Debunking whole home electrification myths
With so much conflicting — and often untrue — information out there about electrifying homes, homeowners may harbor preconceived notions about whole home system drawbacks. Let’s take a look at — and debunk — some common whole home electrification myths
“Whole home electrification is expensive”
Cost is a crucial consideration for most consumers. So when it comes to electrifying their home, consumers won’t hesitate to back out if the price feels too high.
There are a few important factors that can defray these costs and show improved cash flow and long-term (and even short-term) savings.
The first is incentives. National policies like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), combined with state and local incentives for installing energy-efficient and electric technology, can combine to take a real bite out of the initial cost of electric systems.
There are also low- and no-interest financing options for energy efficiency and electrification projects available in many states. For example, in Massachusetts, homeowners that qualify can get up to a $25,000 loan at 0% interest for energy-efficiency upgrades. Knowing the incentives in your area can help you come up with the most affordable solution for homeowners.
“Whole home electrification takes too long”
Some homeowners may balk at the idea of paying for a lengthy electrification process, or worry about the risks of experiencing temporary outages along the way.
But, homeowners can electrify their homes at their own pace — there’s no need to do it all at once. For example, they can start by pairing solar energy with an energy storage solution like a lithium-ion battery. Later, they can add an electric vehicle (EV), and then a hot water heater, oven, and heat pump. Make sure your customers’ solar system is designed to facilitate later additions so you don’t run into unforeseen problems down the line.
In fact, according to Ohm Analytics, at residences with multiple electrification technologies, homeowners often take a phased approach to electrifying their homes. Of homes with solar already installed, the next electrification technologies installed include: storage (42%), MPUs (23%), heat pumps (19%), and EV chargers (16%).
“There’s no support for whole home electrification”
In fact, it’s likely your own organization provides homeowners full support throughout the home electrification process, including initial assessment, design, installation, and final inspections of all solar components. And following project completion, these companies frequently offer ongoing support and maintenance for panels, batteries, the grid, and more, all services tailored to the customer’s particular home and profile.
As an installer, you have the opportunity to showcase your services and maintain lasting customer relationships when you help homeowners electrify their home. Electrification is a journey, and every homeowner follows their own journey — you can be their support guide along the way.
Now that we've debunked some common myths, in the next section we'll get into the benefits.