Electrification-Savvy Contractors, A Guide to Going Green

A knowledgeable contractor can likely be the key to a smooth electrification journey.

When planning an energy-saving home retrofit, the right contractor can help with electric appliances including heat pumps and induction cooktops, which are up to four times more efficient than their natural gas alternatives.

They’ll often begin with a home energy audit and their recommendations may surprise you.

“Fossil fuel-powered space and water heating systems are often significantly oversized,” said Dan Thomsen, president of Building Doctors, a licensed heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractor in Los Angeles.

Thomsen, whose company is certified with the Building Performance Institute, a national standards development group for residential energy-efficiency retrofits, begins most projects by insulating and air-sealing to get the heating and cooling loads down.

“When we weatherize correctly, we’re able to remove huge gas furnaces and A/C systems,” said Thomsen, who’s also a founding member of Efficiency First California. “We’ll replace them with smaller heat pump units and often avoid expensive panel upgrades.”

Heat pumps and weatherization help with system efficiency, which can also reduce monthly energy bills. Plus, you can use heat pumps all year because they heat and cool with a single appliance.

And since California has moved to end the sale of new gas-fired furnaces and water heaters by 2030, opting for a heat pump puts you ahead of the curve.

“Electrification is a game changer,” said Carter Prescott, director of Advanced Energy Solutions at Southern California Edison. “The cost savings and emissions reductions can be significant and with multiple incentives available, it’s a great time to upgrade.”

Austin Landi, owner of Heat Pumps Now, helps customers “future-proof” their homes and navigate the many green incentives available to lower the cost of home retrofits.

“I’m an active participant in 11 different rebate programs, many of which are stackable,” he said.

While helpful, keeping track of the growing list of incentives can become a logistical headache. Luckily Sealed, a New York-based climate tech company, launched software that has helped contractors secure more than $1 million in rebates specifically offered through the 3C-REN program in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties. Users can access and apply for multiple incentive programs right on their smartphones.

Sealed calculates a home improvement project’s expected energy savings and pays upfront to contractors, who pass the rebates directly to customers.

“Measured energy savings programs enable contractors who do great work to distinguish themselves because they can offer higher rebates than their competitors, and that helps homeowners,” said Sealed Founder and President Andy Frank.

“As additional energy rebate programs roll out in California, more SCE customers will have access to vetted, Sealed contractors who use them,” Frank said.

Meanwhile, California’s top electrification incentive program, TECH Clean CA, offers rebates on electrical upfits and SCE’s Energy Savings Assistance and Building Electrification programs provide no-cost retrofits for qualified, low-income customers.

To learn more about cost-effective, energy-efficient appliances for your home or business, visit sce.com/classes.

To take a free online or in-person class at SCE’s Energy Education Center, click here.