Whether you rent or own, all-electric provides a healthier home for you and lower emissions for the planet

All-Electric for Homeowners

Climate change is damaging our environment rapidly. To slow that change, we need to evolve how we live. All-electric homes are the critical next step.

All-electric homes come with a multitude of benefits for the occupant. They are healthier than fossil fuel homes, have lower emissions, and the owner no longer has oil or natural gas bills. They are for individuals of all incomes.

Every homeowner can make steps towards an all-electric home. This may include installing a heat pump, installing a heat pump water heater or purchasing a single portable induction cooktop.

How to Get Started For Homeowners

It can be hard to know where to start to electrify your home. Here are some specific things that you can do as a homeowner.

Have someone review your electric bill

Visit BillCheckUp.org to have your energy bill reviewed for any discrepancies. Bill Check Up is run by All In Energy, a nonprofit helping you take control of your energy bills. A utility bill check-Up can help you get to know your bill and if you’re paying more than you should, including by paying too much to a 3rd party energy supplier.

See if you qualify for fuel assistance

Visit GLCAC.org or call 978-681-4950 to see if you qualify for fuel assistance. It's simple to find out if your household qualifies. If you live in Andover, the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council (GLCAC) is the organization that provides free assistance guiding you through the application process. You will need proof of income, valid ID, current utility bills, proof of rent or mortgage, and citizenship documentation.

Apply for weatherization services

If you qualify for fuel assistance, you can also apply for weatherization services through GLCAC. Someone will be sent to your house to conduct an assessment, which is required before upgrading appliances.

If you do not qualify for fuel assistance, visit MassSave.org to apply for weatherization services and learn about rebates and savings. Upgrading your insulation and air sealing can have a big impact on your home's efficiency and comfort and can help cut your heating and cooling costs by up to 20%. Weatherization can also reduce the outside noise, reduce drafts, improve humidity control and reduce allergens.

Get help if you’re stuck

If all else fails, reach out to Andover’s Sustainability Director, Joyce Losick-Yang: joyce.losickyang@andoverma.us.

Download Homeowners Getting Started

FAQs

Which appliances can reduce my carbon footprint the most?

Heating, cooling, and water heating have the biggest household carbon footprints. The most common electric appliance to heat your home is an heat pump. The next largest consumers are refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers. Choose appliances with high Energy Star ratings. These appliances are designed to minimize energy and water consumption.

What is a heat pump?

Heat pumps extract heat from the air outside and distribute it inside your home. During warmer months, this process is reversed to provide cooling.

Heat pumps come in two main forms: ducted and ductless. Ducted heat pumps use your home’s existing ductwork (or new ducts if needed) to disperse heated or cooled air throughout your home. Ductless (or “mini-split”) heat pumps are easier to install where there is no existing ductwork. Ductless heat pump heads are usually mounted high on the wall, and each one serves one room or area of your home.

Will a heat pump save me money?

Heat pumps are 3-5 times more efficient then most current fossil fuel heating systems. In a fossil fuel heating system, you are paying to create heat and distribute it around your house. With a heat pump, the heat energy comes from the outside air, so you’re only paying to circulate the heat around your home.

Will heat pumps work in winter in Andover?

Yes! Be sure to have a heat pump properly selected, sized— not oversized or undersized— and installed. Heat pumps are a great, reliable choice for any climate, including New England!

Will my cost be lower if I switch to heat pumps?

A heat pump is an electrical appliance. Running one will add to your electrical use. That additional electricity may be offset by savings in natural gas or oil. It will also help to refer to Masscap Heating Help for additional help.

How do I apply for rebates and incentives?

First, visit this website, Clean Energy Webpage. This will provide you with all the different incentives you may qualify for, and then from there you can select which rebates you are eligible for. This website has rebates for heat pumps to weatherization services, anything that you qualify for will be on this web page.

I live in a two tenant property and qualify for fuel assistance but my neighbor doesn’t. Can I get a weatherization assessment?

Yes! Work with your landlord or visit this website, Online Energy Assessment, which will lead you to schedule a no-cost home energy assessment.

Where do I start?

The best place to start will be contacting Mass Save or GLCAC.org
to begin to build a strategy for weatherizing your home. Each house is different, so it is important to consult with a professional first.

This is a helpful start and I want to learn more. Where can I learn more about climate action for my life?

AndoverWECAN.org offers a wealth of information on how to electrify your life and how you can take climate action in Andover.

Is there a webinar on saving money and energy at home?

So glad you asked! Yes, Saving Money and Energy at Home is a webinar from March 2024 that talks about MassSave incentives, Andover Community Power and understanding your energy bill.

Several resources were mentioned and shared throughout the webinar and are listed here:

MassSave: masssave.com/community-first/merrimack-valley

Energy Bill Checkups: allinenergy.org/billcheckup.html

Andover Community Trust: https://www.andoverclt.org/all-electric

Andover Municipal Aggregation: https://andoverma.gov/1350/Municipal-Aggregation

Andover Community Power: https://acp.andoverma.gov/

All-Electric for Renters

Our environment is declining, and as a community we must unite to help slow that change. Together, we need to evolve how we live.

As a renter you might be wondering if there’s anything you can do to transition to electric. The good news is that there are many things you can do.

Going all-electric is key to prolonging the life of our Earth, while also providing benefits to the occupant, such as healthier and cleaner air, a more modern experience, and greater comfort.

How to Get Started for Renters

It can be hard to know where to start to electrify your home. Here are some specific things that you can do as a renter.

See if community solar works for you

Find out if your utility bills are separate from your rent.
If they are, you can subscribe to community solar by visiting MassCEC. Community solar brings the benefits of solar to renters. A large scale solar array, like the ones you may see on the highway, can generate clean energy for renters like you!

Reduce your electrical needs

Install LED light bulbs
Shut off lights/appliances when not using

Purchase a portable heat pump

Portable heat pumps can heat or cool your home and are easily transportable. Since they are portable, they are a great solution for renters.
You can take it with you to your next apartment.

Borrow an induction cooktop from the Library of Things at the Memorial Hall Library

Induction cooktops are extremely energy efficient, fast and precise as induction technology transfers energy directly into magnetic cookware. The glass surface stays relatively cool so spills, splatters and occasional boil-overs don't burn onto the cooktop, making clean-up quick and easy and safer.

You can borrow one from Memorial Hall Library and see how it works. If you like it, you can buy your own single cooktop.

Purchase thermal curtains to keep heat in

Thermal curtains are a way to block heat from entering your home in the summer, and also block heat from leaving your home in the winter.

Use weatherproof strips on doorways and windows

Reduce water consumption

Repair any leaks or drips
Install low-flow shower heads
Install low-flow faucets
Install a water displacement device for your toilet
Use a clothes drying rack or a clothesline

Limit your transportation

Minimize car usage and walk/bike
Ride the train/bus more often

Download Renters Getting Started

FAQs

What is a portable heat pump?

A single unit can heat and cool a small apartment. They offer the efficiency of a heat pump without the cost of whole home system.

While these devices can supply cooling in the summer, they will typically only supply heat when the outside temperature is above 40 degrees F. This makes them useful for the fall and spring, but they will not work during the coldest months of winter when temperatures are below freezing.

How do I install one?

Portable heat pumps work must be vented to the outside through a vent hose and a window kit which interfaces with the window. They work well with sliding windows which open either vertically or horizontally. They do not work well with hinged, casement type windows. They typically come on rollers for ease of movement and weigh 60-80 pounds.

How do portable heat pumps compare to space heaters?

Heat pumps are far more efficient than space heaters as well as being significantly safer. They also provide cooling in the warm months.

Why should I electrify my home?

Electrifying your home is one step in a green future, but there are also numerous benefits of electrifying your home, leading to increased comfort and healthier air.