Heat pump adoption will take teamwork in WA, and we need the state in the game

With summer around the corner, many Washingtonians are already thinking about adding air conditioning to their homes.

This means it’s time to talk about heat pumps — the appliance that provides both air conditioning and heat while running on clean electricity instead of methane gas. What do consumers want? What support do they need? With the federal tax credits and rebates coming for home electrification, what else is needed from Washington’s state legislature and agencies?

As on-the-ground implementers of a heat pump program working directly with households in King County — and soon to be working with residents in Olympia — we’ve gleaned some clear-cut learnings that point to the critical need for more state-level support now.

First, there’s a lot of hunger for heat pumps. It wasn’t long ago that no one knew what heat pumps were. Now we hear from residents who are seeing them in their favorite coffee shops, local boutiques and more. The first step in the Energy Smart program is to sign up for a free one-hour community workshop, and we were overwhelmed with the turnout and interest. Over 500 people showed up.

Second, everyone benefits from information, support and a little hand holding as they go through the process. Many folks sign up for our program because of the financial benefits and assistance. However, we also have families who don’t need financial resources and instead want information and the peace of mind of working with verified heat pump contractors and installers. We’ve found providing this basic guidance — free informational workshops and contractor connections — to be key. It’s the bridge for a family to go from wanting a heat pump to actually getting one.

Third, more programs and funding to expand access for families living on low and moderate incomes is essential. The federal tax credits available now for heat pumps and other upgrades are very helpful, but households living on lower incomes that don’t benefit as much from tax credits need deep rebates that offset costs. This takes layering and packaging together multiple funding sources — local, state and federal.

Managing these opportunities and their stipulations can be difficult for many, even if the opportunity is there. We partnered with the King County Housing Authority to provide weatherization services and heat pump installations in 25 affordable housing units. This kind of work is an equity and environmental justice priority that demands far more resources, financial and relational, than the pilot project levels we’ve seen to date.

Finally, renovating major systems like heating and cooling is a big deal. It’s time-consuming to navigate, and it can be daunting. We’re finding that Washington’s transition from gas to efficient electric appliances takes a lot of teamwork. The Energy Smart Eastside Program is a partnership of five cities — Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Mercer Island, and Redmond —plus nonprofits, community organizations, utilities and energy professionals supporting residents to switch to heat pumps.

The demand is there, and we would love to put heat pumps in the homes of Washingtonians all over the state. But we’re not going to get anywhere close without a lot more funding, especially at the state level, to support low- and middle-income families to make the switch. That financial support is needed this year, next year, and ongoing.

Of course the Washington Department of Commerce should leverage every penny of federal dollars for home electrification rebates included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), but state funding is vital to accelerate the scale of assistance, and to complement and close gaps — especially for households living on lower incomes.

The House budget includes $115 million in funding for a statewide heat pump program. Combined with federal money through the IRA, that’s a great start, along with the $46 million for weatherization upgrades in low-income households that’s critical as well. With warm weather and the impending wildfire season right around the corner, let’s give Washingtonians what they want — comfort and safety in their homes.

Amy Bettle manages Spark Northwest’s Solarize and Energize programs, leading group purchase programs for solar and energy efficiency. She also conducts community education on renewable energy and advocates for policies supporting a just transition to clean energy.