Citizens’ Climate Lobby uses Electrification Month to spark successful conversations

CCL’s Electrification Month lived up to its name, igniting a wave of action and education nationwide. During August, CCLers powered past our national goal of 3,000 conversations about home electrification, ending the month with more than 3,400 conversations!

By Charlotte Ward
Citizens’ Climate Lobby

So why this push? Two years ago, Congress passed a piece of legislation called the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to make clean energy more accessible and affordable for everyday people. This included the potential for Americans to get thousands of dollars back when they change an appliance for a heat pump version, install rooftop solar, or make energy-efficient improvements.

But not enough folks know about the bill or how it can help them, so we called the CCL cavalry!

Since the beginning of August, CCL chapters nationwide have been talking to their communities about electrifying their homes, sharing the cutting-edge clean energy options available right now — and how they save money, too.

Determined to help people better understand how climate-friendly home upgrades can benefit them, our volunteers took to social media, hosted local events, and engaged their communities in meaningful dialogue about electrification.

They also shared resources such as the WorkMoney website, which provides information on incentives for solar panels, home weatherization and everything in between.

Michigan megastars

Some incredible volunteer power was on display from members of Michigan’s Midland and Saginaw Bay CCL chapters, who

racked up an outstanding 400 electrification conversations while hosting a booth at the Midland County Fair.

Using a “bean poll” based on the Yale Climate Communications “Six Americas” categories, they gauged public concern about climate change. The poll results showed 799 people engaged throughout the week, with 34.8% identifying as “Alarmed” and ready to take climate action. Many of these interactions then led to conversations about electrification.

“Our primary focus was simply to engage people in conversations about the climate and encourage them to feel comfortable talking to their friends and family,” says Mike Colucci, the Saginaw Bay group leader. “Having done that, we would start a conversation about electrification, especially if the person we talked to was a homeowner.”

The volunteer team was able to share information about incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Rewiring America calculator and encouraged folks to join CCL and embrace our nonpartisan approach to solving climate change.

School successes

Elsewhere, members of the Youth Action Team were busy approaching school districts about CCL Youth’s Great School Electrification Challenge.

Schools are among the largest public energy consumers, responsible for the equivalent emissions of 18 coal-fired power plants annually. To address the problem, teams of students are asking their school boards to pledge to electrify HVAC systems, cooking systems, lawn maintenance, school buses, and install solar panels.

The latest challenge round kicked off on April 1, with 23 school districts from 15 states joining the challenge by August 31. Seven of those signed up during Electrification Month, thanks to CCL’s dynamic Youth Action Team.

“The Challenge guides students, as the most important users of school buildings, to use their unique powers to initiate changes that will modernize and decarbonize our schools and create healthier learning environments,” says Sharon Bagatell, CCL’s Youth Action Coordinator.

“Through efforts like electrifying heating, cooling, cooking systems, installing solar panels, and upgrading bus fleets, schools have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions while improving student health through better air quality.”

Front porch ribbon cuttings

CCL chapters have teamed up with Rewiring America to organize a series of Front Porch Ribbon Cuttings to showcase the positive impact of home electrification. The fun events honor homeowners who’ve installed energy-efficient electric appliances—like heat pumps and induction stoves—with the same pomp and circumstance you’d expect for a new factory opening.

On August 12, CCLer Tal Avitzur and his wife Lisa welcomed their Congressman, Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), to their home for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate how they’ve electrified their lives. The couple has installed a heat pump HVAC system and water heater, electric stove, electric clothes dryer, and solar panels in their home. They also drive an electric vehicle.

During the press call, Tal shared how their electrification journey was made possible by IRA tax credits and rebates and expressed his excitement about reducing his reliance on gas.

He said, “Switching to energy-efficient technology like heat pumps is a step in the right direction. My wife and I feel great about electrifying our home, and I hope that by doing our part, we can ensure a better quality of life for future generations.”

CCLers have also worked alongside Rewiring America to organize ribbon-cutting events in Georgia, Colorado, New York and Nevada, showing just how accessible and rewarding home electrification can be for everyday Americans.

Keep the momentum going

With more IRA rebates expected to roll out in the coming months, there will be many more opportunities to share how electrifying our homes can lead to safer, more efficient appliances and lower our energy bills.

People tend to trust their friends and family when it comes to these swaps. Our conversations can help people understand their options — and the savings that come with them.