing. He presents insights into selection of appliances and circuit sharing devices. Dylan Anderson, with Redwood Energy, presents case studies covering appliance selection and techniques to avoid panel upsizing. (30 minutes, Redwood Energy)

The resources provided below are intended to support and guide you on your journey toward electrification. However, the Electric Home Tour does not endorse any specific equipment, advice, business entity, or other information mentioned.

The following companies have different funding sources, and we encourage you to do your own research. They maintain lists of electrification contractors (and may require working within their network to obtain rebates).

• Silicon Valley Clean Energy

• Peninsula Clean Energy. If applying for PCE’s zero-percent loan for up to $10,000 with no money down and no credit check required, you must work with an approved contractor from their list. On their web page, click on “Approved Contractors” for the list.

• BayREN: (Bay Area) Information on rebates, energy advisors, and contractors.

• Switch Is On (California)

• QuitCarbon (National)

• EmeraldECO (Bay Area)

• BlocPower (National)

• City of Palo Alto Utilities Home Energy Genie (for Palo Alto residents)

• Home Intel/ Home Energy Analytics (free for PG&E customers)

• Electric Home Ambassador Program of Fossil Free Building Silicon Valley: Gain first hand advice from area neighbors who have successfully made the switch to electric appliances. You will be matched with someone who has done the project you are planning.

• Redwood Energy's Pocket Guide to All Electric Retrofits is a downloadable “how-to” guide to help homeowners, home renters, utilities, and policy makers who want to replace existing gas appliances with efficient electric alternatives. Many of the electric products highlighted are do not required home modifications. This guide has three sections:
o costs, benefits, and strategies for electrifying a home
o lessons learned from case studies of retrofitted homes
o an extensive product guide to help choose your electrification appliances.