A2ZERO Home Energy Advisor
Consult the City's new free service, open to all Ann Arbor residents! The A2ZERO Home Energy Advisor is ready to help you make the transition to efficient, electric, healthy homes. Sign up for your free customized home assessment and Path to Zero, and visit the website for information about all things related to decarbonizing your home.
Home Electrification
Strategy 2 of the A2ZERO Plan calls for the electrification of fossil fuel-burning appliances and vehicles. Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gasses and pollutants into the atmosphere, which can cause significant health and environmental issues. Electrification can remove these emissions from our local environment. Powering our electrical grid with 100% clean and renewable electricity (Strategy 1 of the A2ZERO Plan) ensures we are not displacing emissions and are achieving true carbon reductions.
Burning fossil fuels in the home does more than release greenhouse gases. Removing these appliances from the home can also improve the health, safety, and comfort of the home.
Don't know where to start? The A2ZERO Home Energy Advisor (HEA) may be just what you're looking for! The HEA is a free service open to all Ann Arbor residents, homeowners and renters alike. It provides free home energy assessments, answers to your questions, custom home decarbonization plans, contractor connections, identification of rebates and incentives, and project coaching. In addition, in July 2024, the City launched a Home Energy Rebate program to help residents make energy efficiency and electrification improvements to their homes.
Health and Safety
Gas-burning stoves, furnaces, and dryers are major sources of indoor air pollution within homes. Pollutants including nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide are released by these appliances. Homes with gas-burning stoves have nitrous oxide levels 50 to 400% higher than homes with electric stoves. These pollutants can cause levels of indoor air pollution to well exceed the stringent EPA standards for outdoor air quality. Indoor air quality is of significant importance to all households, especially those with children, as gas-related pollutants can result in including higher rates of asthma, learning deficits, and allergies.
The A2ZERO Heat Pump Concierge
HVAC (heating and cooling systems) are historically the hardest to convert off fossil fuels, but pack the biggest punch in regards to climate and comfort. The A2ZERO Heat Pump Concierge platform reduces this complexity, enabling users to input some information about their home and obtain instant estimates for various heat pump system designs. The estimates include up-front costs and any weatherization or upgrades that would be needed, impact on monthly bills, and all rebates and incentives applicable to the project. For those interested in moving forward, an on-site home assessment is conducted with a Pearl Energy Advisor to confirm the project specifications and lock in pricing, followed by direct oversite of installation.
What about Financing Options
Michigan Saves is the State's non-profit "Green Bank," helping residents obtain low-interest loans for energy efficiency upgrades. The also have a contractor network, including an Electrification Badge program to help residents find contractors skilled in heat pumps and weatherization.
Electrification Video Series
Local IBEW electricians and NECA contractors are partnering with A2ZERO to support electrification in Ann Arbor and beyond. As part of this effort, IBEW and NECA are developing a series of videos on what is needed for electrification. Check out the first video on checking your electrical panel for compatibility with electrification below. And, visit the Future is Electric webpage to learn and watch more! Plus, check out a case study by Michigan Saves, featuring a household who has fully electrified their home, in the second video below.
Heat Pump Workshops
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2023 A2ZERO Sustainability Series seminar "Re-Charged Home Electrification: New Funding and Opportunities for Electrifying your Space."
Contact Info
Julie Roth
Energy Manager, Office of Sustainability and Innovations
Email Julie