As many homeowners consider a furnace tune up or replacement ahead of the winter season, ComEd is unveiling an all-in-one resource to help customers consider the benefits of switching from traditional furnaces to electric heat pumps. The new Go Electric siteprovides information to help customers consider the benefits and options of switching to high-efficiency heat pumps, pricing and incentives, how to locate trained contractors, and other key information.
A heat pump acts as a reverse air conditioner, capable of both heating and cooling your home all year round. Heat pumps work by moving heat, rather than generating it by combustion, enabling a cleaner and more efficient process.
“As our customers increasingly look toward clean energy technologies, including heat pumps, ComEd is supporting them by ensuring the grid is ready for more electrification, and by providing a range tools to help ease the journey to a cleaner future,” said Melissa Washington, Senior Vice President Customer Operations and Strategic Initiatives at ComEd. “The Go Electric site aims to empower customers with everything they need to know about heat pumps – from information about how they work, to cost savings, contractors who can help with installation and discounts, and how to make the selection that will maximize their energy usage.”
The new Go Electric site also provides user-friendly tips and information for customers who are considering the benefits of this technology for their home. To educate customers on the benefits of heat pumps and home electrification more broadly, the new Go Electric site offers customers the following tools:
- Heat pump 101 – customers can learn how heat pumps work and how to integrate it at home
- Heat pump options – ducted vs. ductless, air source vs. ground source and all-electric vs. dual-fuel
- A personalized savings calculator – customers can enter details about their home and current utility arrangements in order to calculate customized cost savings and environmental impact estimates
- Incentives and financing – find information on ComEd’s heat pump discounts, federal tax credits and financing options
- Contractor finder – locate a ComEd heat pump-trained contractor to help unlock discounts and schedule a heat pump installation
Heat pumps are growing increasingly popular as customers consider an alternative to manage and reduce their overall energy usage and lower carbon emissions as a means to achieve climate targets for a cleaner future. Expanding rapid heat pump adoption is also a key strategy for addressing the impact of climate warming greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with heating and cooling one of the largest sources of this pollution.
"Space heating is the largest use of energy in Midwestern homes and offers the greatest potential for energy savings and environmental benefits in our climate,” said Center for Energy and Environment research engineer Ranal Tudawe. “With the Go Electric site, ComEd's customers can learn how heat pumps can do just that, with tools to estimate how they can save on energy bills and carbon emissions, and resources to find trained contractors to install the perfect system for their home."
Heat pumps can help local homeowners lower their carbon output dramatically, with an Elevate Energy study finding that total carbon emissions in Illinois could be reduced by 28 million tons by 2050, if 500,000 homes were to have electric heat pumps installed.
“As we continue to advocate for clean, renewable energy solutions, we’re excited to support the launch of ComEd’s new Go Electric website," said Elevate CEO, Dr. Anne Evens. "This one-stop shop resource portal empowers customers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about switching to high-efficiency electric heat pumps. By making this information accessible, we can help individuals and communities take meaningful steps toward reducing their carbon footprint, lowering energy costs, and embracing a more sustainable future ."
Customers may also be attracted to electric heat pumps for the energy-cost savings. The U.S. Department of Energy finds that a heat pump could save customers as much as $500 a year. While cost savings vary by customer, a personalized cost savings calculator found on the new Go Electric website can be used to help customers view estimated annual cost savings, and better understand the factors that influence today’s heating and cooling costs - which include age of housing, weatherization, current utility supplier and fuel source, among others.
Heat pump demand is on the rise in ComEd’s service region, thanks to the state’s Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and new federal laws and programs, both aimed at expanding adoption of key energy saving technologies. To help lower the upfront costs of heat pump installation, ComEd expanded its own heat pump discounts, providing up to $1,400 per customer for purchasing and installing a new air source heat pump.
Last year ComEd saw a record level of uptake in its heating and cooling incentive offerings, with over 5,000 heat pump discounts awarded in 2023, and more than 10,000 discounts provided to customers since 2021. Funding remains available for this year and customers are encouraged to review the heat pump-trained contractor list, and to meet with a contractor to help them qualify for ComEd discounts that reduce the upfront cost on purchase and installation of their heat pumps.
The new heat pump education tool is the latest example of how ComEd supports customers with plans to move toward electrified technologies. Earlier this year, ComEd launched nearly $90 million in EV rebates for residential, business and public sector customers to help lower the upfront cost of adding charging and EV fleet vehicles. Additionally, ComEd in 2022 launched a Whole Home Electric offering, putting $40 million forward to help low-income customers upgrade their homes with energy-saving, all-electric heating and cooling systems and appliances.
For more on heat pumps and how to go electric, please visit ComEd.com/GoElectric. For more on ComEd’s range of clean energy programs, please visit ComEd.com/CleanEnergy.
About ComEd
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company with approximately 10 million electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn,X, and YouTube.
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