QuitCarbon, Rewiring America, and the push to aid decarbonization
Home electrification doesn't need to be a lonely journey!
This could just be my perspective from within my bubble, but it seems like it's gotten so much more difficult to replace something as simple as your hot water heater.
Sure, you could just go to any hardware store and ask them to replace your faulty unit. But now there are so many other things to consider. Do you want the same exact model you had? Do you need a gas-powered version? Do you want one that runs on electricity? Should you get a heat pump hot water heater? There are enough options to make your head spin.
The same can be said for HVAC solutions and almost all of the other infrastructure components of your home. If you're someone who cares about your environmental impact, you may not know where to start.
Behold, there are services to help you make informed decisions when making important upgrades to the expensive appliances that power your day-to-day lives.
Specifically, there are companies who aim to help you navigate this confusing time where many new technologies are allowing these traditional systems to be run more efficiently, more economically, and with a lesser impact on the environment.
Personally, I have used two of these services. QuitCarbon and Rewiring America. I thought it would be beneficial for others out there to give some insight on my experiences to see if they may be a good fit for you as well.
QuitCarbon sets out to help people do exactly as the name implies. They want to help you move off of carbon-based fuel systems in your home. That generally means shifting gas-powered appliances to electrified versions but there are plenty of other solutions that they recommend around efficiency (think things like better insulation or windows that don't leak as much air).
A few years ago, I went through QuitCarbon's on-boarding process and provided all of the vital information about my home and the current appliances that were running in it. With that information, QuitCarbon was able to generate a loose plan that I could follow to hopefully...eventually...entirely remove my home from carbon-based fuel.
While that can sound intimidating, they do a really great job of making the process fun and engaging. No, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars right away on purchasing costly home renovations. You can assess which changes will have the greatest impact on your carbon footprint and energy costs and prioritize those. You could also look for smaller, less expensive upgrades first to help you build some momentum while saving up for larger improvements. QuitCarbon will even connect you to local contractors in your area who have already completed plenty of similar projects. They do the vetting for you so you don't have to scour Yelp or ask around for who knows the best electrician to install you new EV charger!
Perhaps the best part is that QuitCarbon has actual humans that will schedule calls with you whenever necessary to walk you through the often confusing world of electrification, rebates, and incentives. The actual cost of these upgrades may be a lot less than you initially thought. And your QuitCarbon contact can help you sort through the bureaucracy to save some serious cash.
And speaking of cash, the QuitCarbon service doesn't require any to use. Yes, it's a free service and no, they aren't paying me to promote their service. But maybe they should be because I'm a big supporter and have told plenty of people about its benefits.
I don't mean to shortchange the other service I mentioned here, Rewiring America. They offer a similar service that I have also used over the past two years. They also help you organize a step-by-step approach to get your home electrified wherever possible.
Personally, I've learned so much from one of Rewiring America's co-founders
. If you aren't reading his publication, you are doing yourself a disservice. I particularly love his perspective as an Australian who can give very honest and unbiased praise or criticism of the electrification process in America.The most pressing point you should take from this post is that you are not alone in this. There are solutions out there to help you rethink how your home appliances are powered. The upgrades could be easier and less costly than you were imagining. The first step is to just educate yourself on the options that are available, and then decide if and when they make sense for your budget and personal circumstances.
QuitCarbon and Rewiring America should be on your radar if you're someone who is looking to reduce their carbon footprint.
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