Lessons Learned in Residential Electrification
Nonprofits Share Lessons Learned in Household Electrification to Address Climate Change and Reduce Energy Costs
##PRESS RELEASE##
For Immediate Release
Charlottesville, Virginia – Monday, August 30, 2021
The Community Climate Collaborative (C3) and Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) will share the results of an ambitious household electrification project in Charlottesville and Albemarle County in a published report and webinar on August 31st, from 12pm - 1pm. In late 2019 early 2020, LEAP switched heating and cooling systems, hot water heaters, cooking ranges, and even household dryers from fossil fuel-based to electric in eight local households. C3 then followed the homeowners and their energy usage over the course of two winters. The webinar will cover the report findings and will include a virtual tour of electrified homes.
“The climate benefits from home electrification are overwhelmingly positive,” said Susan Kruse, Executive Director of C3. “We saw an overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 38.7% across all our homes, and the impact will only amplify as Virginia’s grid adds more solar and wind power. These households will potentially save more than 2 million pounds of CO2 during the next 20 years.”
Said Chris Meyer, LEAP’s Executive Director, “One of the most important aspects of this project was improving the health and safety of our clients’ homes. Their homes are more comfortable, have healthier indoor air to breathe, and will be saving money on their annual energy bills.”
“Our old heating system was original to the home, super inefficient, and felt unsafe,” said program participant Kathleen Hicks. “The upgrades have been great, and we are super grateful.”
Key findings from the report, Lessons in Residential Electrification:
● Electrification combined with insulation improvements serves as an important strategy for reducing the overall energy consumption and average greenhouse gas emissions of households in our community; especially for those relying on heating oil as a fuel source.
● Greenhouse gas emissions decreased significantly (between -56.3% and -68.0%) for households that formerly used heating oil.
● The net present value (NPV) of projected yearly monetary savings adds up to ~$32,000 over the next 20 years. The average NPV of $4,000 per household should be kept in mind when assessing the best technology for replacing HVAC systems. Cost savings, although largely positive, did vary and were based on a brief evaluation period of three months.
● The combined performance of the eight pilot homes between Q1 2020 and Q1 2021 resulted in a -56.0% decrease in energy consumption (or 202,567 MBTUs), a -26.6% reduction in energy expenditures (or $1,946) and a -38.7% drop in GHG emissions (or 22,707 pounds of CO2e).
● Upgrades will provide combined year-round reductions for the eight pilot participants of about -37.2% in energy consumption (or 340,711 MBTUs/year), -17.7% in energy bills’ expenditures (or $2,926/year), and -25.7% reduction in the GHG emissions (or 40,551 pounds of CO2e/year).
As a result of these findings, LEAP is announcing a policy change designed to promote electrification. The policy aims to: 1. Improve the health of households through reduced
indoor air pollution, 2. Increase access to air conditioning if none exists and is desired, 3.
Reduce the household’s existing energy burden, 4. Protect households against expected
Increases in fossil fuel energy costs because of carbon pricing, and 5. Prioritize low-income households.
What: Lessons Learned in Residential Electrification Webinar
Where: Join us on Zoom. Register here.
When: Tuesday, August 31st, Noon-1pm
Who: Community leaders, decision makers, policy makers, homeowners interested in electrification
To view the whole report, visit the report page here.
About Community Climate Collaborative
The Community Climate Collaborative aims to bring communities together to lead on climate by working closely with schools, businesses, citizens, and local governments to implement carbon emissions reductions, develop climate action plans, and enact equitable policies that accelerate climate action. Visit theclimatecollaborative.org.
About LEAP
The Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Charlottesville, VA. As a trusted nonprofit, LEAP delivers direct education and services for improved energy performance that address climate change; create cost savings for families and businesses; enable healthier, safer, and more durable buildings; and bolster local jobs and economic growth. Visit: leap-va.org.
PRESS CONTACT: Teri Kent, Director of Programs and Communication, Community Climate Collaborative, (434) 466-5157, or teri@theclimatecollaborative.org