Snohomish County steps up efforts to build all-electric homes

EVERETT – The local Sierra Club, in partnership with the Kicking Gas campaign, is encouraging Snohomish County residents to install heat pumps and induction stoves as part of a new campaign.

During an eight-month initiative last year, Kicking Gas helped over 118 Whidbey Island residents purchase energy-efficient heat pumps.

Now campaign leaders are inviting other Western Washington residents to get involved. Sustainability activists plan to hold a campaign information session via Zoom on Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Interested participants can register for the session on the Kicking Gas website.

Despite their name, heat pumps function as both an air conditioner and a heater. The machine releases or absorbs energy by using coolant that flows back and forth between an indoor and outdoor unit, allowing heat to be pumped into or out of a home.

Last year, leaders of the Kicking Gas campaign offered Whidbey Island customers a 20 to 50 percent savings on the total cost of the heat pump. As long as they lived on the island and heated with wood, propane or oil, residents were eligible.

The campaign also worked with Salish Sea Cooperative Finance to develop a microcredit program, a key to making the project feasible for many residents. About a quarter of clients received microcredit.

This year, in addition to heat pumps, the campaign is also promoting induction cookers to pave the way for all-electric households.

“We are very excited to launch this program in Snohomish County,” said Nancy Johnson, co-chair of the Sierra Club’s Sno-Isle Group, in a press release. “Come join us and learn how you can upgrade your home appliances to save on utility bills, reduce carbon emissions and improve your indoor air quality.”

Ta’Leah Van Sistine: 425-339-3460; [email protected]; Twitter: @TaLeahRoseV.