Published November 30 2023
To encourage homeowners to replace their gas furnaces with energy-efficient heat pumps, Eastside cities have launched a campaign that makes it possible to save up to $6,400 when people “make the switch.”
Households from Bellevue, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Kirkland and Redmond can get started making the switch to a heat pump today by visiting EnergySmartEastside.org/maketheswitch. Heat pumps provide both heating and cooling, replacing furnaces and air conditioners.
Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson said, “Our communities have a lot of homes with aging furnaces, and heat pumps have long offered an energy-efficient replacement option that makes sense. With the “Make the Switch” incentives, many will see that heat pumps make cents too.”
The Make the Switch campaign connects households from any of the five Eastside cities to contractors trained to help residents stack rebates from Puget Sound Energy and heat pump manufacturer Mitsubishi with tax credits available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act.
Households earning $190,000 or less annually may also qualify for a $1,500 rebate from Energy Smart Eastside, a partnership of the cities of Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Mercer Island and Redmond.
After a summer of extreme global climate impacts, including an unusually dry summer in the region, Energy Smart Eastside is a catalyst to accelerate the transition to fully electrified households.
Because they are highly energy-efficient, heat pumps are a critical part of electrifying homes, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, which helps communities limit and prepare for climate impacts. Heat pumps also can help households who currently use electric baseboard heaters, electric furnaces or portable air conditioners save on their monthly energy bill.